Multi-campus schools to be reviewed

A committee is currently reviewing the structure of the multi-campus school by collecting information and opinions of administrators, evaluating how the system is working and whether changes should be implemented for schools within the University that operate on more than one of IU's campuses. \nOn May 23rd, IU President Adam Herbert sent a message to the University's administration and faculty, announcing that the board of trustees had endorsed his recommendation to review the current structure of the schools. Herbert appointed a committee of former senior IU executives to conduct the review. \n"After more than three decades since initial implementation, it is important that we examine the continuing effectiveness of the multi-campus school structure," Herbert said in an e-mail. "Does it continue to be the most effective approach to deliver high quality academic programs? Does it foster a strong and mission appropriate research culture on each campus? Does it have strong support on each of our campuses? Is there a need for modifications in the manner in which the schools operate and are governed?"\nIU is part of a large eight-campus system, and beginning with the School of Public and Environmental Affairs in 1972, there are a number of multi-campus schools operating within the system. Since their inception, the various schools have developed in such a way that they operate differently in a number of important ways, whether concerning administrative structure, credit requirements, course opportunities and treatment of faculty. \n"Maybe that's okay (that they are different), but it's time we look," said committee Chairman Charles F. Bonser. "We are just collecting information, our (committee's) responsibility is to see what's going on in there."\nAn example of a multi-campus school is the School of Library and Information Sciences, which has campuses both in Bloomington and in Indianapolis. Offering a number degrees in Bloomington, SLIS also offers one degree from its Indianapolis campus -- yet the requirements for that degree are identical for both campuses. \nDeborah Shaw, SLIS executive associate dean, said there are a number of benefits to a multi-campus structure such as the ability to be responsive to different groups of people and having an accessible campus where there otherwise would not be. She also noted the complication that can arise in specific courses offered on each campus.\nBonser said the methods of collecting information will include, among others, individually meetings with various faculty policy committees, sending a questionnaire to the deans of the affected schools, building a database and after which those are concluded individually meeting with the deans and assistant deans of the affected schools. \nThe review committee includes seven members. Chairman Charles F. Bonser, former dean of SPEA; Alfred C. Aman Jr., former dean of the IU School of Law (Bloomington); Gerald L. Bepko, former IU vice president for long-range planning, IUPUI chancellor, and interim IU president; Angela B. McBride, former dean of the School of Nursing; F.C. Richardson, former chancellor of IU-Southeast; Maynard Thompson, former vice-chancellor, IU-Bloomington; and Jack R. Wentworth, former dean of the Kelly School of Business.\nHerbert said "the schools of particular interest" include the Kelly School of Business, the School of Continuing Studies, the School of Dentistry, the School of Education, the School of Informatics, the School of Journalism, SLIS, the School of Nursing, SPEA and the School of Social Work.\nThe committee is expected to complete their review in early August, Bonser said. Upon their completion Herbert will submit his recommendations to the board of trustees after meeting with the deans, chancellor, provost and faculty leadership.\n- Campus editor Trevor Brown contributed to this report.