Dear University:
Over the last year, the Baker community has come together to sustain and uphold its mission of academic integrity. We have made many difficult choices but our commitment, since we began this process, is to ensure that our students continue to receive the quality education that has been our trademark for over 150 years.
In the spirit of continued open communication, the attached document outlines the process and resulting recommendations from the Joint Faculty Committee and provides program and personnel changes for the 2010-11 Academic Year. The Trustees, Provost, CAS Dean and I sincerely commend the members of the Joint Committee for their work in accomplishing a very difficult undertaking with clarity, fairness and civility. We also appreciate the cooperation of our colleagues who have agreed to take on new roles, where possible, within the institution.
Thank you for your continued support of Baker.
Pat Long,<br/>PresidentPresident
President
Baker University: Message from the President<strong>Baker University: Message from the President</strong> Baker University: Message from the President
Mission: Baker University is committed to assuring student learning and developing confident, competent and responsible contributors to society.<em>Mission: Baker University is committed to assuring student learning and developing confident, competent and responsible contributors to society.</em> Mission: Baker University is committed to assuring student learning and developing confident, competent and responsible contributors to society.
ACADEMIC PERSONNEL AND PROGRAM CHANGES FOR 2010-11<strong>ACADEMIC PERSONNEL AND PROGRAM CHANGES FOR 2010-11</strong> ACADEMIC PERSONNEL AND PROGRAM CHANGES FOR 2010-11
The Process<strong>The Process</strong> The Process
In November, the Trustees passed two resolutions to protect the integrity of our financial foundation while moving toward a future that promises growth for the University. As part of those resolutions and the ongoing academic, administrative and athletic program reviews, we officially began the next step of reduction and reallocation in our academic programs. As outlined in the CAS Faculty Handbook, a Faculty Joint Committee was established to review information relating to reduction and reallocation of academic programs and faculty positions. In addition, early retirement incentives were offered for staff and faculty, and a substantial number of staff positions were reduced or realigned.
The Committee reviewed programs based on criterion areas as outlined in the Faculty Handbook: the Mission – CAS’s goals, General Education goals; Quality – academic soundness, quality of teaching; and Market viability – number of majors, department enrollments. This difficult task was augmented with additional data-based criteria including but not limited to: graduation trends, total credit-hour production, credit-hour production per faculty full time equivalent (FTE), percentage of under-enrolled courses, contribution to other academic programs, contribution to the new Liberal Studies (formerly referred to as General Education) program, personnel and operational costs, and presence – or absence – of similar programs at peer and aspiration institutions.
<strong><br/>Committee Recommendations&#8212;Programs &amp; Majors</strong>
Committee Recommendations—Programs & Majors
Based on in-depth research and analysis, the recommendations of the Committee are as follows:
• Molecular Bioscience—Change from a major to a proposed concentration within the Biology Major. All current course offerings will be continued.
• Wildlife Biology—Change from a major to a proposed concentration in Ecology.
• Computer Information Systems—Change from a major to a proposed concentration within the Computer Science Major. CIS-required courses will continue to be offered through the Business and Economics Department and Computer Science program.
• Physical Education—Eliminate the non-teacher education track. Courses will continue to be offered to serve Physical Education Majors planning on earning teacher licensure.
• Political Science—Eliminate the major; retain course offerings as appropriate. (The University will continue discussion on how to incorporate viable and robust discipline of Political Science within the larger Liberal Studies curriculum.)
As we communicated to our students early in the process, we are continuing to do everything possible to ensure that they are able to complete their programs. Students in their junior and senior years will graduate with the necessary requirements for their discipline. In most cases, the same accommodations can be made for sophomores; any exceptions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. All affected students, approximately 30, have been or will be contacted by their department chairs to develop a strategy for completing their coursework. <br/><strong><br/>Recommendations&#8212;Positions</strong>
Recommendations—Positions
To date we are announcing the following changes in faculty responsibilities:<br/>&#8226; Dr. Randy Miller, Assistant Professor of Biology, will complete his current teaching responsibilities through June 30, 2010 and become coordinator of student research in Biology. (To be grant supported)• Dr. Randy Miller, Assistant Professor of Biology, will complete his current teaching responsibilities through June 30, 2010 and become coordinator of student research in Biology. (To be grant supported)
• Dr. Randy Miller, Assistant Professor of Biology, will complete his current teaching responsibilities through June 30, 2010 and become coordinator of student research in Biology. (To be grant supported)
• Mr. Norm Mast, instructor of Computer Science, will complete his contract and teaching responsibilities at the end of the academic year.
• Dr. Jean Johnson, Professor of Mathematics, will assume a half-time role serving the Records and Registration Office while retaining a half-time teaching position beginning July 1, 2010.
• One individual has requested to engage the appeal process and an announcement will be forthcoming once the process is complete.
As most of you know, we will also see some changes based on a number of faculty who have chosen to exercise the option of beginning retirement next year. The committee recommended that these positions not be replaced.
Ms. Eugenia Askew, Health, Sport and Human Performance<br/>Ms. Lee Mann, ArtMs. Lee Mann, Art<br/>Dr. Lucy Price, Language and LiteratureDr. Lucy Price, Language and Literature<br/>Dr. Bruce Woodruff, TheatreDr. Bruce Woodruff, Theatre
Ms. Lee Mann, Art
Dr. Lucy Price, Language and Literature
Dr. Bruce Woodruff, Theatre
Additional 2010-11 Changes<strong>Additional 2010-11 Changes</strong> Additional 2010-11 Changes
• Dr. Bruce Anderson will continue in his role as Head Tennis Coach.
• Dr. Ryan Beasley, Associate Professor of Political Science, will be reallocated to a full-time role of directing and teaching in the International Studies program. Dr. Beasley will be teaching political science courses out of the International Studies program.
• Dr. Karen Exon will continue in her role as Head Golf Coach.
• Dr. Judy Smrha will move from Records and Registration to a teaching position with additional responsibilities related to student retention, engagement, and success.
<strong><br/>In Summary</strong>
In Summary
The Academic Program Review committee will continue to evaluate and streamline our curriculum over the coming year as the new Liberal Studies program becomes the foundation for an integrated multidisciplinary academic environment. We will update the university community as additional program changes go into effect. There will also be ongoing review of our operations and athletics to position the University to fulfill our responsibility to current and future students as we move forward together.