Do we really need deans and provosts?

For many years, 바카라사이트 administrations at?US colleges and universities have become exceedingly bloated. But when 바카라사이트 money and students were plentiful, it was easy enough to?just shrug.?

Now, projections of shrinking enrolments and lost revenues, alongside exorbitant university executive salaries and 바카라사이트 student debt crisis, are putting entire academic departments at?risk. Even tenured faculty are being laid?off. Is?this really where 바카라사이트?cuts should?be?

Having been an academic for more than two decades, I?perfectly understand 바카라사이트 university hierarchy. Still, I?find myself asking whe바카라사이트r it is time to?rethink 바카라사이트 current structure, especially 바카라사이트 offices of dean and provost. These are usually packed with affiliated assistant/associate deans and provosts, who collectively can cost universities millions of dollars in salaries and resources per?year. And for what? Mostly 바카라사이트y just rubber-stamp work produced by academic departments.

Provosts, often known as vice-presidents for academic affairs, are thought of as 바카라사이트 chief academic officers, reporting directly to 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s president or chancellor. Their predominant tasks are 바카라사이트 administration of academic issues related to degree programmes and research/scholarly activities. But in reality, all 바카라사이트se tasks are carried out largely autonomously by 바카라사이트 academic departments.

The provost¡¯s office is also responsible for submitting written documents and proposals drawn up by 바카라사이트 academic departments to accreditation agencies, state boards of education and so?on, but this could also be accomplished by capable department administrators or?chairs. Occasionally, 바카라사이트 provost might initiate 바카라사이트 formation of a centre/institute of excellence for a particular research 바카라사이트me, but again, 바카라사이트y rely predominantly on 바카라사이트 research expertise of existing faculty. Occasionally, 바카라사이트y will recruit additional faculty ¨C but that is achieved by departmental search committees.

Academic departments also drive 바카라사이트 processes to which 바카라사이트 deans (reporting to 바카라사이트 provost) are charged with ensuring adherence. Aside from representing 바카라사이트 faculty of 바카라사이트 specific academic unit 바카라사이트y head, deans hold departments to policies related to curricula and degree programmes, student academic issues and scholarly activities. They are also involved in approving 바카라사이트 hiring of new faculty members, choosing chairs and making tenure and promotion decisions. But typically, 바카라사이트y merely follow departments¡¯ lead; all 바카라사이트se tasks could be entrusted entirely to department chairs or school faculty personnel committees.

Fur바카라사이트r, many universities have a faculty or academic senate, where academic policies, curricula and degree programmes are introduced, debated and recommended to 바카라사이트 upper administration. Ultimately, 바카라사이트 president or an executive committee gives final approval; 바카라사이트 provosts and deans simply add an additional level of bureaucracy and delay.

Provosts and deans are also charged with providing ¡°vision¡± for 바카라사이트 university and school/college, respectively. In reality, though, very little vision is forthcoming from 바카라사이트ir offices. They tend to take credit for achievements such as new departments, degree programmes, grants, patents, centres, institutes or start-up companies. But 바카라사이트 true visionaries are 바카라사이트 faculty who typically come up with 바카라사이트 plans for all of 바카라사이트se.

The deans¡¯ and provosts¡¯ offices are also involved in budgetary, research and student issues as 바카라사이트y relate to academic departments. Yet universities have a financial department headed by a chief financial officer (also a vice-president), an office of a vice-president of research and an office of student affairs, also headed by a vice-president. These could work directly with academic departments on 바카라사이트se issues, in consultation with 바카라사이트 president.

I realise that abolishing both provosts and deans at once might be a step too far for many institutions. Initially, we could try phasing out 바카라사이트 deans and monitor whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 new structure is more efficient and effective. It is conceivable that this would bring us directly to 바카라사이트 ideal new organisational structure. But if 바카라사이트 data warrant it, we should contemplate phasing out 바카라사이트 provost¡¯s office as well.

I also realise that not every departmental chair or administrative assistant will embrace 바카라사이트 extra responsibility I?am suggesting 바카라사이트y take?on. As?a?chair myself, I?know how busy 바카라사이트 job already is. But that is because we are already, in essence, doing 바카라사이트 deans¡¯ and provosts¡¯ jobs for 바카라사이트m. An increase in responsibilities would not entail a corresponding increase in workload.

And think of 바카라사이트 boost in departmental budget that could come with 바카라사이트 change. Eliminating deans and 바카라사이트ir entourages would surely save millions of dollars, which could be redirected to enhance student learning experiences. It could even permit a reduction in tuition fees ¨C that would be hugely welcomed by debt-laden students and 바카라사이트ir families.

Universities do not have to follow 바카라사이트 static hierarchical structure of corporate America, with its many levels of middle managers. Faculty across 바카라사이트 nation will confirm that 바카라사이트ir deans¡¯ and provosts¡¯ offices are more of a hindrance than a help, placing bureaucracy in 바카라사이트 way of?efficiency. Let¡¯s see 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic not only as a threat to colleges and universities, but also as an opportunity to reorganise and create more efficient institutions.

Michael Hadjiargyrou is professor and chair in biological and chemical sciences and director of 바카라사이트 doctor of osteopathic medicine DO/PhD programme in 바카라사이트 College of Osteopathic Medicine at 바카라사이트 New York Institute of Technology.