Video: MUW To Drop College Of Education & Human Sciences, Keep Educational Programs

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Mississippi University for Women says state budget cuts is behind the move to eliminate the College of Education and Human Sciences.

However, all academic programs will remain in place.

Departments in the College of Education and Human Sciences will fall under others on the Columbus campus, such as the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Nursing and Speech Language Pathology and others.

The departments will remain in their current locations, to ensure a smooth student and faculty transition.

MUW Provost and Vice President Academic Affairs Dr. Thomas Richardson says the organizational change will save the university about 160 thousand dollars a year.

In an email to faculty, Richardson says the goal is to reduce administrative costs, while maintaining strong academic programs.

Richardson’s email to faculty:

“As part of the plan to meet state budget reductions, The W is announcing revisions to its academic administrative structure by eliminating the dean’s position in the College of Education and Human Sciences (which has been filled on an interim basis) and moving departments within the College of Education and Human Sciences to other colleges. The Department of Education and the Department of Psychology and Family Studies will become part of the College of Arts and Sciences. The Department of Health and Kinesiology will join the College of Nursing and Speech-Language Pathology. The responsibility for the General Studies degree program will shift to the College of Business and Professional Studies. Dr. Martin Hatton, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, has served as Interim Dean of the College since July 2015; Dr. Hatton will return to his position as Associate VPAA.

The current department structure will not change, and there is no plan to physically relocate any of the departments within the College. The academic departments will continue to be housed in their present locations, so class meetings and student interaction with faculty will not be affected by these changes. This is an organizational change that will help us work responsibly within available resources while still ensuring effective academic pathways for our students.

These changes will be effective July 1, 2017, subject to the restructuring being approved by the IHL Board. The restructuring is expected to save approximately $160,000 annually. Our objective is to reduce administrative costs while maintaining strong academic programs. The university is in a continuing process of seeking ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness while supporting our enrollment growth and excellent degree completion ratio. Our focus will continue to be on providing a quality educational experience that moves students towards successful degree completion.

I met with the department chairs in the College yesterday morning, followed by the College faculty as a whole, to inform them of the change and to give them an opportunity to ask questions. There are still some decisions to be made about certain functions and support within the College, but these will be worked out shortly with input from the faculty and chairs within the departments.

I believe the changes will provide opportunities to enhance all of our academic programs as we go forward. I will be glad to talk with faculty and staff about these changes, and I welcome suggestions about managing these changes or addressing other possible areas to achieve operating efficiencies.”