Leg Item

Faculty Association	February 25, 2004

Legislative Calendar Item # FA 04-01

UNF Board of Trustees
Education Policy Committee Meeting
University of North Florida
Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Reorganization of Communications and Visual Arts
Approved by the UBOT on March 18, 2004

(view the link)

Provost Kline stated that Dean Workman had brought the idea of reorganizing the Department of Communication and Visual Arts to him about six months ago and asked Dr. Workman to discuss his reasons for the reorganization.

Dean Workman stated that the Department of Communication and Visual Arts was
one of the College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) amalgamated departments. The department had been amalgamated for the sake of administrative efficiency and it was partly due to the success of that efficiency that the department should be separated. He said the department was by far the largest in COAS and probably in the university. After the proposed division, there would still be two substantial departments - thus sheer size was one compelling reason for the division. There was currently one chair of the department, whose expertise was in communications. This presented a good reason for seeking autonomy in art and design as the chair was responsible for recruiting, mentoring, and evaluating faculty, reviewing candidates for tenure, advising students, overseeing curriculum development in the department, and scheduling courses. The more knowledge a chair had of a discipline, the more effectively he or she could perform the duties of chair. While the current chair had knowledge of art and design, it was not the same as having someone from that field. Additionally, accreditation of the communication program was contingent on autonomy; it must be a stand-alone unit. Though this was not the case for art and design, autonomy was regarded as desirable for those programs as well. Reorganization would have the positive effect of creating greater visibility for the art history program, now a nascent program but one Dr. Workman was interested in developing. The cost of separation would be minimal, requiring only an extension of an existing salary to a twelve-month contract, as an internal search would be conducted for a chair for art and design. Office space was available for the separation. Dr. Workman heartily recommended the reorganization.

Chair Hicks wondered why, if the preponderance of the department was communication,
the discrepancy between the number of student hours in art and design and in communication was not that great. Provost Kline responded that this was due to general education courses, not all of the students were art and design majors.

Trustee Watterson asked how the reorganization would affect students.
Dean Workman answered that communication would be accredited and possibly some art and design programs could become eligible for accreditation as well.

Trustee Abdullah asked about support staff. Dean Workman replied that currently there were two secretaries assigned to the department; one would go with each new unit. Both secretaries were amenable to this plan. Faculty themselves had voted for the reorganization, with only one exception: a faculty member eligible for tenure who opposed the reorganization as he felt his tenure would be best championed by the current chair. Overall, the department was very much in favor of the division. Trustee Abdullah asked why an internal search was recommended as opposed to an external one. Dr. Workman said that, on principle, it was preferable to seek to appoint chairs from within when such option existed as it was more economical and because faculty within a department understood the needs of the department better than someone from outside. He said that on occasion it was necessary to hire from outside the department, but only under specific circumstances such as a departmental need for someone with stronger expertise in a particular area or personnel problems within a department which might be best resolved by bringing in an outside chair.

Trustee Taylor wanted to know if the reorganization would change or impact existing
graduate programs. He asked Dr. Workman for his opinion on how the division would affect future graduate studies. Dean Workman replied that neither program offered a graduate degree at this point, although graphic design faculty were eager to develop one and had prepared a substantial proposal some time ago. He said that, for the moment, staffing needs for the department were sufficiently great; given the number of majors both accommodated, to preclude graduate offerings in the immediate future. The first priority would be adequate staffing. Trustee Taylor said that it seemed that the division would help with graduate program offerings in the long run. Dr. Workman agreed.

Trustee Abdullah addressed a question to President Delaney regarding the fiscal impact of splitting the department. President Delaney replied that the impact would be negligible.

Trustee Solano added that the proposal had been through all the layers of faculty at the university, such as the department, COAS, and the faculty association, and been endorsed at all levels.

Trustee Coggin noted that when Dr. Lowenstein evaluated the program he had indicated that it was well along the way toward accreditation. He asked if the separation of the department would enhance the timeliness of accreditation and the addition of masters programs. Dr. Workman answered both parts of the question affirmatively, noting that unless a program was freestanding, it could not be accredited. Trustee Abdullah asked President Delaney if either of the new departments would be considered in the university's new vision of identifying those areas that would be considered exemplary or high profile. President Delaney answered that all of the programs were under consideration for those qualities.

Trustee Watterson mentioned that he did not feel the department's faculty members were sufficiently involved in student activities on campus, such as the campus radio station or news sources. Provost Kline noted that the department had been chronically understaffed.
Dean Workman agreed, adding that the chair had been unable to assign faculty to support those activities due to the faculty shortage.

Chair Hicks asked for a motion. The motion to approve the division was proffered by
Trustee Coggin and passed unanimously.

Chair Hicks said that the art department had an outstanding art exhibit on second floor of the fine arts building and encouraged the trustees to visit the exhibit if they had an opportunity. She noted that some of UNF's graduates had gone on to become regional artists.