Fordham University is spearheading a proposal to reorganize the Arts and Sciences. The project was initiated by the Office of the Provost. The Office of the Provost is proposing the installation of a dean of Arts and Sciences who will oversee the vice deans for undergraduate education, graduate education, faculty affairs and the executive director for finance and administration. 

“In 2018, a faculty committee issued a report entitled ‘Reimagining the Function and Structure of Arts & Sciences at Fordham University’ that provided a set of recommendations. One of those recommendations was to revisit the leadership structure of Arts and Sciences in about five years,” said Dennis C. Jacobs, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

On March 7, members of the Rose Hill College Council voted 21 in favor, 13 opposed and two abstaining on the resolution contained in the provost’s plan. Also on March 7, the Fordham College at Lincoln Center Council voted eight in favor, 21 against and two abstaining on the resolution. On March 13, the Arts and Sciences Council voted 26 in favor, 10 against and two abstaining. On April 4, both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center Councils passed supplementary resolutions.

According to Sarah Lockhart, an assistant professor of political science and member of the Fordham College at Lincoln Center Council, the Lincoln Center Council voted against the resolution out of concern that Lincoln Center’s voice will be diminished. 

“Most faculty at Lincoln Center don’t oppose having a dean of Arts and Sciences. Our [the Council’s] concern is that, in the new plan, the top person for each college is going to be a senior associate dean. Right now, the senior associate dean doesn’t have the time and position to be the face of the college,” she said. 

Lockhart said that the proposed structure only has one vice dean of undergraduate education. “There was concern that that person might spend most of their time at Rose Hill and not be in touch with the interests of Lincoln Center and also concern because both these positions [Dean of Rose Hill and Lincoln Center] are being eliminated,” she continued. 

In the most recent proposed Arts and Sciences structure, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) and Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) each have their own senior associate dean. The senior associate deans for both campuses will fall under the vice dean for undergraduate education and will be assisted by associate deans on each campus.

According to Jacobs, the position of vice dean for undergraduate education will include ensuring that key elements of a Fordham education are consistent and high-quality, maintaining a presence at both campuses and relying on campus-based teams (led by senior associate deans of FCRH and FCLC) to provide support for students and programs.

The Office of the Provost decided on a new structure after faculty were presented with three models in the fall, according to Lockhart. 

Jacobs said that the proposed leadership structure aims to provide the Arts and Sciences with a single leader who has the scope of authority, budgetary control and visibility into both undergraduate and graduate Arts and Sciences programs at both campuses. 

“In the proposed structure, a single Dean of Arts and Sciences supported by a strong leadership team will be able to advance a comprehensive, coherent and coordinated strategy for Arts and Sciences that will optimally serve its students, faculty, and administrators well into the future,” shared Jacobs. 

Both Jacobs and Lockhart echoed that the reorganization will not significantly affect students. 

“In some ways, students will not experience significant changes. Each campus will still have a dedicated leader; prospective students will still apply to either FCLC or FCRH; and each campus will offer comprehensive and distinctive programs,” said Jacobs. 

However, Jacobs also noted that there will be improvements in areas such as major/minor declaration, research and internship opportunities, academic advising and the core curriculum.

“One way we hope to achieve that is by having a single leader, the vice dean for undergraduate education, who is responsible for ensuring Fordham delivers a transformative learning experience to all FCLC and FCRH students.”

Similarly, Lockhart said that she hopes the reorganization will lead to a more equal distribution of resources across campuses. “Faculty and leadership roles that interact more with administration will see a bigger impact more immediately. My hope is, regardless what happens, it might make things a little easier and streamlined eventually.”

“I think a lot of people think that having this ‘above everybody else’ dean of Arts and Sciences can facilitate the process of streamlining, but we also want to make sure that Lincoln Center students have a voice,” said Lockhart.

Jacobs shared that the university will use the same process that is used in hiring every dean at Fordham to appoint a dean of Arts and Sciences. The university will designate a search committee composed primarily of faculty to oversee a national search. Both internal and external candidates will be encouraged to apply. The current leadership structure will remain the same through summer 2025.

Lockhart said that many of these available positions are lower salary positions and, according to the Office of the Provost, the university will save money by filling positions whose salaries aren’t as robust as those of the deans of FCRH and FCLC.