By Diana Figueroa
Fordham’s College of Arts and Science is getting an academic makeover. For months, there have been discussions among deans and other faculty members about where Arts and Sciences is now and where it should be in the future, as the university continues its efforts to strengthen and advance its liberal arts education.
The talks have centered on two issues: how to organize the reporting relationships among the deans in the undergraduate colleges, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, and the functions of one particular dean — the head of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (G.S.A.S.)—who has simultaneously been functioning as the university’s chief research officer (C.R.O.).
As of right now, only one of the two organizational issues has been decided. Last month, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, and Provost Stephen Freeman announced that the dean of G.S.A.S. would no longer also be the C.R.O. Both of these positions have been held by Dr. Nancy Busch, a professor of psychology, since 2007. Busch is currently on leave until the end of the semester and will serve as neither as dean of G.S.A.S. nor chief research officer come January.
Busch says what makes Fordham an anomaly is that most schools have a College of Arts and Sciences with a single dean representing the whole college. Fordham, however, has four arts and science units, with distinct deans in charge of Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH), Lincoln Center (FCLC), the School of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS) and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (G.S.A.S.).
“Fordham doesn’t necessarily have that certain overarching structure that most schools have, but when schools do have that structure, it is common for the dean of the graduate school to also be involved with research programs,” said Busch.
Back in 2007, Fordham was faced with the question of who should head Fordham’s research divisions, which resulted in Busch stepping forward as chief research officer. There are similarities between both of her roles, as graduate studies involve encouraging students to participate in research in order to obtain funding and reach desired scholarly careers. The university has recently decided to separate the positions.
Jonathan Crystal, associate chief academic officer in the Office of the Provost, has had a part in the arts and sciences restructuring. Crystal says the role of graduate dean and C.R.O., though they have been held by one person, are two different and difficult jobs. “A dean runs a school and the programs, curricula and policies for that school. And the C.R.O. supports and encourages research by students and faculty,” Crystal said. “It’s become a very overwhelming and confusing structure so there’s been a decision to separate the two roles, streamline them and make [both] stronger.”
During this transition and reorganization, the Provost also announced that Dr. Eva Badowska, associate professor of english and comparative literature, will hold appointment as interim Dean of GSAS, while Dr. Amy Tuininga will serve as interim chief research officer.
“When there is a vacancy in the dean’s position, the university calls for a faculty committee that makes a recommendation to the provost about appointing a permanent dean,” Badowska. “But, the faculty will be very involved. I’ve been enjoying the position and value having a hand in shaping the future of GSAS.”
While the separation of dean and research duties has been decided, the Arts and Sciences branch is still in the early proposal stages of getting feedback on other organizational changes. Still to be decided is the chain of command for deans — particularly the role of the dean of Faculty of Arts and Sciences. This position is currently held by John Harrington, who is also acting as FCRH’s interim dean since Dean Latham’s departure last year. The reorganization of the branch may allow him a larger, more active and collaborative role as the main figure responsible for all of Arts and Sciences, both at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Nevertheless, Badowska, Busch and Crystal all agree that the reorganization and restructuring of Arts and Sciences at Fordham will undoubtedly improve the efficiency of decision making and help the university develop its full potential.
Crystal reiterated that the structure has been complex in the past, but having spoken to faculty across other schools, town halls and councils, he said the long-term effects should stand out among students and faculty. Departments will hopefully spend less time navigating bureaucratic layers and be able to focus more on strengthening curricular offerings and supporting the university community’s development.
“It comes down to ‘what kind of changes do we want to see?’” Crystal said. “We want to make the system less confusing and unwieldy. Our goal is to create a structure that will promote and facilitate long-term strategic planning about the future of Arts and Science education at Fordham.”
While Busch will no longer serve as dean of G.S.A.S. or C.R.O. by the end of the semester, she finds the reorganization of Arts and Science and the separations beneficial and more efficient for Fordham liberal arts’s future.
“We need to give arts and sciences a greater voice and continue hiring administration who we know will be the most effective,” said Busch. “Creating new, separate positions is a matter of a trade off and will allow for better and fuller attention to each.”
“There’s definitely going to be a clearer, more unified voice that will support the kind of long-term thinking that will help Fordham thrive in the future” Crystal continued via email. “Restructuring will ultimately benefit students… We’re aiming to revitalize, which is a sign of how committed Fordham is to arts and sciences in the 21st century and at the liberal arts institutional level.”
