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A radically new structure for the teaching divisions of the college was approved by the Board of Trustees on Aug. 29.

The number of teaching divisions is reduced from 13 to six.

The newly approved structure contains two senior vice president positions, one vice president position, six dean positions, four executive director positions, and a five – school system. The recommended proposal consisted of permanent deans for each school.

13 divisions have been merged into five schools. The school of Humanities and Social Science consists of the English, Languages and ESL and Social Sciences divisions.

The school of Science and Math consists of the Natural Sciences and Kinesiology, Health Sciences and Math and Computer Sciences divisions.

The school of the Arts and design consists of the Performing and Communication Arts, Visual Arts and Media Studies, and Fashion and Architecture divisions.

The school of Career, Technical and Professional Education consists of the Business division and the Engineering and Technology departments.

The Community Education Center will remain unchanged; with a gradual move of programs to the “appropriate academic unit” according to the Aug. 29 Board packet presentation of the tentative realignment plan.

The realignment plan includes a Dean of International Education, a Dean of Faculty, a Dean of Library and Learning Resources, and a Dean of Online and Hybrid Education.

“Divisions will work together in a School ‘pod’ with one dean as pod leader,” according to the Board packet.

A pod, according to Associated Student President Simon Fraser, is the cycling of faculty members as the head of a school for a certain term. “My concern with a rotational model is the lack of continuity. How will it affect the efficiency of collegiate business,” said Fraser.

The realignment diagrams created by the Administration explained a school will eventually migrate to one dean through attrition. “Each discipline will migrate to a faculty governance structure as determined by a mutual agreement between the Academic Senate and the Administration,” it explains.

Vice President of Instruction Robert Bell said there was a discussion of the model last fall. The plan was based on a recommendation from the administration and the planning and priorities committee. “We do believe it will be better for students and for efficiency [with college duties],” he said.

The integration of faculty chairs – of which comprises the “pod” of current division deans – will allow the faculty to have more stakes in the decision making for divisions and schools, according to Bell.

“The faculty has a better sight of the needs for students. The chairs will be better informed for what is better for students,” said Bell.

Miller explained the new plan will make communication more efficient. “I think it is better in terms of the clarity it will bring to the college in relation to those who report up,” he said.

Both Miller and Bell will be the two senior vice presidents in the new realignment plan. Miller will now be in charge of Vice President of Information Technology Dwayne Cable, Chief of Police Safety and Security, Stan Perez, and four new executive positions; a controller director of fiscal services, business services, human resources, and facilities and construction.

President Mark Rocha will oversee Bell, Miller, General Counsel Gail Cooper, Director of Public Relations Juan Gutierrez, Executive Director of the college foundation Bobbi Abram, and a proposed Internal Auditor Inspector General.

Bell will be in charge of all deans; student and learning services, student affairs and athletics, admissions and records, international students, CTE workforce development, library, online, and the CEC.

Fraser agreed redirecting departments would help organize the campus. “There has been fragmentation, it makes sense to expand duties [in certain departments],” he said.

Miller and Bell agreed that the approval of the tentative realignment plan was a good thing. “It is an interim plan because we needed a plan for Dr. Bell to manage from. To go another year [negotiating] would be counter productive,” said Miller.

Bell believed the approval will help move the college forward. “I personally think we are better off with a sense of direction,” he said.

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