Why are we restructing?

What is the working relationship among the Deans like?

If my program/department moves to another unit as a result of the restructure, will I need to move offices?

Are we merging with another institution?

Why a STEM college? 

 

 

 

 

 

Why are we restructuring?

 

• During 2020-21, all units were charged with restructuring and most of the administrative units did engage in some form of restructure.  However, academic affairs was given additional time to complete the restructure.
• Increase organizational efficiencies
• Provides opportunities for collaborative, interdisciplinary and synergistic activities
• Reorganization as an innovation stimulator and stagnation preventative
• Rebalancing administrative workloads for department heads/deans as well as numbers of students/programs
• Allows academic affairs to evaluate current structure that has been in place for over 10 years to determine if we can operate more efficiently.

 

What is the working relationship among the deans like?

• The deans get along well.  The VPAA has commented on their collaboration on several occasions.

If my program/department moves to another unit as a result of the restructure, will I need to move offices?

• At this time, we do not anticipate office changes unless it would be of benefit to the faculty, program and students. 

 

Are we merging with another institution?

• No, we are not merging with another institution. 

Why a STEM college?

 

• A place of focus for STEM fields and degrees, grant & research activity in STEM areas.
• Align with the newest state grant program Arkansas Future (ArFuture) which is designed to increase the education and skills of Arkansas’s workforce that applies to students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) or regional high-demand areas of study.
• Align with the State of Arkansas economic development initiatives and the Governor’s emphasis in STEM field education and training such as coding in public schools.
• Take advantage of the additional focus within the State economic recovery plan on graduating more students with bachelor’s degrees (especially in science, technology, engineering and math – STEM – fields) and retaining them to boost the knowledge intensity of businesses in the state.
• The ATU masterplan which received input during its development from the university community through open forums and various meetings was approved by the Board of Trustees in October 2017.  This plan was inclusive of a STEM building.  It was the desire at that time to bring programs together appropriate for a STEM facility.
• As overall enrollment in higher education in the state has trended down, enrollment in STEM is trending up (see below) and we want to be able to take advantage of the synergies that come with all STEM majors being in the same college.