Regents Approve ASU Academic Reorganization Due to Funding Shortfall
May 13, 2011
In anticipating the budget shortfalls from the State of Texas, ASU’s leadership began an academic review process last fall and accelerated that process this spring to determine how best to realign our academic units.
“This is a direct result of the decreased appropriations we are expecting from the state,” said ASU President Joseph C. Rallo. “After a thorough review of all academic departments and after discussions with deans of the respective colleges, we have determined the need for reorganization at both the college and departmental levels.”
Based on House Bill 1 before the Texas Legislature, current projections for each of the next two years show ASU receiving $3.6 to $4.4 million less than the current appropriation. The reorganization is designed to help ASU save money, become more efficient and achieve the university’s enrollment growth goals.
Beginning in fall 2011, the six ASU colleges will be consolidated into five colleges, and the university’s 22 departments will be consolidated into 18 departments. Although various areas of academics will be redefined, programs will uphold their commitment to educational excellence.
Rallo also indicated that the consolidation of colleges and departments will reduce administrative overhead allowing the university to maintain high academic standards while receiving fewer funds from the state.
The reorganization changes that will go into effect with the start of the fall semester are as follows:
College Reorganizations:
- The College of Liberal and Fine Arts and the College of Sciences will be consolidated to create the College of Arts and Sciences. • The College of Nursing and Allied Health will be re-named the College of Health and Human Services
The College of Arts and Sciences will now house:
- The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, created from consolidating the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Computer Science (previously housed in the College of Sciences)
- The Department of English and Modern Languages, created from consolidating the Department of English and the Department of Modern Languages
- The Department of History and Political Science, created from consolidating the Department of History and the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice
The College of Health and Human Services will now house:
- The Department of Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences, created from consolidating the Department of Nursing and the Department of Physical Therapy
- The athletic training degree programs (previously administered in the Kinesiology Department) will also be housed in the Department of Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences.
- The Department of Kinesiology (previously housed in the College of Education)
- The Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work (previously housed in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts)
The College of Business:
- The Department of Security Studies and Criminal Justice, combined from the Department of Security Studies and the criminal justice degree programs previously housed in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice (both departments previously administered through the College of Liberal and Fine Arts).