Voices from the Academy

Last summer, EAB hosted a panel of provosts and deans who have led efforts to restructure departments and colleges. This conversation was so robust we are hosting a second panel, with a new set of voices on the topic. Whether or not you were able to join this discussion, we hope you can join us in March.

The demands on colleges and universities have changed rapidly in recent years, with volatile enrollments, rising student interest in multidisciplinary programs, and increased funding for cross-disciplinary research that addresses real world challenges. But even as academic disciplines have continued to evolve, the academic organizational structures in which they are housed have typically remained static. And yet simply raising the possibility of adjustments to departmental and college structures often ignites a firestorm of faculty protest.

We are thrilled to be joined by our panelists Marion K. Underwood, Provost and Executive Vice President at Colorado State University; Khadijat Rashid, Provost at Gallaudet University; and Lynne Crossman, Inaugural Dean, College for Health, Community and Policy at The University of Texas at San Antonio. They will share what worked and what didn’t, including:

• How can new academic structures improve student success, attract more students, facilitate interdisciplinary teaching and research, and reduce administration overhead?
• How can you decide when the enormous effort required to redesign academic structures is worth the time (and the risk) versus other policy approaches to improving collaboration across academic siloes (like centers, institutes, or joint programs or courses)?
• How can university budget models support or hinder efforts to improve collaboration across academic units?
• What are the best ways to engage faculty in planning discussions? How can you design a process that transparently addresses their concerns without collapsing under the weight of faculty anxiety?

Session

Click the Register button to sign up.

Attendance is best suited for provosts and academic deans.

• Wednesday, March 5, 2025 | 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time