Board of Trustees Meeting Nov. 17 | Photo by Caitlin Shatsby | The Wright State Guardian
Wright State University’s (WSU) governing body approved the reorganization of the liberal arts college, progressing changes to the college and university as a whole.
COLA reorganization
During their Feb.17 committee day and Feb. 18 public session, WSU’s board of trustees considered and passed several important issues including the approval of the reorganization of the College of Liberal Arts (COLA).
The board, with support from President Sue Edwards, fully approved the reorganization.
“I’m bringing to you today my recommendation, my strong recommendation to approve the reorganization of the College of Liberal Arts,” Edwards said during the meeting.
This is the first full college reorganization and second college restructuring. The College of Health Education and Human Services (CHEHS), created in 2021, was the first restructure of a college at WSU. Unlike COLA, the creation of CHEHS combined programs.
Next steps
The reorganization of the college began in October 2021, when Linda Caron, dean of COLA, commissioned a board to reevaluate every aspect of the college due to declining faculty numbers and low student enrollment. The members then created a comprehensive report of their suggested changes.
Now that reorganization has been approved, the college will be broken up into three separate schools based on subject matter. Faculty members within the schools will then begin to restructure their programs and reevaluate course requirements.
“Upon board of trustees’ approval, each proposed new school within the college should begin meeting,” the report states.
Faculty members will then discuss curricular changes and find ways the existing faculty and programs can work closer together.
It is uncertain if the board approved the proposed names of the new schools or when reorganization will be completed.
