The schools of Nursing, Agriculture and Human Ecology will soon merge to make up the new College of Agricultural and Human Sciences. The reorganization, which will take effect once a new dean is hired for the college, was approved at the Tennessee Board of Regents meeting last month.

The restructuring is a result of the university's effort to enhance administrative efficiency as part of the TTU strategic plan, according to Marvin Barker, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

"This was a strategic decision to make the most of what each school has to offer and to operate them together more efficiently," says Barker. "We'll look forward to seeing the synergy that develops with the combined strengths of each unit."

The deans' positions in what used to be the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology and in the School of Nursing have both been open for more than a year. With this merger, both of those deans' positions will be eliminated, and a new dean of the combined college will be selected following a nationwide search. The change allows for funding to create at least one new doctoral-level faculty position within the School of Nursing.

At this point, students and faculty will not see a visible change in any of the academic units involved, Barker says. The two current interim deans, Wade Faw and Sheila Green, will continue in their present capacities within the schools until the new dean is selected, when they will return to operating in their previous roles as directors.

"I can't thank Drs. Faw and Green enough for their hard work and dedication to their schools," Barker says. "They have maintained a commitment to excellence and continue to provide strong leadership. We could not have done this successfully without their support and guidance."

The reorganization was supported by the faculty of the three schools and was presented to the Academic Council and Faculty Senate earlier, he adds.

Barker plans to assemble the search committee for the dean's position this fall, and he has already asked Darrell Garber, dean of the College of Education, to chair the committee, which will also include one faculty member from each of the three schools and one alumnus or supporter of each. He hopes to have the new dean in place by July 2007.