Reinharz: 'Hard choices' lie ahead
by Joshua Adland
News Editor
News | 3/22/05
Posted online at 7:54 AM EST on 3/22/05
University President Jehuda Reinharz told the Justice last Friday that while he wished the Faculty Review Committee would have made more concrete recommendations in its evaluation of Dean Jaffe's academic restructuring proposals, he appreciated the work of the committee in issuing their report.
He disagreed with many of the committee's criticisms of the administration's approach used to introduce the proposals, saying that "there is no perfect process" and that the University's reputation has not been damaged by the administration's approach.
He also said that "hard choices" lay ahead in terms of what initiatives the administration should move forward with in its integrated planning process.
During the meeting, Reinharz spoke about his opinion of the integrated planning process, how he intends to evaluate departmental needs in the future, and the faith he has in his senior staff to make the right decisions.
Reinharz said the University will see an annual increase of $15 million to its budget over the next seven years. During that period, the already-defined "wish list" of spending increases requires a $40 million annual budget increase. This list includes pay increases, funding for academic programs and the construction of new residence halls.
The review committee's 34-page report said the Dean's suggestions to make cuts in physics, as well as to eliminate the music composition Ph.D program, the linguistics major and the teaching of ancient Greek were unacceptable. It also said that no more than two faculty positions should be cut from the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies department.
The Dean's proposals sought to create additional faculty positions in other departments and to help solve what the Dean has termed an "academic structural deficit" by shifting financial resources in the arts and sciences.
During a special March 3 faculty meeting, Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe rescinded those proposals in the face of the report's conclusions and mounting faculty opposition.
He disagreed with many of the committee's criticisms of the administration's approach used to introduce the proposals, saying that "there is no perfect process" and that the University's reputation has not been damaged by the administration's approach.
He also said that "hard choices" lay ahead in terms of what initiatives the administration should move forward with in its integrated planning process.
During the meeting, Reinharz spoke about his opinion of the integrated planning process, how he intends to evaluate departmental needs in the future, and the faith he has in his senior staff to make the right decisions.
Reinharz said the University will see an annual increase of $15 million to its budget over the next seven years. During that period, the already-defined "wish list" of spending increases requires a $40 million annual budget increase. This list includes pay increases, funding for academic programs and the construction of new residence halls.
The review committee's 34-page report said the Dean's suggestions to make cuts in physics, as well as to eliminate the music composition Ph.D program, the linguistics major and the teaching of ancient Greek were unacceptable. It also said that no more than two faculty positions should be cut from the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies department.
The Dean's proposals sought to create additional faculty positions in other departments and to help solve what the Dean has termed an "academic structural deficit" by shifting financial resources in the arts and sciences.
During a special March 3 faculty meeting, Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe rescinded those proposals in the face of the report's conclusions and mounting faculty opposition.
