University of Minnesota restructures graduate program administration Contacts: Daniel Wolter, University News Service, (612) 625-8510 |
The University of Minnesota will restructure the administration of its graduate programs to enhance graduate education for students, strengthen the programs and reduce costs, according the Provost Tom Sullivan. "Our graduate programs are some of the best in the world, attracting talented faculty and students who lead amazing scientific, artistic and scholarly breakthroughs," said Sullivan. "This restructuring is aimed at enhancing our excellence and international reputation as well as dealing with the fiscal challenges of today." As part of the restructuring, the current Graduate School will be changed from a free-standing administrative unit to which all graduate programs report, to an Office for Graduate Education within the Provost's Office, which will be responsible for oversight, coordination and leadership on issues related to graduate education. The Office for Graduate Education will approve changes to the Ph.D. programs, promote and facilitate the evolution of new interdisciplinary programs, and serve as an advocate for graduate education. Ultimate responsibility and accountability for the quality of individual graduate programs will reside with collegiate deans and their faculties. "This new structure will improve communication between the Provost's Office and collegiate units and will also put administration of graduate programs directly in the hands of the colleges - similar to what it is for undergraduate programs," said Sullivan. "For students and faculty, this will improve and simplify their experience." An implementation team that consists of collegiate deans, experienced directors of graduate studies, graduate students, faculty and the Provost's Office will be formed to develop an implementation plan. New reporting lines will be effective July 1, 2009 and full implementation is expected by fall 2010. |
