Murray State University's Academic Council voted yesterday to restructure two departmental schools and thus eliminate the College of Health Sciences and Human Services. The step was taken in hopes of reducing administrative costs.
University Provost Jay Morgan made his recommendations to the council Thursday afternoon in MSU’s Wells Hall.
Morgan says the school has had to cut nearly $10 million dollars from its $152 million budget over recent years due to decreases in state appropriations.
“It was not an easy decision and our university is down to making tough decisions," said Morgan. "But as we make those tough decisions centrally, it’s been my goal to leave the academic enterprise not subject to cuts.”
The move consolidates all human service fields to a new College of Education and Human Services and moves all health professionals’ fields to the School of Nursing and Health Professionals. Occupational Safety and Health will also join the Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology.
School officials stress the restructuring will not affect students or faculty in any way.
During the move, two tenured college administrators will be given teaching positions while three others will be laid off.
The council's vote was unanimous.
In other business, Morgan said the university had received zero deficiencies or recommendations on its reaccreditation submission to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Commission on Colleges (SACS/COC). Morgan says the visiting review board told him its very rare for a university to do so.
