All the programs that once were housed in the College of Human Ecology have been moved to other colleges and are getting settled, except for apparel and textile design, which hasn't yet been redistributed.
Meanwhile, plans and a curriculum for developing a residential college in the arts and humanities are still being worked out as details go through the Academic Governance system.
Updates on both of these changing areas at MSU will be presented by Provost Kim Wilcox at the MSU Board of Trustees meeting Friday.
"All have been relocated except for one academic program," said June Youatt, assistant provost for undergraduate education and dean of undergraduate studies. "They are taking the time to look at a variety of areas that feature some elements of design and see where their program would be the best match."
The apparel and textile design program is likely to be moved by January 2006, Youatt said.
Questions about the future of the College of Human Ecology began in February 2004, after then-Provost Lou Anna K. Simon introduced a liberal arts reorganization plan that would dissolve the college and transfer its programs to more academically related colleges. Although that plan has been scrapped, the Human Ecology relocation portion remained.
Wilcox also will update the board on the proposed residential college that will be housed in Snyder and Phillips halls and explain that it is progressing though Academic Governance on schedule.
The updates are only to inform the board of the projects' current status. No action will be taken.
"(The residential college) will offer students a different environment that is a bit more focused in terms of curriculum and opportunities," Wilcox said. "It will raise visibility of art and humanities like (the James Madison College) has raised visibility of political science and social science."
This summer, a faculty committee created introductory courses for the residential college that were approved without dissent. Curriculum development and planning will continue throughout the fall. It will be presented to the board in October after going through Academic Governance.
These changes, including the relocation of Human Ecology, align with MSU President Simon's new initiative, "Boldness by Design," which strives to make MSU the top land-grant research institution in the country by 2012.
To further the advancement of the university, the board saw a need to put some money back into the academic quality of the university. Trustees left money in the budget for administrators to distribute into new and old programs. Wilcox has offered these funds to any of the college deans, who can encourage their faculty to create proposals for funding. The top proposals will receive funding for their colleges.
All submitted proposals must directly benefit students, either by expanding international reach; enriching the community, economy and family life; enhancing the students' experiences; increasing research opportunities; or by strengthening stewardship.
"We know that for several years we have had to cut budgets," Wilcox said. "You can't cut budgets year after year without affecting the quality of academics on campus. This is a chance to regain some lost ground. We want to make sure we are smart about it. We want to find the right places."
Eunice Foster, the associate dean of undergraduate, certificate, faculty and staff development in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said she is very excited to have the opportunity to gain more funding for her college.
She said her faculty is currently "working together creatively" to develop proposals that will impact students, especially undergraduates.
"(Undergraduates) are the heart of any university," Foster said. "So with budget cuts, we have had to trim back a lot of the icing from the cake. This gives us an opportunity to be creative and think about how we can take our educational programs to the next level, and I think that is exciting for everybody."
