10
December
2010
|
09:14 AM
America/Los_Angeles

CSUSM Announces Academic Reorganization

Plan reconfigures three existing colleges and school of nursing into four collegesSan Marcos, CA-California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) President Karen S. Haynes announced today that the university will undergo a reorganization of its existing academic structure to enhance innovative educational offerings and to prepare for future growth and development. Currently CSUSM is comprised of the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Business Administration, and a School of Nursing.  The new structure will include a College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, a College of Science and Mathematics, and a College of Education, Health, and Human Services.  The College of Business Administration will remain unchanged."Leadership vacancies in two of our three colleges as well as the School of Nursing presents us with an unusual opportunity to define who we are and who we want to be as we recruit new deans that match roles that are parallel to our future vision," said Haynes.Currently CoAS disproportionately educates 76 percent of the entire student population. Redistributing the nearly 30 academic programs and 7 interdisciplinary and emerging programs among other colleges will enhance synergies and distribute resources and workload more rationally and equitably. The academic reorganization will also allow departments and accompanying faculty members to realign into new colleges to better serve the needs of students.The new College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences will include the departments of Anthropology, Communication, Economics, History, Liberal Studies, Literature and Writing Studies, Modern Language Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Visual and Performing Arts, and Women's Studies.  Interdisciplinary and emerging programs will include Cognitive Science, Ethnic Studies, Film Studies, Global Studies, and Native Studies.The new College of Science and Mathematics will include the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science and Information Systems, Mathematics, and Physics.  Interdisciplinary and emerging programs will include Biotechnology.The new College of Education, Health, and Human Services will include Education, Nursing, Kinesiology, and Human Development. "This academic restructuring reflects the 21st century in every aspect," said Haynes. "I am confident that this will position us well to leverage our strengths and create a stronger impact with our programs. These structural changes truly couldn't come at a better time than now when we are focusing on the future and what our university will look like at our 25th anniversary. This is an important step in CSUSM becoming the highly visible leader in public higher education for this region and beyond."University leadership will begin recruiting deans to lead the new colleges during the spring of 2011. About California State University San MarcosCalifornia State University San Marcos combines the ambiance of a mid-sized, personal, modern campus with the unequaled value of the California State University. Since its founding in 1989, the campus has distinguished itself in many areas. Students benefit from the latest facilities and equipment, a superb faculty that values teaching and scholarship, and a rigorous academic program that prepares students for a fulfilling and successful life in and out of the workplace. A recent survey reported that our annual spending in the region was $161 million, generating a total impact of $307 million on the regional economy. 85 percent of CSUSM's alumni stay in the region. CSU San Marcos is located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the city of San Marcos. It is 15 miles east of the ocean; just 30 miles north of downtown San Diego.