Trustees Approve Merger of Journalism + Communication

OHIO STATE JOURNALISM, COMMUNICATION WILL FORM NEW SCHOOL;
UNIVERSITY COMPUTING SYSTEMS TO MERGE

     COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University Board of Trustees 
Friday (7/7) approved mergers of the School of Journalism 
and Department of Communication and of Academic Technology 
Services and University Systems.

Journalism-Communication Merger to be Completed in 1996

     The Journalism-Communication merger will take place in 
two stages, according to a plan approved by trustees to 
create a new school.

     The first stage began in May when representatives of 
the two faculties hammered out a mission statement and a 
working agreement.

     The second stage involves a year-long discussion to 
reach the actual merger, which will take effect July 1, 
1996.  During deliberations, the School of Journalism and 
the Department of Communication will operate separately, 
with separate budgets.

     During the 1995-96 school year, faculty subcommittees 
will deliberate:

     -- A name for the new school and will provide the dean 
with input regarding selection of a permanent director.
     -- Faculty responsibilities, tenure and promotion and 
other administrative policies.
     -- How to expand the communication Ph.D. program to 
include a track in mass communication; and any changes in 
the undergraduate program.
     -- Use of resources.
     -- How to foster intellectual exchanges between the two 
faculties.

     If the faculties cannot agree, a committee of three 
senior faculty from other departments will mediate.  The 
Office of Academic Affairs will appoint the mediators.

     In discussions during the summer of 1993, 
representatives from the College of Social and Behavioral 
Sciences, the Department of Communication and the School of 
Journalism concluded that collaborative research and 
curricular ties between the academic units were "minimal."

     However, the committee also saw logic in renewing and 
developing links.  In February 1994, the college announced 
its restructuring plans, which included the proposed new 
school.

     Communication faculty and graduate students immediately 
expressed opposition, especially because the proposed 
restructuring required downsizing to meet the college's 
share of university-wide budget cuts.

     However, in April 1994, the college faculty approved 
the proposed merger 137 to 57, with eight abstentions.

     Journalism faculty expressed concern, but in large 
supported the merger, said Lee Becker, the school's interim 
director.  They accepted the merger in February 1995, with 
11 votes in favor, none against and one abstention.

     Only in April 1995, when they met with the Oversight 
Committee on Restructuring and the Council on Academic 
Affairs, did communication faculty feel their concerns were 
being heard, said Donald Cegala, interim chair of the 
Department of Communication.  At that point, they joined 
with journalism faculty in crafting a working agreement and 
mission statement.

     "This is an opportunity to forge a new, dynamic 
school," said Don Haurin, associate dean of the College of 
Social and Behavioral Sciences.

     Advantages to forming a new school include:

     -- Adding an interdisciplinary mass communications 
track to the communication department's existing Ph.D. 
program.  Journalism faculty for some time have wanted to 
create a doctoral program.
     -- Solving some of the difficulties both programs have 
with enrollment and closed courses.  For example, the 
communication program can be included in Journalism's 
enrollment management plan, which already was revised spring 
quarter to help eliminate a log-jam of pre-majors.  Also, 
the college has pledged to aggressively seek funding to open 
courses that have been closed.
     -- Building research collaborations.

Merger of Computer Operations to Produce Efficiencies

     The trustees also approved merging Ohio State's two 
large computing operations units, effective Monday (7/10).  
The merger of University Systems and Academic Technology 
Services into University Technology Services combines 
academic computing and administrative computing.

     Academic computing is centered around the provision of 
training, software and hardware to aid teaching, learning 
and research.  Administrative computing enables the 
university to function by maintaining budgets, payrolls, 
enrollment rosters, grades and so forth.

     Trustees appointed James F. Davis as interim director 
of the combined office through June 1996.  A professor of 
chemical engineering and associate director for Academic 
Computing Services,  Davis will lead UTS while the new unit 
takes on its future shape and while a search is conducted 
for a permanent director, said Edward Ray, senior vice 
provost and chief information officer.

     "I'm very enthusiastic about this opportunity," said 
Davis.  "There is considerable potential for the UTS 
organization to enhance the mission of the university by 
helping it move into a much stronger information-based mode 
of operation."

     Davis said it is premature to discuss specific plans 
for the new office.

     "However, my general plan is to start immediately on 
the process of merging ATS and University Systems, but in 
such a way that we maintain the stability of the services 
that are provided, while at the same time, internally, 
beginning to look at how we should be organized to function 
as a coherent group."

     None of the approximately 200 computing employees will 
be laid off because of the merger.
                             #

Contact:  Lee Becker, (614) 292-6291; Donald Cegala, 
292-2399; Ed Ray, 292-5881; James Davis, 292-6553.


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Fri, 7 Jul 1995 17:44:09 -0400]
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