Office of the Dean
November 2008
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is well into its second year. Forming one College from three Schools was the most ambitious piece of the Final Plan for a Sustainable SOU (March 2007) and the creative result increases the visibility of the University's many diverse offerings.
Here are a few of the things we've accomplished in our first year:
- The CAS Chairs' Council, composed of 15 Department
Chairs and the deans, has become a thoughtful governing body for the
College. We made significant strides in how we make decisions together. Specific accomplishments in our first year include:
- Designed a Summer Session program that is student focused and works within our current budget constraints. Enrollment increased substantially over last year.
- Built a budget for 2008 - 2009 in collaboration with Finance and Administration that uses the new budget model and integrates Medford and ECP programming.
- Lived with Retrenchment for Year 1 of 3; SOU met its financial goals and we are on target for careful reinvestment.
- Launched a new personnel system with Human Resources.
- Integrated Extended Campus Programs (ECP) into the College and Departments.
Specific goals for this year include:
- Implementing the Department Snapshots. These will be internal documents with summaries available on the public web pages of the University. They will pull together enrollment, curriculum, faculty, and budget information for each department.
- Developing Academic, Enrollment, and Communication Plans for each department that supports the goals of Southern.
- Expanding graduate programs. The Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS) is almost through the approval process with OUS. We will also develop several Professional Science Masters (PMS) programs as part of a state-wide initiative to partner interdisciplinary science with business in applied programs of study.
- Conducting a national search for the permanent Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Dean of Education Geoff Mills is chairing the search committee.
- We have a lively and functioning CAS Dean's Office. Our
office of seven is responsible for
overseeing the financial, personnel, and curricular issues of the College,
15 departments, and several other programs.
- Barbara Cantrell - As Executive Manager, Barbara provides wise council and guidance, overseeing the many details of the fiscal and personnel business of the CAS Office.
- Debi Holcombe - Although Debi is Office Coordinator, she wears numerous hats including Computer Science Coordinator, Graduate Program Office Coordinator, and files guru.
- Amy Rodgers - Amy organizes information about CAS grants and works with the SOU Grants Office, Principle Investigators (PIs), and the Budget Office to help communication and oversight between the Dean and the researchers.
- Claire Cross - Our CAS Summer Session Director works closely with department chairs, the Provost and the deans. Claire helps develop new programs such as the Ethnography Field Camp, classes at Deer Creek Center for Field Research and Education, and 1 credit Raider Rollout classes.
- Lois DeBruno - Lois is helping with the integration of Extended Campus Program offerings into the College. She has responsibility for American Band College and works with Music, Health, Physical Education, & Leadership, and other departments.
- Vicki Purslow - As the Associate Dean, Vicki continues to work closely with departments on transition issues, budget, and Medford staffing issues. She serves on the University Strategic Planning Committee as well as others. When students have concerns, Vicki is responsive and pragmatic in helping.
- Josie Wilson - As Acting Dean, I continue to work on budget, personnel issues, and curriculum development. I provide leadership for the CAS Chairs' Council and work closely with the Provost and Executive Council.
We invite you to explore the CAS Department news and department web sites. Also join us in the CAS Friday Seminars and for other events during the year.
With good wishes,
JOSIE WILSON
Acting Dean
(541) 552-8173 jwilson@sou.edu
