ELON COLLEGE – The Elon College Board of Trustees has approved creation of
the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education and the School of Communications. The action, which was taken by the board’s executive committee Jan. 27, is designed to emphasize the centrality of the liberal arts and sciences in Elon’s academic offerings. It also recognizes the strength and growth of the education and communications professional programs.
“The creation of the College of Arts and Sciences at Elon College will ensure that a broad-based education remains at the heart of our institution,” says Leo M. Lambert, Elon College president. “The creation of the School of Education and the School of Communications, along with the existing Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, demonstrates our continuing commitment to outstanding professional education.”
Business, communications and education rank as Elon’s most popular majors. Students in all majors must complete a distinctive general studies program, giving them exposure to a wide range of disciplines.
Undergraduates will continue to apply and be admitted to Elon College and will not be required to apply for admission to specific schools or the College of Arts and Sciences. Under the new organization, academic majors in the previous divisions of sciences and mathematics, social sciences and arts and humanities will be combined into the new College of Arts and Sciences.
A committee of faculty and staff members, which has been studying academic reorganization since last fall, recommended the changes. The committee researched models at several other colleges and universities and held numerous meetings and open forums on campus.
“We believe the creation of the College of Arts and Sciences recognizes Elon’s fundamental strengths and guarantees a liberal arts core as the heart of the academic
program,” says Tom Henricks, Danieley professor of sociology and co-chair of the
committee. “At the same time we recognize that the professional schools will play a key role in Elon’s future, offering an opportunity for exciting growth.”
Other committees at Elon are studying the future of graduate programs, the facilities master plan, the college mission statement, the role of faculty in shared governance, technology and the synthesis of academic affairs and student life. These foundational studies will provide the framework for the college’s next strategic plan, New Century @Elon, providing directions for growth and development over the next decade.
Gerald Dillashaw, dean of the Division of Education, Health Promotion, Leisure and Human Performance, has been named dean of the School of Education. A search is under way for a dean of the School of Communications. The academic reorganization committee is continuing discussions on whether the College of Arts and Sciences will be headed by one dean or three deans. The committee will also work on other details related to academic reorganization.
Mooney Building, which was recently renovated, will serve as the home for the School of Education. The School of Communications will move from its current location in the Faith Rockefeller Model Center for the Arts into the renovated McEwen Library next fall. Plans are to name the schools in the future with major endowments from corporations or individuals.