SR 22-01 - Resolution in Opposition to the Split of the School of Arts and Sciences

WHEREAS the opportunities for authentic shared governance regarding this implementation have been limited to two last-minute, time-constrained Town Halls, nor has a clear problem been advanced that warrants such a split; and

WHEREAS faculty members in departments within the School of Arts and Sciences were given only two weeks to make a decision regarding the placement of their department; and

WHEREAS Provost Avila intends to implement the division of Arts and Sciences by January 2023; and

WHEREAS there are important implications for enrollment, retention, tenure, and promotion decisions for which faculty have not been fully informed and data has not been provided; and

WHEREAS this division will result in two new colleges with uneven distribution of students and faculty, as well as the inequitable distribution of departmental resources; and

WHEREAS President Yao and Provost Avila recently announced to the campus community an additional $4 million loss in revenue; coupled with continuing enrollment declines and other fixed expenses, this has led to a projected $12 million budget shortfall for AY 2022-23; and

WHEREAS the recent Fall 2022 Enrollment Census Day Report shows enrollment of 3,650 FTES for the School of Arts & Sciences, data which represents a 12.3% decline in FTES from Fall 2021

WHEREAS historic enrollment data further indicates that the school of Arts & Science is now smaller than anytime since AY 2015-2016, when FTES was 4,039.

WHEREAS the campus’s declining enrollment and cuts in instructional budgets do not currently warrant the creation of another College, nor has data been provided that demonstrates how such a split will increase enrollment; and

WHEREAS such a split requires additional administrative hires (a Dean and potentially Associate Dean, in addition to corresponding support staff) despite campus budget shortfalls and a pending Senate Resolution that calls for a moratorium on additional MPP hiring; and

WHEREAS the position description for the “Founding Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities” has already been posted despite a search committee not yet formed and a lack of faculty input-a violation of FA.31.019/SP.21.002, Policy on VP and Academic Administrator Searches and Appointments, (approved just last year with the input of Provost Avila); and

WHEREAS the position description for “Founding Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities” has been publicly posted to include departments that do not currently exist within our university; and

WHEREAS there remains a lack of meaningful dialogue about the disciplinary division of Arts & Sciences, resulting in no suitable space for departments in the Social Sciences; and

WHEREAS the recommendations and guiding principles of the Academic Organizations Team from Charting Our Course were not considered or incorporated into the proposal for splitting Arts & Sciences,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that there be a halt on the implementation of such a split until the university has adequate funding, until student enrollment data demonstrates a need for a 4th college, and until satisfactory shared governance processes can be followed, allowing for meaningful input from staff, students, and faculty, including those from departments in the social sciences; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that shared governance processes initiated around this issue should explicitly include data demonstrating that any new structures proposed are likely to increase enrollment as well as data indicating that this proposed split (or any alternatives) are budget-neutral or budgetenhancing over a clearly defined time frame; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such a split be delayed until the Academic Senate and members of the faculty can further discuss existing resolutions regarding the moratorium on hiring of MPPs, and engage in meaningful shared governance regarding the academic plans and structures identified in the Multi-Year Academic Plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Provost and/or President establish a task force around this issue; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That this resolution be distributed CSUCI President Richard Yao, CSUCI Provost Mitch Avila, and the members of the CSUCI Cabinet.