From the President
Posted: Thursday, January 30, 2020Buffalo State to Establish School of Arts and Sciences in 2021–2022
With the intention of creating innovative interdisciplinary opportunities for our students, new teaching and research collaborations among our faculty, and additional administrative and academic efficiencies, I am pleased to announce the formation of a new School of Arts and Sciences at Buffalo State College.
The School of Arts and Sciences, which will be established ahead of the 2021–2022 academic year, will comprise the departments and programs currently housed under the School of Arts and Humanities and the School of Natural and Social Sciences.
For the spring 2020 semester and the 2020–2021 academic year, the areas of Arts and Humanities and Natural and Social Sciences will continue to operate as two separate entities under each school’s respective bylaws and procedures. Interim deans Carlos Jones and Scott Goodman have graciously agreed to lead each school through the transition.
The alignment of these disciplines within a single school has been under consideration for a number of years, by both the administration and the faculty. No academic majors or program offerings will be eliminated in this reorganization. Rather, we are hopeful that the new structure will create additional academic opportunities for our students across disciplines as faculties develop new synergies within the school.
Additionally, as plans for renovations continue for the Classroom Building and Upton Hall, we envision an exciting primary physical hub on campus for Arts and Sciences between these two buildings and the Science and Mathematics Complex.
In keeping with our commitment to collaborative and shared governance, interim provost James Mayrose will appoint an implementation team in the coming weeks to assist with the establishment of the School of Arts and Sciences—work which will include the development of new bylaws for the school. Dr. Mayrose will announce the implementation team next month in the Daily Bulletin.
Additionally, a national search for a founding dean of the School of Arts and Sciences will begin in earnest this summer, with the goal of filling the position on or before summer 2021. Consequently, the search that was underway for a dean of natural and social sciences has been closed.
