The search for a new dean of Dedman College will not resume until after a new provost is selected, according to an announcement made by interim Provost Tom Tunks Wednesday.
Tunks made the announcement at this semester’s general faculty meeting, and said the charge of finding a new dean would entice potential provost candidates and make the position more desirable.
A search committee was previously formed under past provost Robert Blocker and was led by School of Engineering Dean Geoffrey Orsak. The committee selected three candidates-Roger Benjamin, Jim Lindsay and Jim Quick-but all three were rejected and in April, SMU announced the search would be extended for another year. In the interim, Blocker named Caroline Brettel dean of the college.
Brettel will continue to serve as interim dean, Tunks said Wednesday, and he expressed his confidence in her abilities.
“Dedman College is in good hands,” Tunks said.
Dedman II Student Senator Ben Hatch said he understands the university’s position in trying to find quality candidates, but expressed concerns about the timeline for finding a new dean for the college he represents.
“Dedman College is SMU’s largest academic division, and while selecting a new Vice President for Academic Affairs [Provost] is essential, it’s problematic to leave so much uncertainty at the top. The dean makes important decisions regarding tenure, and there are a lot of important academic functions toward a long-term vision for Dedman College that an interim dean may not be able to handle,” said Hatch.
Tunks also announced that R. Hal Williams would no longer serve SMU as dean of Research and Graduate Studies. A search to replace him will begin immediately, Tunks said, and added the position will be rearranged and retitled to Associate Vice President of Research/Dean of Graduate Studies.
Faculty Senate President Rhonda Blair gave an emphatic speech to her colleagues. She outlined the university’s Centennial Strategic Plan, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the plans’ five goals. Her biggest criticisms regarded the lack of female and minority professors at SMU, citing among other statistics, only 21 percent of tenured faculty is female and only 14 percent of the faculty are minorities.
Blair was also critical of the athletic department and its budget deficit, and while she acknowledged the importance of intercollegiate sports and the challenges athletic departments face nationwide, she said the university should do more to promote academics.
“We call on the university to minimize the impact the athletic deficit has on academic resources,” Blair said.
Eight faculty members from four schools were presented with academic regalia at the meeting, a ceremony that commemorates the awarding of tenure to university professors.
Tunks presented four associate professors that were promoted to full professor this semester. Tunks also presented geological sciences professor Louis Jacobs with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award. The award is conferred at colleges that have historical ties to the United Methodist Church and the recipient of the award receives a $2,000 award for his commitment to teaching and to the university.
