Assistant Engineering Dean and first-year advisor Dr. Leo Pucacco is leaving the school after a disagreement about departmental restructuring according to sources inside the school.
School of Engineering Dean Geoffrey Orsak sent out an e-mail memorandum to all engineering students Thursday morning that said he was “sorry to report that Dr. Leo Pucacco will be leaving the university as of December 8, 2006.”
Calls to Orsak’s residence late Thursday night went unreturned. Pucacco also was unavailable for comment.
According to administrative sources, Pucacco had disagreed with a series of decisions that had been made over the past few months and the decision to restructure the advisors was the last straw. When Pucacco informed Orsak of his displeasure, Orsak said he had to accept the restructuring or he could submit his resignation.
Department faculty and staff were informed of the decision earlier this week.
The proposed restructuring would place Kathy Hubbard in charge of academic advising for the school. Hubbard is currently in charge of the engineering co-op program.
Dr. Betsy Willis will take over Pucacco’s job as advisor for first-year’s as soon as he leaves.
The move to put Hubbard in charge has raised eyebrows amongst students – most of whom did not want to be quoted out of fear of retribution within the school.
One student did speak out, though.
“She’s not the right person to put in that position,” said computer engineering major Kyle Parks. “She’s a very difficult person to deal with.”
Engineering students immediately began to organize a rally for Pucacco when they learned of the decision. Students will meet at 3 p.m. today in the quad between the Blanton Building and engineering buildings to show support for Pucacco.
“I thought it was a serious injustice to the engineering students,” civil engineering major Emily Long said. “He would help you out and work with you on your schedule so it would get done.”
“Picacco knows so much about everything, it’s ridiculous…I hope whoever replaces him knows what they’re doing,” civil engineering major Mat Busby said.
A Facebook group titled “Save Dr. Leo Pucacco!” had more than 75 members within a few hours of its creation. The discussion boards were filled with comments from current students and alumni wanting to know what was going on.
Pucacco received his Ph.D. from SMU and his B.S., and M.S. degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University and Wichita State University.
Pucacco joined the staff of the advising center in 1991, but has been advising first-years and all undergraduates as for more than 30 years. He has also taught various engineering courses and worked in the Admissions Office in the late 1980s.
