LSU Library School to Lose Autonomy

At an April 14 faculty forum, Louisiana State University Chancellor Michael V. Martin announced major changes in the school’s organization that will affect the School of Library and Information Science. Effective July 1, the school is to be incorporated into a new and as-yet-unnamed college that will also include the current College of Education and School of Social Work. Martin said in the April 15 Baton Rouge Advocate that the plan was not in response to a pending $34-million budget cut from the state.

SLIS Dean Beth Paskoff told American Libraries that the school would lose a certain amount of its autonomy as a result of the move. “When I look at the LIS programs recently ranked by U.S. News and World Report—and LSU is ranked at 22nd—I see that the vast majority of them are autonomous,” she said. “I know that other well-respected LIS programs are part of larger units, but we have established partnerships and double degrees with other colleges on campus. I don’t see that this move will make this easier.”

The new college is tentatively designated the College of Education and Human Professions, but LSU Provost Astrid Merget said at the meeting that “we will entertain ideas for a better title.”

Paskoff said that the school’s curriculum and faculty would not change. “Accreditation will still be a priority,” she added, “and we are not up for review until 2012. Right now we do not have any information about the structure of the new college, except that I would become the director of the school rather than the dean.”

Although there had been indications that a campuswide reorganization plan was under consideration, the announcement took many faculty by surprise. “None of the deans were involved in the decision-making process,” Paskoff said, “or knew about any details before the end of March.”

Paskoff indicated that there are ongoing discussions on campus about specific details. The plan still must undergo review by both the LSU Board of Supervisors and the Board of Regents before it is finalized.

Posted on April 29, 2009..

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