September 3, 1998-vol30n2: Plan would merge Communication with SILS

VOLUME 30, NUMBER 2 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1998

Plan would merge Communication with SILS

By CHRISTINE VIDAL
Reporter Editor

A plan that would merge the Department of Communication with the School of Information and Library Studies (SILS) could allow both units to develop new strengths and reach a critical mass, according to a report by the Faculty Senate Academic Planning Committee.

The report was presented to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee on Aug. 26.

Claude Welch, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Political Science and chair of the academic planning committee, noted that faculty votes taken in both units favored a merger.

The new unit might be called the School of Information Studies, a name that prompted Judith Adams-Volpe, director of Lockwood Library, to urge the committee to rethink the new moniker.

"Just this summer a very strong backlash has developed regarding taking the word and concept of 'library' out of schools and courses," she said. "Taking the word 'library' out of the title, while probably OK now, is going to be problematic in the future....Some changes might have to be considered."

The FSEC unanimously accepted the committee's report.

They also approved three topics the academic planning committee will look into during the 1998-99 academic year. They are:

n providing comments on information being collected by the Office of the Provost that will be contributed to a SUNY mission statement that is being drafted by System Administration in Albany.

n the organization of biological-sciences and chemical-sciences courses that are offered by several schools across the university.

n monitoring the new Department of Computer Science and Engineering, as well as the new school that would be formed by the merger of the School of Information and Library Studies and the Department of Communication.