Report on the Faculty Restructuring Process
Almost two years ago, the Faculty of Environmental Design undertook a comprehensive assessment of its structure and objectives. The process resulted in a report that was headed by Don Detomasi of our Planning Program and Stuart Walker of our Industrial Design Program. Copies of the report are available for anyone who would be interested in these results. The study was prompted by both resource concerns as well as an ongoing quest for achieving higher levels of interdisciplinary activity amongst faculty members and students. The changes have resulted in a restructured Faculty with fewer duties placed on the Program Directors (essentially department heads) to Program Coordinators. There is a flattening of the organization at least at this level with more responsibility spread between faculty members. There is also a significant attempt to achieve collaborative activity. The Faculty now has two associate deans. Dixon Thompson, Associate Dean (Academic) is responsible for much of the academic approval process as it relates to students, which is guided by an Academic Program Group made up of representatives of all of the programs. The Faculty's research and outreach activities fall under Walter Jamieson, Associate Dean (Research and Outreach with a strong emphasis on achieving interdisciplinary and collaboration. Research and outreach activities are guided by a Research Policy Committee.
We are losing more faculty members this year through early retirements, namely Don Detomasi and Phil Elder from the Planning Program, Steve Herrero from our Environmental Science Program and Dale Taylor from the Architecture Program. These retirements follow Val Geist from Environmental Science and Bill Perks from the Planning Program. The Faculty received approval for two new programs last year, namely an undesignated Master's of Environmental Design or General Program, which allows students to design a very individual interdisciplinary program. There are 30 students attached to this particular program. We also received funding approval for a Ph.D. Program which has seen its way through the University approval process and has now been formally approved by the Board of Governors. There will be 20 students at full complement in this Program. We already have several students in the Program and by January of 1998 we expect at least 10 students. These students range from Planning to Environmental Science as well as one student from Architecture and one from Industrial Design. New faculty member, Dr. Michael Quinn, has been appointed to a position in environmental planning and management.
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