News

Emory University Announces Changes To College of Arts & Sciences

September 17th, 2012

Emory University is announcing some major changes within the College of Arts and Sciences.

School officials say it is part of a multi-year plan the university is unveiling for the future.

It will move Emory’s College of Arts and Sciences to encompass new programs and now is the time to start that plan says Dean Robin Forman, “for the past few years we’ve been dealing with deficits and working hard to get the college on a stable foundation and we’ve done that.”

Graduate programs in Spanish and economics will be suspended.

The Division of Educational Studies, the Department of Physical Education and Department of Visual Arts will be closing as well as the undergraduate journalism program.

“It’s a judgment that we can do a better job of taking advantage of the opportunities of having journalism be part of a college of Arts and Sciences. New Media is one prominent example of that,” says Forman.

Along with digital studies and new media, there will be the study of contemporary China.

“Since the day I arrived, I’ve been hearing from students and faculty that we need more of a presence of the study of China on our campus.”

Dean Forman says conversations about changes were long in discussion before his arrival.

But he says these decisions come on the heels of planning with university officials.

Dean Forman says the changes are not a result of budget cuts but rather a reinvestment into enhancing the college of arts and sciences.

“This is not about addressing a deficit. This is not about saving money. ”

Some changes will take effect by the end of this fiscal year and others within the next five.

Forman says no tenured faculty will be laid off.

However there are 20 support positions that could be affected if they’re not reassigned.

*This transcript has been modified from its original version on Sept. 17th. WABE reported that the graduate Spanish and Economics programs were “going away.” The programs are being suspended from accepting new admissions.

WABE regrets the error.