November 10, 1994: Vol26n10: A message to the University Community

The Arts and Sciences Deans Council is an experiment in interfaculty
cooperation. Three of the largest faculties in the University are
attempting to work together in a common purpose. We think it is
working well, but it is a challenging task. Not only is it important
that the three Deans and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
work together, but we must communicate these activities to members of
the three faculties so that all who want to can become involved in an
informed way. The following statement is the first in a number of
communications directed primarily at the members of the three arts and
sciences faculties. It may also be of interest to the broader
University community. 
 PRoss D. MacKinnon, Convening Dean
	This Newsletter is intended as a way to apprise faculty
members in the Arts and Sciences of the coordinated activities of the
three Deans of Arts and Sciences and the Vice Provost for
Undergraduate Education. As the year progresses, we anticipate that
subsequent issues will be circulated to update faculty on our
deliberations.
	Late last spring, the Triggle Committee on the Arts and
Sciences presented its report to the Provost. Based on its
recommendations, Aaron Bloch, the Provost, recommended that the
Faculties of Arts and Sciences, at least for the purposes of
undergraduate education, begin to act like a single unit. To this end,
he formed the Council of Arts and Sciences Deans, composed of the
three deans of Arts and Letters, Natural Sciences and Mathematics and
Social Sciences and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. He
charged this group with coordinating efforts to improve the
effectiveness of undergraduate education. This Council began meeting
in June and has been meeting on a weekly basis ever since.
	At the group's first meeting, Ross MacKinnon, Dean of Social
Sciences, was selected as the Convening Dean.
	After appropriate consultation with members of their
faculties, the three deans appointed an Arts and Sciences Curriculum
and Program Committee. The members of the Committee are Fred See,
Associate Dean, Arts and Letters; Linda Swiniuch, Theatre and Dance;
Michael Frisch, American Studies; Steve Dyson, Classics (Chair of
Committee); Alan Cadenhead, Associate Dean, Natural Sciences and
Mathematics (Co-Chair); Ian Baldwin, Biology; Jerry Kiester,
Chemistry; Michael Cowen, Mathematics; Charles Stinger, Associate
Dean, Social Sciences; Peter Hare, Philosophy; and Wolfgang Wolck,
Linguistics. This Committee is charged with evaluating and
recommending changes in the general education program for the Arts and
Sciences. It is also to consider and evaluate proposed changes in
other matters directly affecting the academic program of arts and
sciences students. It is currently evaluating Arts and Sciences'
general education requirements. When the Committee completes its
consideration of this complex set of issues, any proposals it has
developed to change existing requirements will be submitted for vote
to members of the faculties of Arts and Sciences. 
	We expect that the Curriculum and Program Committee will hold
hearings or open meetings as its work progresses so that it can get a
sense of all the views of interested colleagues in the arts and
sciences on the issues it is considering. All the Arts and Sciences
faculty are encouraged to communicate with the members of the
Committee concerning general education or other matters of importance
for undergraduate education.
	The General Education Curriculum Committee and its Area
Subcommittees will continue as before to assist in the evaluation,
extension and revision of the general education curriculum. Much of
the membership remains unchanged from last year, but some new
appointments have been made.
	Another topic of consideration over the past few months has
been the advisement of undergraduates at UB. Ways in which the faculty
members can be more effectively involved in this process are being
studied. The subcommittee on advisement, chaired by Dean Tufariello,
has consulted with several relevant groups of faculty and staff to
determine how the advisement to undergraduate students can be
improved.
	Ongoing subjects of intense study are student recruitment,
access to majors, access to courses needed to graduate, articulation
agreements with two-year colleges and other matters related to
transfer students.
	All indications are that this structure is working. It
provides the University at Buffalo with the framework for needed
cooperation between the arts and sciences, while preserving the
autonomy that is more appropriate for graduate degree programs and
research initiatives.
Ross D. MacKinnon, Dean of Social Sciences
Joseph Tufariello, Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Kerry Grant, Dean of Arts and Letters
Nicolas Goodman, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education