In the waking hours of a new school year, the futures of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and the College of Education remain uncertain.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy announced last year that the two schools would merge, but a new dean has not been chosen and plans for the merger are not complete.

The schools are expected to merge by July 1, 2005, although the plans to combine the schools have not been finalized.

Pam White, interim dean of Family and Consumer Sciences, said the final decision must be made by Geoffroy and Provost Ben Allen, vice president for academic affairs.

The Board of Regents must also approve the recommendation.

Only after those two steps have been accomplished can the search for the new dean begin.

Prospective candidates will be sought out in spring 2005, when the dean search begins.

“Right now we are working on our final report to be presented to the president, provost and ultimately the Board of Regents,” said Roger Smith, associate dean of the College of Education.

“Following that, we’ll start presenting our ideas to the faculty in the fall.”

Smith said a working group has been formed to help resolve any issues that arise as the merger moves forward.

He said the working group plans to survey other universities that house the Family and Consumer Sciences and Education colleges under the same roof. This way, the group could anticipate problems before they occur, he said.

“It’s a unique situation because we are forming a new college,” Smith said. “We want to be prepared.”

The merger will not affect any classes or majors, White said. The changes will only be administrative, she said.

“One thing that the Board of Regents and the president believes will be accomplished by this combination is an increased efficiency at the administrative level,” White said.

“When the administration saves funds the money can go back to strengthen the programs within the college.”