In an attempt to strengthen the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the college is splitting into three divisions.

The Division of Humanities, the Division of Science and Mathematics and the Division of Social Sciences are set to be implemented by July 1, said Peter Rabideau, dean of the college.

“This is not being done as a reaction to budget reductions,” he said.

“We have been looking at budget issues and there has been much more emphasis on things like bench-marking and planning,” he said. “Our college is very, very big and tends to be sort of amorphous. Part of the problem, from my perspective, is that our programs are so different and that we would be more effective by doing some of these things along the divisional lines.”

Zora Zimmerman, associate dean of liberal arts and sciences, said no other colleges on the ISU campus have undergone divisions.

Rabideau said some large colleges in university settings choose to divide into entirely separate colleges.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences did not choose that option, he said.

“The college is too big to be trying to lump all these things together,” he said.

“[The division] is an attempt to at least recognize this as sort of a compromise between having one big college and having separate colleges.”

Rabideau said the division won’t add more administrative positions to the college.

“We’re not really adding a layer of administration,” he said. “The departments in each division will not be reporting to the associate deans. Associate deans will play a role in organization and planning but not be providing an additional layer between the departments and myself.”

Zimmerman said she will be responsible for overseeing humanities after the divisions are implemented as well as maintaining her former duties.

Rabideau said he does not expect the division to produce immediate results for ISU students after its implementation.

“I think in the short term there will be little effect on students but I’m hoping there will be a very positive effect in the longer term,” he said.

“In the long run, [the division] will strengthen disciplines in areas within these divisions and ultimately strengthen our programs and have a positive effect on our students.”

Zimmerman agreed.

“We don’t anticipate there are going to be any great and immediate changes from what we are already doing,” she said. “One of the reasons we want to do this reorganization is to make more visible the humanities, revitalize them and encourage more collaboration and communication among the departments.

“What will eventually occur is perhaps more integration of programs and maybe even some new programs not possible before. Students within a year or two may notice some differences because we’ll be able to do some things we were not able to do before, particularly in regard to curriculum,” Zimmerman said.

Rabideau said he does not foresee problems arising as a result of the changes.

“I wouldn’t have championed this structure if I thought there were going to be problems,” he said.