A changing world of biological sciences is causing the colleges of Agriculture and Liberal Arts and Sciences to restructure some departments.

While only in the preliminary stages, the planned model involves making two life-science departments dedicated to basic research and one devoted to applied research, according to the preliminary plan.

Possible involvement will come from the department of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology; botany; microbiology; and zoology and genetics. Forestry and animal ecology also have shown potential interest.

While all the departments could be involved in the reorganization, some of the larger departments, such as agronomy and horticulture, have decided not to be a part of it, said Alan Myers, chairman and professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology.

Peter Rabideau, dean of liberal arts and sciences, said he is optimistic about the proposed reorganization.

“I think it is useful, because certain departments, such as botany and zoology, are changing and becoming out of date,” he said.

The changes would give these departments a chance to rearrange to better serve students and the university, he said.

“Biological departments tend to be more focused, and some faculty would argue that we need to broaden the disciplines,” Myers said.

The reorganization will help faculty relate to biology and its involvement, he said.

“Biology research in the United States is changing,” he said. “It is becoming more integrated in nature and comprehensive in what can be solved.”

College of Agriculture Dean Richard Ross said he wants to make sure the faculty play a major part in the decision whether to reorganize and how to do it.

“I think it is imperative that the process be inclusive,” he said.

“There should be an openness about including faculty from various departments.”

Jim Dickson, chairman and associate professor of microbiology, said the department structure would be different – but not necessarily bad.

One option under consideration is to create a biology degree with specialization, Dickson said. For example, a student would major in biology and specialize in genetics whereas now, genetics is a major.

“On the whole, I like what I see,” he said.

Since the proposed reorganization is in its preliminary stage, some involved faculty do have concerns.

Some questions addressed at the Biology Reorganization meeting Monday were issues of where the new departments would be housed and what is officially involved and what isn’t.

These questions are still unanswered – and answering them is the next step in moving forward with the proposal.

One of the main topics for discussion is the best interests of the students, Dickson said.

“We want to make sure we aren’t shortchanging our students, he said. “We check with our governing organization to see what they require from a certain major, and we make sure those aspects remain in a student’s education.”

Current ISU students will not be affected by any changes made to their department, Dickson said.

“We are required by the Board of Regents to allow students that entered into the university under a major to graduate in that major,” he said.

For example, if microbiology was eliminated as a major, those students who are current microbiology majors would still be able to graduate with a microbiology degree, he said.

Rabideau said reorganization is something the Liberal Arts and Sciences college has been discussing for a number of years.

“Zoology and genetics and botany have talked for some years about a possible reorganization,” he said.

“These departments are shared with the agriculture college so they became involved as well.”

Dickson said he believes the budget cuts may have something to do with the streamlining of the departments.

“The budget is part of it, but not all of it,” he said. “But this is not something unique to Iowa State. If you looked at all the land-grant institutions across the nation, 18 out of 20 are doing this.”

Even though reorganization talks began before the budget was an issue, Ross said it could play a role in the future with departments not currently involved in the proposed reorganization.

“If the budget continues to be a problem, we may be revisiting some of these departments,” he said.

Read the full preliminary restructuring plan at www.ag.iastate.edu/news/biology.html.