Interim Dean discusses merger

A Memorandum of Understanding regarding the proposed merger with the IU School of Journalism and the departments of Telecommunications and Communication and Culture was recently released to inform concerned parties how the nationally accredited IU School of Journalism will maintain its reputation and academic integrity within the new school if the merger is approved by the IU Board of Trustees in August.

As a number of concerns have arisen concerning the proposed merger, Interim Dean of the School of Journalism Lesa Hatley Major said she sees a more cutting edge school arising from the merge pending its approval.

“There are so many opportunities for us,” Hatley Major said. “We keep doing all the things that we’ve always done well, but we’re obligated to make sure that our students get what they need when they leave. To me, that’s something we have to make sure we do. I think that with this move, and I think our faculty, staff, everybody wants to make sure that happens, that we can use this opportunity to create a school that is innovative.”

One of the concerns Hatley Major addressed was the journalism school faculty who would be affected by this merger.

The MOU, Hatley Major said, protects journalism untenured, tenured track, lecturers and associate professors being promoted to full.

Faculty will be presented with the option to choose if they wish to go through the College tenure or continue under the School of Journalism.

“It would be unfair and unethical if you had a junior faculty or associate who has been working under a certain system preparing their dossier and then all of a sudden you have a change in the way that was done,” Hatley Major said. “So they’re covered.”

During the process of developing the MOU, Hatley Major said committees consisting of faculty and staff were put together and websites were created allowing comments to be heard from alumni, students, faculty and staff regarding both the MOU and the merger.

Hatley Major said she and others working on the MOU looked at comments on the websites, from both student and alumni, and in order to organize the document looked back to the original accreditation standards.

While working with the College, Hatley Major said those involved were respectful and positive about making sure journalism has the foundation it needs to be successful.

“I think some people thought that this was going to be something where it was negotiation,” Hatley Major said. “It really wasn’t. The idea was always to have this kind of foundation document that would serve journalism and protect the foundation of journalism as we move forward.”

The proposal revision remains the next step in the creation of the new school.

The first opportunity the proposal has to be presented to the Board of Trustees is August, but Hatley Major said she does not know if this time has been confirmed. The next possible time would be in October.

Hatley Major said the key components in making this merger a success are keeping up with what the School of Journalism already does well and opening up opportunities for improvement.

“What I see right now are things being put in place to not only preserve what we are, but to make us better,” Hatley Major said. “I’m committed and so are the faculty and staff. I’m committed to making sure that this happens, meaning I’m not going anywhere. I love this school and the people and the students and our alumni ... I feel like I have a responsibility to make sure that happens.”