Robel discusses media merger with BFC

IU Provost Lauren Robel presented an update on the communications merger to members of the Bloomington Faculty Council Tuesday in the Kelley School of Business.

Robel said the proposal to the Board of Trustees will include three key points.
A new media program, including the current School of Journalism and two College of Arts and Sciences departments — telecommunications and communication and culture — will be delegated to COAS.

Also included in the proposal are a dual certificate program with the School of Informatics and Computing and the $21 million renovation for a new media studies facility in Franklin Hall.

Robel said the new media studies program will possibly be called “M-School,” short for “Media School.”

Vice President for Capital Planning and Affairs Tom Morrison took the meeting floor to explain the elimination of parking on 10th Street due to construction of the School of Global and International Studies.

A few hundred parking spots will be reestablished upon completion of the SGIS building, Morrison said.

He also discussed the IU Foundation’s proposal to use the Phi Delta Gamma fraternity property to extend either the Maurer School of Law or Swain Hall, re-locating Fiji to 8th Street and Woodlawn Avenue.

“This is an agreement and principle with the fraternity,” Morrison said. “If they don’t raise the money, nothing changes.”

Robel said the restructuring of media studies is critical for students wanting to enter careers in journalism.

“We’re all being re-organized by the digital revolution,” she said.

The administration is looking at offering dual degree programs and dual certificates.

“In journalism there have been long standing concerns about de-professionalization,” Robel said. “We will never de-emphasize research,” Robel said.

When Robel opened the floor for questions, a BFC member asked how the administration planned to include student voice in the process.

“I would love suggestions about how to include student voice,” Robel said.

She spoke about the importance of including graduate students in conversations.

“Their degrees will be visible and meaningful,” Robel said.

COAS Dean Larry Singell agreed.

“Undergraduates are only here for four years and may not have a long-term vision for the college.” Singell said. “Faculty spend their careers here. The lengths of their interests in the institution vary.”

Singell is meeting with six undergraduate students from the School of Journalism today for lunch in the Tudor Room to discuss the merger.

Robel’s presentation to the BFC can be found online at indiana.edu.

The “main takeaway” that Robel hoped BFC members took home is that much is undecided regarding the merger.

“There’s no axe hanging over everybody at this moment,” Robel said. “We have a lot of time to have these conversations.”

Follow reporter Hannah Alani on Twitter @hannahalani.