BHeiney
Wed, 04/17/2024 - 19:52
Edited Text
4/17/24, 3:39 PM
University Updates - Heiney, Bernadette - Outlook
University Updates
Bashar Hanna
Wed 4/17/2024 1:30 PM
To:CU All Employees
Dear Commonwealth University Faculty and Staff:
During Commonwealth University’s first year as an integrated institution in the 2022-23 academic year,
the administration and faculty together updated and launched an entirely new curriculum, creating an
academic array modernized for the needs of our students and consistent with the expectations of
today’s employers. During our second year, as we work toward the full implementation of the new
array, we have undertaken a review of the academic administrative structure to determine how we can
best utilize the strength of our faculty members and their impact on serving our students.
As we look ahead to the third year of Commonwealth University’s service to Pennsylvania, we continue
to seek ways of delivering our educational resources in the most effective and efficient ways possible.
After thoughtful consideration and commitment to continually assess and evolve how we can best
serve students, I am announcing changes to the university’s academic and administrative structures in
the areas of Academic Affairs, Student Success and Campus Life, and Strategic Communications and
Marketing.
Academic Affairs
Effective with the 2024-25 academic year following approval by the Council of Trustees, we will
consolidate our five existing colleges into three:
The College of Science and Technology and the College of Health Professions will be consolidated into the
College of Health, Science, and Technology.
The College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities will merge with the College of Education and Human
Studies to become the College of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
The Zeigler College of Business will restructure its five departments into two.
Dean James Brown had previously indicated an interest in returning to the faculty, and will do so in the
fall. Dean Leo-Felix Jurado will assume a role of Senior Associate Dean within the reorganized
college. The leadership and organization of the colleges is identified below.
about:blank
1/3
4/17/24, 3:39 PM
University Updates - Heiney, Bernadette - Outlook
We have been working closely with the senior academic administration to implement these changes.
The results include a reduction in the number of academic departments from 28 to 18.
about:blank
2/3
4/17/24, 3:39 PM
University Updates - Heiney, Bernadette - Outlook
In reorganizing the academic departments, we will work cooperatively with our faculty to help develop
new relationships with colleagues in the reorganized departments and navigate changes to processes
such as chair elections. Additionally, through this process we have identified ways to realign academic
departments to put more experienced faculty in the classroom to enhance the educational experience
of the students.
Student Success and Campus Life
With the elimination of the Vice President of Student Success and Campus Life (SSCL) position, our
colleague and current Vice President of SSCL and Mansfield Campus Administrator, Dr. Martha “Marty”
Wygmans, will depart the university effective August 31, 2024. The units within SSCL will transition to
the Divisions of Academic Affairs or Enrollment Management. To minimize any impact on students, this
transition will commence immediately following Spring 2024 commencement and will conclude before
the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester. The role of Mansfield Campus Administrator will transition to
a new Mansfield Administrator effective July 1, 2024.
Strategic Communications and Marketing
Bill Walker, Interim Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing, has informed me of
his intent to step down effective June 30, 2024. With his departure, Nikki Keller, Senior Director of
Enrollment Marketing, will assume the role of Executive Director of Strategic Communications and
Marketing.
Bashar W. Hanna, Ph.D.
President
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg | Lock Haven | Mansfield
Phone: 570.389.4526
Email: president@commonwealthu.edu
about:blank
3/3
University Updates - Heiney, Bernadette - Outlook
University Updates
Bashar Hanna
Wed 4/17/2024 1:30 PM
To:CU All Employees
Dear Commonwealth University Faculty and Staff:
During Commonwealth University’s first year as an integrated institution in the 2022-23 academic year,
the administration and faculty together updated and launched an entirely new curriculum, creating an
academic array modernized for the needs of our students and consistent with the expectations of
today’s employers. During our second year, as we work toward the full implementation of the new
array, we have undertaken a review of the academic administrative structure to determine how we can
best utilize the strength of our faculty members and their impact on serving our students.
As we look ahead to the third year of Commonwealth University’s service to Pennsylvania, we continue
to seek ways of delivering our educational resources in the most effective and efficient ways possible.
After thoughtful consideration and commitment to continually assess and evolve how we can best
serve students, I am announcing changes to the university’s academic and administrative structures in
the areas of Academic Affairs, Student Success and Campus Life, and Strategic Communications and
Marketing.
Academic Affairs
Effective with the 2024-25 academic year following approval by the Council of Trustees, we will
consolidate our five existing colleges into three:
The College of Science and Technology and the College of Health Professions will be consolidated into the
College of Health, Science, and Technology.
The College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities will merge with the College of Education and Human
Studies to become the College of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
The Zeigler College of Business will restructure its five departments into two.
Dean James Brown had previously indicated an interest in returning to the faculty, and will do so in the
fall. Dean Leo-Felix Jurado will assume a role of Senior Associate Dean within the reorganized
college. The leadership and organization of the colleges is identified below.
about:blank
1/3
4/17/24, 3:39 PM
University Updates - Heiney, Bernadette - Outlook
We have been working closely with the senior academic administration to implement these changes.
The results include a reduction in the number of academic departments from 28 to 18.
about:blank
2/3
4/17/24, 3:39 PM
University Updates - Heiney, Bernadette - Outlook
In reorganizing the academic departments, we will work cooperatively with our faculty to help develop
new relationships with colleagues in the reorganized departments and navigate changes to processes
such as chair elections. Additionally, through this process we have identified ways to realign academic
departments to put more experienced faculty in the classroom to enhance the educational experience
of the students.
Student Success and Campus Life
With the elimination of the Vice President of Student Success and Campus Life (SSCL) position, our
colleague and current Vice President of SSCL and Mansfield Campus Administrator, Dr. Martha “Marty”
Wygmans, will depart the university effective August 31, 2024. The units within SSCL will transition to
the Divisions of Academic Affairs or Enrollment Management. To minimize any impact on students, this
transition will commence immediately following Spring 2024 commencement and will conclude before
the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester. The role of Mansfield Campus Administrator will transition to
a new Mansfield Administrator effective July 1, 2024.
Strategic Communications and Marketing
Bill Walker, Interim Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing, has informed me of
his intent to step down effective June 30, 2024. With his departure, Nikki Keller, Senior Director of
Enrollment Marketing, will assume the role of Executive Director of Strategic Communications and
Marketing.
Bashar W. Hanna, Ph.D.
President
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg | Lock Haven | Mansfield
Phone: 570.389.4526
Email: president@commonwealthu.edu
about:blank
3/3