High dean turnover not unusual

LSA Dean Edie Goldenberg's resignation does not stand alone in a period marked by constant changes among the leading posts of the University's 19 schools.

While most of the recently vacant executive officer positions have been filled during the past year and a half - including University President Lee Bollinger's post - new and interim deans are leading many of the University's schools and colleges.

But a number of University officials said a high dean turnover is not unusual.

"There's no policy to try to encourage turnover in deans," Bollinger said. "It's just the sequence of natural course of action at a university of this size ... ."

Economics and Public Policy Prof. Paul Courant, former chair of the economics department, said that although dean positions are always changing, the period between former University President James Duderstadt's resignation and Bollinger's first day as head of the University was unique because deans took on more central administrative roles.

"Now that we have a president and an permanent provost, that's probably less true," Courant said. "Deans are probably more in the business they have always been in."

But Courant said deans have always been instrumental within the University administration.

Bollinger said the framework of the administration allows deans to be involved in key decisions throughout the University.

"A very large amount of authority is invested in the deans and I think that is one of the geniuses of the Michigan," structure Bollinger said.

Law Dean Jeffrey Lehman said that because the administrative structure is so decentralized, a flux of deans does not disrupt the overall operation of the University.

"When there are vacancies in the executive central body, it does mean that some important decisions are deferred, but it does not mean there are shifts toward the deans of the faculty," Lehman said.

John Chamberlin, interim dean of the School of Public Policy, said a constant change in deans does not cause an administration to be unstable.

"I think we've coped quite successfully," Chamberlin said. "I don't think it presents any issues at all."

Chamberlin said that although having to replace different school heads may pose some logistical problems, it allows for the schools' leaders to bring various perspectives to the administration.

"I think if it has a downside at bringing people up to speed, it has an upside of people bringing new ideas," Chamberlin said.

Jeffrey Rauch, chair of the mathematics department, agreed that a flux of deans allows for innovative ideas.

"I think it can be for the better. On the other hand, the whole person in power for a long time leaving is disruptive," Rauch said. "It is not my impression there has been a particularly large turnover."

Chamberlin said the deans meet with Provost Nancy Cantor two times each month to discuss issues important to all of the University's schools. But Chamberlin said the most substantive work done collectively by the deans takes place in subcommittees.

Several of the recent dean appointments approved by the University Board of Regents are Earl Lewis as dean of the Rackham Graduate School; Douglas Kelbaugh as dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning; and George Kenyon as the dean of the College of Pharmacy. Interim posts include Lorris Betz in the Medical School and Chamberlin in the School of Public Policy.

04-07-98