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RTVF, journalism discusses merge
Abel Prado
Issue date: 8/2/07 Section: NEWS
Members of the NT administration, the journalism faculty and the radio, television and film faculty are in talks to potentially merge both departments into a new academic entity on campus.
The suggestion came from outside consultants, whom NT President Gretchen Bataille hired last year to look at the university's academic programs. The plan proposes that the two departments detach from under the College of Arts and Sciences and form a new college.
If the plan were to be implemented, a new dean would be hired to oversee the new college.
"Journalism has gone more and into using visual media, using the Internet. So it's clear that there is a convergence, mostly radio, television and journalism. There are a lot of connections that could be made between these two departments, and it makes a lot of sense," Bataille said.
Bataille said officials have not yet decided what the college will be named, whether any other departments will be included or when the change might take place.
"At this point it just seems like it's a good idea, and we're looking into it," Bataille said.
Melinda Levin, who will take over as chairwoman of the radio, television and film department Sept. 1, said it's not the first time university leaders have discussed it.
"From what I understand," Levin said. "There is a real interest on the part of the upper administration to do this based in part from the external report that the consultant committee put together."
Levin said there is a strong overlap between the academic concepts of both departments, and there has been discussion of doing this dating back to before Bataille came to NT.
"But I don't know how far along earlier discussions have gone. This most recent one seems to have been far more productive than previous ones," Levin said.
Both Levin and Susan Zavoina, chairwoman of the journalism department, have said they would favor marrying the two departments, but both sides show concern over limiting the focus of the curriculum too much and losing the broadness of each department.
"There are a lot of aspects of journalism that have nothing to do with what the [RTVF] department does," Zavonia said. "And we have to take into consideration that there are a lot of classes that they offer that have nothing to do with journalism."
The matter will be discussed in greater detail with the faculty of both departments in the coming weeks during the annual faculty retreat, Levin said.
"For now we have to keep an open forum with the faculty and keep discussion alive," Levin said. "In a few weeks we'll know a lot more about what we plan to do."
The suggestion came from outside consultants, whom NT President Gretchen Bataille hired last year to look at the university's academic programs. The plan proposes that the two departments detach from under the College of Arts and Sciences and form a new college.
If the plan were to be implemented, a new dean would be hired to oversee the new college.
"Journalism has gone more and into using visual media, using the Internet. So it's clear that there is a convergence, mostly radio, television and journalism. There are a lot of connections that could be made between these two departments, and it makes a lot of sense," Bataille said.
Bataille said officials have not yet decided what the college will be named, whether any other departments will be included or when the change might take place.
"At this point it just seems like it's a good idea, and we're looking into it," Bataille said.
Melinda Levin, who will take over as chairwoman of the radio, television and film department Sept. 1, said it's not the first time university leaders have discussed it.
"From what I understand," Levin said. "There is a real interest on the part of the upper administration to do this based in part from the external report that the consultant committee put together."
Levin said there is a strong overlap between the academic concepts of both departments, and there has been discussion of doing this dating back to before Bataille came to NT.
"But I don't know how far along earlier discussions have gone. This most recent one seems to have been far more productive than previous ones," Levin said.
Both Levin and Susan Zavoina, chairwoman of the journalism department, have said they would favor marrying the two departments, but both sides show concern over limiting the focus of the curriculum too much and losing the broadness of each department.
"There are a lot of aspects of journalism that have nothing to do with what the [RTVF] department does," Zavonia said. "And we have to take into consideration that there are a lot of classes that they offer that have nothing to do with journalism."
The matter will be discussed in greater detail with the faculty of both departments in the coming weeks during the annual faculty retreat, Levin said.
"For now we have to keep an open forum with the faculty and keep discussion alive," Levin said. "In a few weeks we'll know a lot more about what we plan to do."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Mitch Land
posted 8/02/07 @ 12:21 PM CST
Your headline to this story is ungrammatical. Since you have two subjects, the verb should be plural. RTVF, Journalism discuss merger.
BC
posted 8/10/07 @ 8:55 AM CST
While making a separate school for these two would be an interesting and progressive step, let us hope they don't merge any of the majors, or make RTVF or Journalism students take any more classes that they most likely will need simply because the schools merged. (Continued…)
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