Three departments created by division

The School of Education has dissolved its educational foundations department to create three new smaller departments in its place.

Previously, these three programs were all collected under educational foundations. Each had its own set of unique needs that made it difficult for them to work effectively together, faculty said.

"We've been trying to figure out some change for the educational foundations department for years," said Susan Birden, who was appointed director of the new adult education department after serving as program coordinator for 10 years. Birden called the wide differences between programs a "perennial frustration," as the department tried to meet the needs of the individual programs.

"We didn't have all that much in common," said John Popovich, who was appointed as chair of the career and technical education department.

Educational foundations originally looked to create new partnerships with other schools of the college, linking up similar programs to eliminate redundancies. Nothing came of these attempts, which led to the efforts to divide the department, said Paul Theobald, dean of the School of Education and chair of the new social and psychological foundations of education department.

This led the school to look for other options.

"We just worked on what we can do internally," Theobald said.

The split created three new departments.  Adult education offers three graduate programs. The career and technical education department offers six undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs. The social and psychological foundations of education department offers courses that are used across the school's teacher education curriculum.

Another difficulty faced by the school was the lack of funds. Buffalo State's ongoing budget crisis meant no new funds were available for the creation of new departments. All three share the same budget that was previously designated for the educational foundations department. It was agreed that the chair of the adult education department would be the only chair to receive a stipend.

The new departments offer the same majors and the same classes as before.

"Students should not see any changes of any significance," Theobald said.

However, the creation of three distinct departments will make it easier for current and prospective students to find the resources they need, Birden said.

"It was difficult for students to locate us within the college," Birden said.

Most of the benefits will be felt by faculty members and administrators. The smaller departments will be able to concentrate their efforts.

"The groups are small but they speak the same language," Theobald said.

The new system also aims to reduce bureaucracy.

"You eliminate a level of administration between you and the dean," Popovich said.

So far, the three department chairs say the split has worked well.

"We're absolutely thrilled," Birden said.

Jacob Tierney can be reached by email at tierney.record@live.com.