A Strong Future for CHSS

I am writing today to address the restructuring initiative underway in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. There are a lot of rumors and conjectures going around, causing uncertainty and anxiety among students. I want you to have the facts. You deserve to know what might change and to get a clear, direct statement from me about what will remain unchanged.

So let’s start right there. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is not closing. No majors in the College are being eliminated or renamed, for current or future students. No faculty are being laid off or getting new titles. Your transcript and diploma will list the major you have chosen. Your advisors will remain the faculty in the programs you have selected. Your pathway to a degree will remain unchanged.

Contrary to what you may have heard, we are not doing this to save money – although by consolidating some administrative tasks, there are efficiencies to be gained, and that’s not a bad thing because it helps to keep tuition affordable. Our primary motivation is to empower faculty to pursue innovative approaches and to support our students to achieve their goals.

Please see the questions and answers below, which address the concerns we are hearing most often from students. For more details about the restructuring, see the complete list of FAQs on the University website.

We are looking at adjustments to the CHSS administrative structure that we hope will create a more dynamic, vibrant college. We want to remove obstacles that make it unnecessarily difficult for our creative faculty to develop programs and opportunities that span disciplinary boundaries. We want to design processes that put students’ interests first, such as making sure class schedules don’t create frustrating conflicts for you. And we want to have the professors you value spend less time on administrative tasks so you have more opportunities to engage with them.

Why are we doing this? The best universities do not stand still and wait for crises to consider change. Montclair is in a strong position precisely because this is an institution unafraid to change. In the past decade we have created, revamped and reorganized in every facet of the university, academic and administrative, with the goal of improving how we deliver our mission.

CHSS is no exception. Last spring, our former Provost Junius Gonzales brought this mindset to an evaluation of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. He was concerned that half the programs were shrinking in enrollment. This was distressing because these subjects are, in many ways, the core of a liberal arts university. To ensure the sustainability and vibrancy of our university, this trend had to be addressed. Examples from leading universities suggest that the solution is to build more multidisciplinary programs that bring the humanities and social sciences together to address interesting, contemporary questions.

Students at Montclair and around the country are drawn to these kinds of programs, which connect their studies to complex real-world problems more clearly than traditional single-discipline majors.

Many professors at Montclair State University are capable of building such programs, and in every college, people are doing all kinds of amazing things to incorporate hands-on problem-solving, community-engaged teaching, and challenge-based learning that draw on multiple disciplines. Yet these change-makers have had to overcome many institutional barriers to bring you these opportunities.

So starting last spring Provost Gonzales asked a group of faculty to begin looking at the structure of the College to see how we could break down those barriers and empower our faculty. Although details are still being finalized, the vision has been clear from the start: to create multidisciplinary schools organized around broad themes – social and political systems, for example – to serve as the administrative hubs for the College’s programs and faculty.

We have been soliciting input at every step, and we will continue to listen carefully to everyone’s aspirations and concerns. Dean Mili is forming a student advisory board to provide input on the structure, and she will continue to work closely with CHSS faculty and staff members.

We are listening and incorporating feedback as we go along. For example, there has been a lot of talk recently about the value of academic departments, so faculty are designing the schools such that departments will continue to be part of the CHSS organizational structure.

I understand that change can be challenging, and I respect the passion and concern so many of you have shown. Let’s channel that energy into shaping this future together.

One of Montclair’s greatest strengths has been its willingness to innovate. I am confident that by working together, we will build a stronger, more vibrant future for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Let us seize the day.

If you would like to discuss any of this in person with me, I will be speaking at the Student Government Association’s Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, December 3 at 2 p.m. in the Student Center, Room 411.

Will my major go away? Will I graduate with a different degree name?

No. Your major is NOT going away. Your degree is not changing. You will still complete and graduate with your current major (for example, BA in English, BA in History, BA in Sociology). Your diploma will not change.

Are my professors losing their jobs or being replaced?

No. No faculty or staff positions are being cut. Your professors are staying, and they will continue teaching your courses.

What is happening with all the new “school” names?

Your major name stays the same. Your programs and departments may be grouped into broader schools to help students explore related fields and create more interdisciplinary opportunities. Those schools will be named to capture what those fields have in common.

Is this just a cost saving move?

No. The goal is to increase student interest and improve your experience, reduce bureaucratic barriers to innovation and expanded academic opportunities, and increase your opportunities for interaction with faculty. However, we are always conscious of the investment students make, and we want to be as cost effective as possible. This restructuring may produce some efficiencies by consolidating administrative tasks.

Should I worry about the quality of teaching I will receive after this restructuring?

No. The University believes that quality teaching matters most. Faculty still control the curriculum and teaching, and this restructuring is meant to give professors more opportunity to develop new courses, to start new programs and to mentor students.

Is CHSS closing or turning into something totally different?

No. CHSS is not closing, shrinking, or being replaced. It remains the academic home for all of its majors and programs. This restructuring is about strengthening student experience, expanding opportunities for learning, and reinforcing the academic excellence of Montclair State University. All students will retain their majors, have accomplished faculty that will continue to teach their courses and the degree listed on your diploma and transcript will not change.

Still have questions?
Email the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at chss@montclair.edu.