Though the search for a new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences hasn’t officially started, Chancellor Kent Syverud and Vice Chancellor and Provost Eric Spina have initiated discussions with the college’s faculty council about the criteria for candidates.

George Langford, who is the current dean of Arts and Sciences, announced Dec. 11 that he will be stepping down as dean on June 30. Langford will continue working at Syracuse University as a neuroscience professor.

The faculty council is defined as the executive body of Arts and Sciences, Langford said.

Syverud and Spina had their first meeting of the semester with the Faculty Council Jan. 14, said Ramesh Raina, the head of the faculty council and an associate professor of biology.

A search committee has not yet been formed, Raina said. In the past, the search committee has been comprised of both students and faculty members within the College Arts and Sciences, he said.

Raina said the chancellor sent an email to all the faculty members in Arts and Sciences asking what they would look for in a new dean.

“The chancellor would like to get feedback before a timeline and committee can be formed,” he said.

Syverud will hold an open faculty meeting next Monday to discuss the search specifications and develop the information he collected from the survey, Raina said. The meeting will not establish the search committee members or who will participate in the overall process, he added.

“There is no discussion on a timeline yet, but maybe it will begin after the open faculty meeting,” Raina said.

As the current dean, Langford said he can’t help choose his successor before he leaves. Despite this, Langford said he has thought about the criteria the candidates should meet.

Said Langford: “I would hope that they would find a dean dedicated to the liberal arts and someone who is committed to a research active faculty. They should also make a commitment to our nationally ranked Ph.D. programs.”

Published on January 23, 2014 at 1:25 am

Contact Anna: almerod@syr.edu