Post Classifieds

One-on-One with Dean Walker

By Chasmon Gatewood

On April 20, 2014

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This spring, speculation spread across campus about the merging of colleges and schools at Winston-Salem State. As of April 2013, these rumors have been confirmed. In light of the discovery, The News Argus interviewed the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Corey Walker to get insight on the new changes.

The News Argus: Sources say there is a proposal that WSSU will have one dean to lead the college of arts and sciences and the schools of Business, Economics, Education and Human Performance?

Walker: The Chancellor and Provost announced the restructuring in February. The realignment will consolidate the School of Education and Human Performance and the School of Business and Economics with the College of Arts and Sciences resulting in the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education.

The News Argus: You will become the only dean but will you have assistant deans?

Walker: The College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education will be headed by a dean and two senior associate deans.

The News Argus: According to the University, the reason for this reorganization is to save money. What are further reasons for the reorganization?

Walker: The restructuring is designed to bring our costs into alignment with our strategic academic priorities, funding, and enrollment size. It will also enable the University to reinvest in existing programs and to bring greater integration between the liberal arts and professional programs; create greater administrative efficiencies and greater accountability; strengthen academic assessment and advising to better support student success.

The News Argus: How much money will the University save? What will the extra money be used for?

Walker: With an initial savings of about $1.2 million dollars, the restructuring will allow the University to reinvest in our core academic priorities.

The News Argus: When will it become effective?

Walker: The restructuring will be effective July 1, 2014.

The News Argus: Which other UNC universities have a similar system?

Walker: UNC Greensboro, NC State, NC Central, and Elizabeth City State University are but a few that have restructured its administrative structures.

The News Argus: Why is the school of nursing not included in this proposed change? Who will serve as dean there?

Walker: Some academic programs in the School of Education and Human Performance and the School of Business and Economics will move to the School of Health Sciences so as to strengthen the synergies with other programs in health sciences. The School of Health Sciences is a leading school in the field with a stellar academic reputation that has only grown under the visionary leadership of Dean Peggy Valentine.

The News Argus: Does this plan have any impact on accreditation for any of the programs, schools?

Walker: The restructuring does not negatively impact the accreditation of any of the academic programs at the University. Winston-Salem State University is dedicated to ensuring the ongoing accreditation of its academic programs in education by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and in business by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

The News Argus: Sources say that some faculty members at school of business are not "happy" with this plan. Please comment.

Walker: While I am not able to comment directly on the account of your sources, the University is committed to the principles of shared governance and to facilitating broad community dialogue on this and all administrative decisions. To this end, a cross spectrum of faculty, staff, students and alumni are engaged in developing a strategic white paper for the Chancellor and Provost and the leadership team for the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education will form an ad-hoc committee of faculty, staff, and students to advise the team of matters pertaining to the realignment for the 2014-2015 academic year.

The News Argus: Is this a permanent reorganization?

Walker: This realignment is part of the ongoing work of the University to continue to seek the most effective and efficient organization and operation to ensure the academic success of our students and to reach our aspirations of becoming one of the premiere comprehensive liberal arts universities in the nation. We will continue to work to align all of our institutional resources with our highest academic priorities to make Winston-Salem State University one of the nation's best institutions of higher education.