I don't know if anyone has heard about this issue at the University of California - Berkeley, but there is apparently a move afoot to dissolve Berkeley's College of Chemistry. I heard about it from former Berkeley chemistry professor Carolyn Bertozzi.
You can read the petition against the move here, and read the Reddit thread about the dissolution here.
You can read the petition against the move here, and read the Reddit thread about the dissolution here.
Here is a local news story about it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailycal.org/2016/02/25/campus-considers-dissolving-college-chemistry-cut-costs/
I love Carolyn's comments, both on Twitter and in the change.org thread.
"Dismantling this paragon of excellence is only a good idea if you are at Stanford!"
The RSC's Chemistry World magazine also did an article about it:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2016/02/berkeley-college-chemistry-disbanding-closure-petition
I like the idea of some Assistant Vice Provosts being forced to find jobs in the real world, but in reality, they'll probably still have an army of Vice Assistant Chancellors and the "administrative savings" will come from having half as many secretaries doing the same workload.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else think it's weird to have the "Save Our Bluths" campaign run by the rat that just left the sinking ship?
ReplyDeleteProf. Bertozzi is not the person who is running the petition. The petition starter is an undergraduate in their senior year.
DeleteMy mistake; but evidently she's the reason you and ChemBark both noted it, so it does give one an impression. Where is Hartwig on this? Still sitting on top of the pile of money the school spent to get him out there?
DeleteWhy Hartwig specifically? He's got a large number of colleagues with similar clout and what would likely be superior historical perspectives.
DeleteIsn't he the chair of the department, as well as a recent big-bucks hire? I know one salary isn't going to break a department but the bucks thrown around to poach big names have to come from somewhere.
Delete^^It is so easy to just google a little bit. JFH is not the chair of the department and was hired almost 5 years ago. Stop trying to blame this on professors. This is a serious issue that is due to the administration at UC Berkeley. The professors are doing all they can to help with the situation. Prof. Bertozzi's posts just exemplify this fact.
DeleteI'm wondering if dissolving the department is the school's attempt to get rid of "deadwood" faculty (ie faculty paid 6 figures a year and don't bring in grants).
ReplyDeleteIt's not the administration's intent to get rid of any faculty at all, according to both the Dean and the Chancellor. They're mostly looking to save money on administrative positions, by seeking greater "administrative efficiencies" via streamlining.
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