Biology, geology graduate schools under review
By Joi Harris
Staff Reporter

A Biology and geology faculty committee has been appointed to help determine the fate of the graduate programs

Biology and geology faculty members are scheduled to meet separately with Provost William Koehler today to discuss the future of their respective graduate programs amidst reports they could be combined or eliminated.

The meeting is part of a university-wide review of graduate programs.

Ray Drenner, a biology professor, said dismantling those graduate programs is only one of several options the university may take. He said combining the two programs has also been mentioned.

“We will look for different models that might be considered for the programs,” Drenner said. “We’ll also consider our objectives and determine whether we’re meeting them.”

Drenner said Michael McCracken, dean of the College of Science and Engineering, has appointed a faculty committee to perform a self-study of both departments and present a report on their findings at the end of the semester. McCracken referred all questions to Koehler, who will not be available for comment until after today’s meeting, his secretary said.

Geology department chairman Nowell Donovan said he has heard rumors that some graduate programs “might get the ax.”

“Rumors float around all places,” Donovan said. “Academia is a place where people like to gossip.”

Donovan said he would not comment further until he had not spoken to the provost or McCracken.

Richard Hanson, the geology graduate programs advisor, said the meeting is part of a review of all graduate programs being conducted by the division of academic affairs.

“The whole university is going through assessments right now,” Hanson said. “They want to determine how productive the graduate programs are, what type of resources they have and what they can do to be more successful.”

Hanson said he feels the dean ultimately wants to have a full examination of their use of resources.

Ernest Couch, an associate biology professor, said he cannot see a rational administration removing programs that have been successful for such a long time.

“It would be a big mistake to remove them because they bring prestige research and greater interaction for undergraduates,” Couch said.

j.s.harris@tcu.edu