ISU proposes new School of Education

CEDAR RAPIDS - Iowa State University officials want to establish a new School of Education to combine several education-related departments in the College of Human Sciences.

The state Board of Regents will consider the plan at a meeting Thursday.

ISU officials propose to combine the departments of Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, associated centers, and the University Teacher Education Program to create the School of Education.

In 2004, the regents approved ISU's request to combine the College of Education with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences to create a new entity, the College of Human Sciences. The combination was made to create advantages for faculty and students working together and to generate cost savings.

Creation of the new School of Education to combine two departments will enrich education for students through better collaboration, bring greater unity, cohesion and visibility, build on program strengths and generate efficiencies, ISU officials said in the meeting information.

Instead of two department chairs, there will be one director; instead of two department officers in graduate education, there will be one. The total projected savings are expected to be $200,000, ISU officials said. College officials propose to use the savings to hire additional faculty and staff.

The school, upon approval by the regents, is projected to become operational in July 2012.