11/19/15 kb
HAYS, Kan. -- A fifth academic college became a reality at Fort Hays State University Wednesday when the Kansas Board of Regents unanimously approved the College of Science, Technology and Mathematics.

Dr. Greg Farley, professor of biological sciences, special assistant to the provost and interim chair of the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems Engineering, was named the interim dean by Provost Dr. Graham Glynn.

"The College of Science, Technology and Mathematics combines complementary academic programs to meet the ever-growing national need for science graduates," said Farley. "Our newest college has a shared mission of contemporary science education, novel educational opportunities, applied research and technical training, and community outreach."

"Today is a time for celebration, not just because we now have a fifth college and a new department, but more importantly because we came together to embrace a common dream," said President Mirta M. Martin. "I am pleased to say that dream is now a reality."

The new college joins the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; the College of Business and Entrepreneurship; the College of Education; and the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. The university also has the Virtual College and the Graduate School.

The new department proved Wednesday is the Department of Applied Business, which will be in the College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

The changes are part of a seven-month re-engineering process. In addition to the new college and department, several moves were approved. Eight departments were moved into the new college from their current homes:

• The Department of Applied Technology from the College of Education.
• The departments of Chemistry; Computer Science and Information Systems Engineering; Geosciences; Mathematics; and Physics, all from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
• The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Biological Sciences from the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.

"The combination of traditional and applied academic areas in a single administrative unit will allow students to directly experience the connections across science disciplines," said Farley. "This kind of cross-pollination will create a deeper understanding as they gain foundational knowledge and technical skills."

Another move was the Department of Psychology, which went to the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Other changes resulting from the re-engineering were the names of two of the colleges. Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences was formerly the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Education was formerly the College of Education and Technology.

"The rationale for dividing the original College of Arts and Sciences centered around the fact that this college had more departments and faculty than those contained in the three other colleges combined," said President Martin. "Dividing the college will now allow a re-balancing of the academic enterprise around areas of natural affinity."

These changes are effective immediately.