The Wise Library is shown on the WVU Downtown Campus in Morgantown. (WVU Photo/Maggie Stakem)
West Virginia University Libraries and the Teaching and Learning Commons began to implement plans Friday (Dec. 8) developed from recommendations initially announced in September for academic support services.
The Libraries’ restructuring plan calls for centralizing and streamlining services and operations to create greater consistency and increase efficiency. The restructuring will result in an estimated $790,000 (less than 5.8% of Libraries annual budget) in personnel savings realized through a reduction of nine voluntary departures and seven staff members whose employment will either end at the end of the 2023-24 academic year or the 2024 fiscal year, depending on their eligibility.
Students and faculty will not see a disruption in support services provided by Libraries or a reduction in materials due to the restructuring efforts.
“The resources and support provided by our Libraries are critical to the success of students, faculty, staff and the community, so we worked closely with Dean Karen Diaz as she and her team created a plan that reflects our continued commitment to quality services,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maryanne Reed.”
The Teaching and Learning Commons will be reorganized to deliver on a revised mission focused on the development and support of teaching across all modes of instruction, continuous training for faculty and graduate teaching assistants in the delivery of instruction and assessment of student learning, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
In collaboration with Academic Affairs, faculty will play a key role in helping to design the new unit and deliver on its mission.
“With strong faculty engagement and an emphasis on the classroom experience, the redesigned center will focus on the comprehensive promotion of excellence in teaching and student learning — with the ultimate goal of improving student success outcomes,” Reed said.
The reorganization will result in the transfer of some of the TLC’s current functions to other units on campus and the reduction of some staff positions.
· Nine non-classified staff members will transition to WVU Online to provide continued support of instructional design and micro credentialing efforts.
· Seven non-classified staff members will transition to WVU Information Technology Services to provide continued support for classroom and other technology functions.
· One classified staff member will transition to Academic Affairs to provide support to the Testing Center.
· Nine non-classified staff members will be employed through the end of the current fiscal year.
Next steps include creating a faculty committee, chaired by Associate Provost for Faculty Development and Culture Melissa Latimer. This committee will determine the functions of the reimagined unit, its leadership and staffing structure. The reimagined unit will launch by the Fall 2024 semester.
-WVU-
ak/12/8/23
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