JACKSON, Tenn. — April 21, 2017 — Union University trustees at their April 21 meeting approved an academic reorganization for the university that will create the School of Social Work and the School of Adult and Professional Studies, in addition to changing the names of three other schools.
The McAfee School of Business Administration will become the McAfee School of Business, the School of Pharmacy will become the College of Pharmacy and the College of Education and Human Studies will become the College of Education.
The School of Social Work at Union has been a non-degree-granting school under the umbrella of the College of Education and Human Studies. This reorganization makes the School of Social Work its own degree-granting school.
Likewise, the continuing studies department has been a part of the College of Education and Human Studies, but the reorganization separates it from that college.
As part of the creation of the two new schools, trustees approved the appointment of Mary Anne Poe as the founding dean of the School of Social Work and Beverly Absher as the founding dean of the School of Adult and Professional Studies.
“It’s encouraging to us to see the growth of these two programs in recent years,” said Lisa Rogers, chairman of Union’s Board of Trustees. “With the leadership these two deans will provide, we’re confident that these two new schools will continue to develop and flourish in the days ahead.”
Poe currently serves as associate dean for social work, professor of social work and as director of Union’s Center for Just and Caring Communities. Absher is chair of the department of continuing studies, professor of educational leadership and associate vice president for auxiliary operations.
Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said he was pleased to have these two leaders on the Union campus join the Academic Deans’ Council, as they bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom concerning their respective schools.
“Mary Anne Poe has helped social work thrive at Union through her commitment to ensuring the programs provide excellent academic training with Christ-centered compassion,” Oliver said. “Our social work graduates are strong and effective practitioners who are the hands and feet of Christ to many who are hurting and need help.”
Oliver said Absher seems to succeed at everything she attempts through a combination of professional excellence and personal will.
“Her assistance as we developed our current strategic plan is but one example of her institutional leadership,” Oliver said. “The School of Adult and Professional Studies is an important part of our mission. There are numerous adults who have some college credits but lack a degree. Beverly has developed an outstanding academic program that integrates faith throughout the curriculum and helps people achieve their higher education goals.”
Oliver said social work and continuing studies have both grown and developed under the College of Education and Human Studies.
“Both of them have grown enough to where they are large enough academic units that need their own focus and their own advocacy with a dean on the Academic Deans’ Council,” Oliver said. “The College of Education and Human Studies was an effective incubator for both of those programs.”
Having Poe and Absher as part of the deans’ council will provide more opportunities for inter-disciplinary collaboration, Oliver said, and it will help continue to advance the academic excellence for which Union is known.
The nomenclature change for the business, pharmacy and education schools was adopted to be consistent with colleges and universities across the country, Oliver said.
The reorganization officially takes effect Aug. 1 with the start of a new fiscal and academic year.
In his report to the trustees, Oliver updated them on Union’s accreditation reaffirmation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. An on-site review committee from SACSCOC visited Union in March and produced a report, and Oliver said Union is working on a few items that the committee outlined for clarification and documentation.
None of the recommendations from the review committee related to core requirements or federal standards.
“We’re encouraged by the work of the on-site review committee and their affirmation of our work as an institution,” Oliver said. “We’re thankful for the opportunity to evaluate and continuously improve our operations.”
Oliver expressed appreciation to Michele Atkins, assistant provost for accreditation and research, for her leadership in the reaffirmation process.
In other matters, trustees approved a budget of $90.4 million, a small increase to the current budget of $90.2 million, and approved a number of Union faculty members for promotions, tenure and research leaves.
Faculty members promoted to university professor were Lee Benson (art), Mark Bolyard (biology), Bryan Dawson (math) and Melissa Moore (librarian).
Promoted to professor were Jay Bernheisel (engineering), Jeannie Byrd (librarian), Web Drake (communication arts), Marc Lockett (biology), Jenny Manasco (librarian) and Shari Wherry (nursing).
Promoted to associate professor were Haelim Allen (art), Janna Chance (English), Jason Crawford (English), Jennifer Farroll (physical education, wellness and sport), Steve Halla (art), Melinda Posey (art), Michael Schiebout (biology) and Joyce Snyder (nursing).
Trustees granted tenure to Bernheisel, Matt Brunet (physical education, wellness and sport), Geoffrey Poore (physics) and Virginia Schwindt (social work), and approved a research leave for Kevin Chen (theology and missions).
They also granted professor emeritus status to Walton Padelford (economics), who has served at Union for 37 years, and James Patterson (theology and missions), who has served for 18 years.
Prior to their meeting, trustees hosted an April 20 dinner honoring local heads of schools to express appreciation for their partnership with the university.