The 妻友社区 Board of Trustees has approved the university's proposed realignment of degree-granting colleges within the Division of Academic Affairs, marking a significant milestone in the Transformation 2028 (T28) initiative. The approval, which came during the board's March 19 meeting, culminates a strategic planning process that began in April 2024 and included extensive consultation with faculty and university stakeholders.
The approved plan reduces Kent State's degree-granting colleges from 10 to nine and reconfigures them into three collective consortiums that will share administrative resources. This reorganization represents the university's most significant structural transformation since the 1960s and '70s.
"The goals for T28 are two: first to strengthen academic affairs by reorganizing and realigning our academic units so that we are more cost efficient and therefore sustainable, and second, to ensure that we are providing the most in-demand, up-to-date and relevant academic programs and services for our learners," said Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., Kent State's executive vice president and provost.
Preparing Students for Future Careers
At its core, T28 is designed to prepare students for the future demands of their careers in a rapidly changing world.
The initiative recognizes that today's graduates need more than just expertise in their chosen fields鈥攖hey need interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary skills that equip them to lead and innovate in dynamic industries.
"Realigning our academic programs will allow us to realize opportunities to work across multidisciplinary boundaries in ways that address the current needs of the workforce and address the lifetime careers of our students," Tankersley said. "Our educational goal will continue to be to preserve our healthy, top choice degree program offerings, and to continue to prioritize the addition of sought-after and market relevant programs."
Financial Sustainability with Student Success at the Center
Under the newly approved structure, schools and departments within the reconfigured colleges will begin sharing administrative leadership and services, supporting the university's strategic goals of operational efficiency and cost reduction.
The reorganization delivers an annual savings of $1.5 million through a 40% reduction in academic leadership structure within the Division of Academic Affairs.
"When combined with previously implemented cost-saving measures, we've now achieved $4 million in annual savings toward our $8 million goal for the division," Tankersley noted. "This milestone represents significant progress in creating a financially sustainable model for Kent State's academic future."
Throughout the planning process, the university maintained a "students first" approach, one of the key guiding principles of T28. The plan ensures that student degree paths continue uninterrupted, with many alignments potentially creating enhanced opportunities for student success.
Breaking Down Silos and Building Collaborations
The T28 plan was developed with input from the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, the Kent State United Faculty Association, and faculty and staff across the university. This inclusive approach reflects the initiative's commitment to "listening to our entire community" and "thinking beyond the silo."
(Draft Quote) "We've established a framework that addresses current financial realities and enhances interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation," said Ann Womer Benjamin, Chair of the Kent State Board of Trustees. "This balanced approach will strengthen Kent State's academic excellence while ensuring long-term viability."
The reorganization aims to reduce silos and create synergies across programs, units, colleges, and campuses, allowing the university to maintain and build upon its successes in both education and research more efficiently.
Implementation and Looking Forward
Implementation of the approved plan will begin XXXXXX. Administrative units within degree-seeking colleges will now develop detailed transition plans for shared resources and leadership while identifying key areas affected by these changes.
University leadership has indicated that additional guidance for non-degree-seeking colleges and Kent State's administrative divisions will follow to support the new academic configuration.
The T28 initiative will be implemented in phases over the coming years, with completion expected in 2028.
Throughout this process, the university remains committed to its core values, including teaching and research excellence, life-changing educational experiences, inclusive environments, collaborative engagement, diversity, freedom of expression, and respect in all endeavors.
"I'm very proud of the consultation that occurred throughout this process," Tankersley said. "You can see the overwhelming engagement of our faculty, staff, and our administrators, and all of this happened in less than five months."
For more information about Transformation 2028, visit www.kent.edu/transformation2028.