College of Arts and Sciences Renewal

Looking to the future for the college

The College of Arts and Sciences is entering an important period of change and opportunity. As K-State’s largest and most academically diverse college, Arts and Sciences plays a central role in providing students with a comprehensive education and advancing research, creative activity, community engagement and workforce development.

Throughout the 2026-2027 academic year, the college will undertake a comprehensive process to reimagine how it is organized and how it operates. This work will identify a forward-looking organizational structure and operating model that strengthens support for faculty, staff and students; uses college resources effectively and sustainably; encourages collaboration across disciplines and units; and aligns the college with K-State’s broader institutional priorities.

The process will be overseen by Cynthia Warrick, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, in partnership with the Office of the Provost and directly guided by a committee of Arts and Sciences faculty and staff. The ultimate goal is to establish a new organizational structure and clear operational path for the college by the end of the academic year.

A&S Renewal Committee (ARC)

The process will be supported by the A&S Renewal Committee, or ARC. The committee will include representatives from the Office of the Dean, each of the college's three main academic areas, the College Committee on Planning, and K-State Faculty Senate.

• Christie Launius, Associate Dean (chair)
• Ben Stark, Assistant Dean
• Marcellus Caldas, School Head
• Brian Geisbrecht, Department Head
• Karin Westman, Department Head
• Jeff Zamostny, Department Head
• Cath Harris, Budget/Fiscal Officer
• Gabriel Bachura, CCOP Staff Representative
• James K. Davis, CCOP Representative, HFA
• Bret Flanders, CCOP Representative, QNS
• Don Saucier, CCOP Representative, SBS
• Phill Vardiman, Faculty Senate VP
• Elaine Johannes, FSCOUP
• Angel George, Human Resources (ex officio)

ARC will work with Emergent Method, the external management consulting firm that supported the development of K-State’s strategic plan, to examine the college’s current structure, engage the college community, consider potential organizational models, and develop recommendations.

ARC will also serve as a central point of coordination for the college's broader renewal efforts, including the work of the Modernization Committee and the Innovation Collective, both described below. Regular coordination and opportunities to share updates, findings and recommendations will help ensure these interconnected efforts inform one another and contribute to a cohesive approach to the college's future.

A&S Modernization Committee

The A&S Cultural Modernization Committee will focus on improving the policies, practices and processes that guide the college's day-to-day operations to better support its academic mission. This work will identify opportunities to simplify procedures, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, improve consistency and ensure that college resources are used effectively to support teaching, research and student success.

The committee will examine existing administrative, operational and cultural practices to identify opportunities to improve workload expectations, course delivery and college operations to better serve faculty, staff and students. These efforts will support responsible stewardship of the college's resources while maintaining the flexibility needed to meet the needs of individual departments and schools.

The committee will develop prioritized recommendations for near-term improvements and longer-term changes to support a more effective and sustainable operating environment.

• Scott Tanona, Associate Dean (Chair)
• Don Kurtz, Department Head
• Bryan Pinkall, Department Head
• Ben McCloskey, CCOP Representative, HFA
• Ethan Bernick, CCOP Representative, SBS
• Christine Aikens, CCOP Representative, QNS
• Lori LaVezzi, CCOP Staff Representative

A&S Innovation Collective

The Innovation Collective will engage faculty, staff and other stakeholders in exploring forward-looking ideas and opportunities to shape the future of the College of Arts and Sciences. Its work will complement the broader college renewal efforts, with regular coordination and opportunities to share insights and recommendations with ARC. Additional information and opportunities for engagement will be available on the Innovation Collective's dedicated page.

Process and timeline

The College of Arts and Sciences is engaged in two separate but related efforts during the 2026-27 academic year.

Academic Program Review and Revitalization (APRR) is a university-wide review of selected academic programs, including programs in Arts and Sciences, conducted through a regular cycle for program review as required by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) and Higher Learning Commission (HLC). APRR is led by the Office of the Provost.

A&S Renewal Committee (ARC) is leading a separate but related workstream that examines the organization and operations of the College of Arts and Sciences and developing structural recommendations. The processes have different purposes, but APRR findings and the broader context around academic programs will inform ARC’s work and ultimate recommendations.

The timeline below highlights key milestones and opportunities for the university and college community to learn about the work and provide feedback. Dates may change as the processes continue.

Public milestones and opportunities

Date	Process	Milestone
Aug. 17-Sept. 11, 2026	APRR	Selected programs are notified, and program self-studies begin
Sept. 24-Oct. 8, 2026	ARC	ARC launches its work and reviews initial comparative institution research
Oct. 19-Nov. 16, 2026	ARC	Stakeholder interviews are conducted
Oct. 30, 2026	APRR	Program self-studies and preliminary action plans are due
Nov. 2-24, 2026	APRR	College leadership reviews program materials and submits comments; review materials are then distributed to reviewers
Dec. 3, 2026	ARC	All-college update on progress, comparative processes and structures research, and proposed parameters to guide future recommendations
Dec. 3-14, 2026	ARC	College-wide comment period on the proposed parameters
Dec. 7-16, 2026	APRR	Program faculty meet with assigned reviewers
Dec. 17, 2026	ARC	ARC reviews college feedback, finalizes its parameters, and plans its spring work
Jan. 4-Feb. 5, 2027	APRR	Programs respond to review reports, revise action plans, and complete the final review process
Late January – early February	ARC	College-wide survey is open
Late January – early February	ARC	College listening sessions take place
March 2027	ARC	All-college presentation of proposed college and Dean’s Office structures
March 2027	ARC	College-wide comment period on ARC’s proposed recommendations
Late March 2027	ARC	ARC finalizes recommendations and submits them to the Interim Dean

Updates

October 19, 2026

The A&S Renewal Committee (ARC) has been launched and has met twice. Members have reviewed initial desk research on other institutions’ organizational models and reorganization processes, including colleges of arts and sciences that have recently undergone organizational renewal or restructuring.

The committee has also begun identifying over 50 individuals to participate in an initial round of stakeholder interviews. Participants have been selected to represent a range of perspectives and experiences across the college, with a focus on understanding the college’s current organizational structure, identifying opportunities for improvement, and assessing the operational and administrative needs of the Dean’s Office.

Interviews will be confidential, and only overarching themes will be shared with the committee to inform its deliberations and recommendations. These interviews are the first opportunity for direct input in the renewal process. In spring 2027, the college will also hold focus groups and conduct a college-wide survey to continue gathering feedback from the college community.

Over the next six weeks, ARC will examine the College of Arts and Sciences’ current organizational structure and operations, continue reviewing other institutions’ structures, and gather input through stakeholder interviews. This work will inform the development of a framework and parameters, including the range of schools or units, and will guide the structural recommendations that ARC will develop in spring 2027.

At the Dec. 3 college town hall meeting, ARC will share its progress, an overview of other institutions’ structures, and its proposed parameters for developing future recommendations. A college-wide comment period on the parameters will follow from Dec. 3-14. ARC will review the feedback as it finalizes the parameters and plans its spring work.

FAQs

What is ARC and what has the committee been asked to do?

The A&S Renewal Committee (ARC) is an advisory committee for the College of Arts and Sciences’ renewal process. It has been asked to review the college’s current organization and operations, consider input from the college community and research on comparative institutions, and develop recommendations for a future structure for the college and the Dean’s Office. Its work is intended to support students, faculty, and staff, strengthen collaboration, and support effective, sustainable use of resources.

How are APRR and ARC different?

Academic Program Review and Revitalization (APRR) is a university-wide review of academic programs across the university, led by the Office of the Provost, for regular academic program review. K-State moved to a regular four-year review cycle in 2026-27. Academic program review is required by KBOR and HLC. The APRR evaluates programs using factors such as enrollment, retention, student and market demand, program quality, service, and financial sustainability.

ARC is focused on the organization and operations of the College of Arts and Sciences. The processes are separate, but ARC will consider APRR results as part of its work.

When will the college community see ARC’s recommendations, and when can people comment?

ARC will share its progress, an overview of its work, and the proposed parameters to guide the development of structural recommendations at the Dec. 3 college townhall meeting. A college-wide comment period on those parameters will follow.

In the spring, ARC will present proposed structures for the college and Dean’s Office at a spring townhall meeting and invite feedback. ARC will review feedback from the college community before submitting its final recommendations.

Does ARC make decisions or does it make recommendations? Who will make decisions about any changes?

ARC serves in an advisory capacity and does not make final decisions about organizational changes. The committee will develop recommendations for a future structure and provide them to Interim Dean Cynthia Warrick for review. Dean Warrick will then share these recommendations with the Office of the Provost.

Are Arts and Sciences degree programs going to close?

In the revised APRR cycle, programs will go through APRR every four years. For the first year of this new cycle implementation, selected Arts and Sciences programs are being evaluated through APRR, a university-wide process that includes programs across K-State – not just those in Arts and Sciences. It is guided by KBOR and HLC requirements and assesses factors such as student and market demand, program quality, service, and financial sustainability. The review can lead to different outcomes, including recommendations for growth and investment, sustaining existing programs, improvement plan for program changes, or closure. While program discontinuations are possible, no closure should be assumed before the review is complete. Results of the current review are expected in January 2027.

If a program is discontinued, how will current students be supported in completing their degrees?

If a program is discontinued, K-State will develop a teach-out plan to support affected students. Students will be supported in completing the degree program in which they are enrolled, including access to the courses they need to progress toward graduation.

How will the work of ARC impact faculty and staff?

Based on ARC’s structural recommendations, faculty and staff’s home units within the college may shift, and their supervisory lines may change.

Additionally, the college is exploring a voluntary separation incentive program (VSIP) for eligible Arts and Sciences faculty who are interested. More information about VSIP options will be provided when available.

Will faculty teaching, research, or service assignments change as part of this process?

Faculty workloads are governed by Kansas Board of Regents policy and K-State’s Faculty Workload Policy, Chapter 5025. Individual workload allocations are established through annual faculty workload plans. ARC is considering the college’s organization and operations; it does not assign individual faculty workloads.

More information about the Faculty Workload Policy is available in the PPM.

If faculty teach a regular load, will they still be able to conduct research?

Under Chapter 5025 of K-State’s Policy and Processes Manual (PPM), the baseline workload framework for tenured and tenure-track faculty at K-State includes 40-55% teaching, 35-45% research, and 5-20% service. The typical instructional load is 6-9 credit hours per semester. Individual responsibilities vary by discipline, appointment, funding, and program needs.

ARC does not set individual teaching assignments.

We want to hear from you.

Meaningful engagement will be essential to this process. Throughout this process, we will conduct anonymous interviews, surveys, listening sessions and focus groups. Please respond to any requests for your participation. Your feedback is essential to how we set our future vision, goals, priorities and strategies for success.

Regular updates will be provided throughout the academic year, including information about opportunities to participate, major milestones and emerging recommendations. While not every individual suggestion can be incorporated, all feedback will be considered as the college evaluates its options and makes decisions about its future.

Thank you for your participation in this process!