MORGANTOWN, W.Va. West Virginia University has announced plans to merge the College of Creative Arts and the Reed College of Media to create a new college focused on the future of arts and media education. The merger is part of the transition to be more competitive in the changing higher education environment.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maryanne Reed said the new college has yet to be named and the structure has not been determined.
“Can we be more efficient? Where do we want to grow, and what can we no longer afford to keep doing?” Reed said. “So, we’re looking at multiple areas, mergers are one aspect of it, and we’re also looking at our program portfolio.”
Over the summer, leaders from the Reed College of Media and the College of Creative Arts will determine the structure of the new unit. During that process, Reed said there will be ample opportunities for staff, faculty, and students to offer input.
Just how much savings will be recognized will not be known until those meetings are complete.
“We know there are savings, particularly on the administrative side, because you don’t necessarily need separate administrations in each of those units, and that’s where those savings come from,” Reed said.
Some of the programming for the college is expected to feature hands-on learning and center around digital media, interactive arts, and game design to prepare students for the careers of tomorrow. Reed said bringing the two together will create innovative collaboration and new programs to attract more students.
“Create what we think will be a dynamic new entity that focuses on art media and the changing digital landscape,” Reed added.
During the June 23 Board of Governors meeting, the members will be asked to endorse the plan, they are not required to approve it. Once endorsed, Reed said designated work groups will spend much of the 2023–24 academic year developing academic programming, promotion and tenure guidelines and practices, fundraising, communications, and student support services.
“Bringing together the leaders and the faculty and staff across both units to identify what the structure will look like, what resources will be needed, what people will be needed, and how the functions of the new college will operate,” Reed said.
The academic transformation of WVU has been under consideration for the last two years in an effort to appeal to the changing needs of students, families, and the economy. All of the actions taken during the transition are designed to create relevant course offerings that can be offered in a cost-effective way and provide good careers for graduates.
“We are very much in a digital world,” Reed said. “The opportunity to bring those creative people together to focus on what the future of media looks like and what the future of art looks like and how they work together.”
The merger will not change the degree path for students currently enrolled in either college.