At the Monday, Oct. 20, University Academic Senate meeting, Acting Provost Sarah Feldner shared an update on the university’s exploration of reorganizing Marquette’s colleges and departmental structures. The effort comes out of a transformative recommendation through the Securing Our Future process, which is part of the Marquette 2031 strategic plan.
In its report, the Securing Our Future committee called for the university to “reduce the complexity of its academic offerings and maximize operational efficiencies by reimagining the university’s colleges and their departmental structures.”
“When I think about the Jesuit tenet of the magis, or ‘the more,’ it’s not just about bigger, bigger, bigger — it’s really a call against complacency,” Acting Provost Feldner said. “We have to ask ourselves where we go next. This is a recognition that we have this moment when we can decide for ourselves how to adapt.”
At Monday’s UAS meeting, Acting Provost Feldner laid out three emerging themes that will guide the process going forward, as well as an extended timeline. The acting provost will meet this semester with Marquette University Student Government and Graduate School Organization to discuss the process, the proposed models and solicit student feedback.
Key themes emerge from September ideation sessions
According to Acting Provost Feldner, three themes emerged from the September ideation sessions, along with guiding questions that will aid in evaluating different academic structure models. The themes and questions follow:
THEME 1: Student-centered focus and education of the whole student
Guiding questions — Does the model:
- Allow us to reaffirm commitment to student experience and success?
- Preserve pathways to allow academic exploration across disciplines and pursuing double majors and other options?
- Maintain focus on critical thinking, curiosity, and developing students’ sense of ethics and purpose?
THEME 2: Advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and reducing competition
Guiding questions — Does the model:
- Reduce silos and promote cross-unit collaboration?
- Allow for flexibility to support shared curricula and research opportunities?
- Create possibilities for leveraging and sharing resources and operating more effectively?
- Address duplication and inequities that hinder curricular and research innovation?
THEME 3: Catholic, Jesuit mission and liberal arts identity
Guiding questions — Does the model:
- Prevent any unit from continuing to engage in research and student transformation that emphasizes and strengthens Marquette’s Jesuit, Catholic, and liberal arts foundation?
- Provide pathways for whole person education across majors?
- Create alignment for faculty research to generate knowledge and address the world’s pressing needs?
College reorganization process timeline
Acting Provost Feldner also shared the timeline for this Securing Our Future transformative initiative:
- Late-October 2025: Campus sessions for discussion of proposed models; meetings with college deans and department chairs
- November 2025: Feedback from sessions shared with campus; college meetings for feedback; refinement of models by acting provost in consultation with University Leadership Council
- December 2025: Recommendation to President Kimo Ah Yun on model for reorganization
- Spring 2026: Campus refinement of reorganization proposal and feedback through shared governance process
- April 2026: If necessary: College reorganization proposal presented to Board of Trustees for approval
- Summer 2026: Deans and Provost’s Cabinet develop plan for timing and key target dates for transition (admissions, registrar, communication, budget realignment, shared governance deadlines)
- Fall 2026– Fall 2027: Implementation planning in the modified college structures to include but is not limited to:
- College leadership and committee structures
- Promotion and tenure documentation updates
- Curriculum updates, if needed; Bulletin updates
- Budget reallocation
- Policy coordination
Acting Provost Feldner added that the earliest the university would implement a modified college structure would be in fall 2027.
Watch Marquette Today for updates on this Securing Our Future recommendation.
