Case

Section 1. Brief Summary St. Francis University was a medium-sized private University located in a major port city in the Visayas. It had a total enrollment of 26,000 at both graduate and undergraduate year levels. The College of Commerce was second major unit of the University with more than 3,000 students. The College of Commerce enrollment was distributed among the four major fields: (1) Banking and Finance; (2) Accounting; (3) Marketing; (4) Business Management. The college had 55 full-time faculty and more than 100 lecturers. In 1989, Mr. Santos was promoted as the Dean of the College of Commerce. Since the college experienced rapid growth in enrollment during the past ten years, Dean Santos wanted to combine curricular improvements and administrative changes that would improve the College’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Section 2. Statement of the Problem The problem occurred when the Departments heads were unanimously against the proposal. Considering the arguments made by the Department heads and the faculty of the College of Commerce, what decision must be recommended by the rector of the university to the St. Francis University Board of Trustees? Will Dean Santos’ proposal for reorganization be accepted or not?
Section 3. Case Facts STRENGTHS 1. It was one of the best private University in the city and primarily known for its engineering and science-degree courses. 2. The University had a total enrollment of about 26,000 for both graduate and undergraduate levels. 3. The College of Commerce had four major fields: (1) Banking and Finance; (2) Accounting; (3) Marketing; (4) Business Management 4. The college had 55 full-time faculty and more than 100 lecturers. 5. The College of Commerce department heads were usually senior faculty members who were considered academically and professionally well-prepared in the department. 6. Admission standards of the school were higher than the neighboring colleges offering commerce degrees. 7. Departments had become closely interweave groups of teachers pleasant in their dealings with each other. 8. The teachers develop professionalism together.
WEAKNESSES
1. Lesser number of enrollees as compared to the College of Engineering 2. Many of the employees were employed elsewhere in the city and normally taught courses offered in the off hours. 3. Departments are somewhat jealous of their department’s academic reputation.
OPPORTUNITIES
1. College of Commerce has more number of academic departments as compared to bigger universities in the country. 2. Mostly, high school graduates consider St. Francis as their first choice of school for college.
THREATS
1. Lesser number of enrollees as compared to other universities offering commerce. 2. Other universities and colleges offering commerce.
Section 4. Alternative Courses of Action ACA # 1: Implementation of Departmental Reorganization reducing the existing number of departments to 3. Advantages: 1. The cost of running the College of Commerce will be minimized. 2. There would be an estimated saving of 65,000 per year. 3. The faculty will be able to cross fertilize each other. 4. The difficulty of escalating tuition fees will be solved. 5. Enrollment will be increased.
Disadvantages:
1. Faculty members might lose their job. 2. The academic identity will lessen. 3. The homogenous grouping of faculty by area of discipline will be affected. 4. Difficulty of developing professionalism combining faculty in different fields. ACA # 2: Curriculum improvement and evaluation rather than Departmental Reorganization. Advantages: 1. Courses will be up-to-date. 2. New courses might be offered to students. 3. The department heads and other faculty will be happy. 4. The academic identity of each department will be maintained. 5. Faculty can work closely to each other.
Disadvantages:
1. Cost minimization of the school will not be achieved. 2. Faculty will not be able to cross fertilize with each other. 3. Minimizing tuition fees will be difficult. 4. Enrollment might not increase.
ACA # 3: Implementation of combining curricular improvements and administrative changes in the College.
Advantages:
1. Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the College. 2. Number of enrollees will be increased. 3. The cost of running the school will be reduced. 4. The difficulty of escalating tuition fees will be solved. 5. The faculty will be able to cross fertilize each other. 6. New courses might be offered.
Disadvantages:
1. Faculty members might lose their job. 2. There will be a decrease in academic identity. 3. Difficulty of developing professionalism combining faculty in different fields. 4. The homogenous grouping of faculty by area of discipline will be affected.
Section 5. Conclusion and Recommendation I therefore conclude that ACA #1 will be implemented to reduce cost and at the same time increasing the number of enrollees of the College of Commerce. Some department functions are not necessarily important within the college since some functions can be combined. Furthermore, the Rector of the University and the Dean of the College of Commerce should explain the rationale behind the reorganization to at least give the department heads and the faculty the clear purpose of the proposal. At first, it would be natural that some would argue but once they understood and observed the benefits of reorganizing, they will gradually accept the changes.