University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS By FRANK BECIO he School of Business Administration started the 1992- 93 year with a new dean and a new attitude. Facing turmoil and disgruntled professors through- out the 1991-92 term, Dean Kenneth Fedor resigned in May, and President Edward T. Foote 11 immediately appointed Paul Sugrue, a 12 year veteran of the University and for- mer senior Vice provost, as dean. The problems, which trace back to Fedoris budget cuts in the fall of 1991 and his opinion about amount research being done by professors, led the Department of Economics to unanimously vote to leave the school and sparked discussions in the Departments of Political Science and Accounting about doing the same. Fedor was quoted in February as saying the business faculty tt...are unhappy for a variety of reasons. We have to allocate our resources on a budgetary constraint. The number of freshmen enrolled has decreased again this year and we are losing funds? Foote met with the different department heads in the school on Feb. 25, 1992, to dis- cuss the problems. At the time, Foote said: 91 met with the chairmen a couple of days ago. We discussed them confidentially, and it is Clear there are some differences of opinion over there about the direction that the school should be following? ' Foote, however, said he felt comfortable with Fedor. 21 hired the clean. I and many people have a lot of confidence in his ability and what he can bring the school? he said. 91 haven't changed my mind about that? Foote continued to support the dean even after the faculty of the school voted 9no confidence2 in Fedor in March, and asked for his resignation. Foote set up a Visiting committee to review the problems, but before it began its study, Fedor resigned. File Photo A NEW Ball Facing turmoil and disgruntled professors throughout the 1991-92 term, Dean Kenneth Fedor resigned in May. The problems could be traced back to Fedorts budget cuts in the fall of 1991 and his opinion about amount research being done by professors. ugrue took over almost immediately and made significant changes by the stat of the fall 1992 semester. 28 The Year In Review

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Facing turmoil and disgruntlw profess: sors throughout the 1991-92term , Dean Kenneth Fedor resigned in k ay, and President Edward T. Foote ll immedi- ately appointed Paul Sugrue, a 12 year veteran m the University and former senior vice provost, as dean

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The School of Business Administration undergoes a Change of deans and a Change of attitude In November, the Department of Economics over- turned its February decision to move to the College of Arts and Sciences. Hollis Price, associate professor of economics, said the department reversed its deci- sion because the department found itself in a more positive situation under Sugrue. tiWe formally decided not to transfer. Most of us felt that our col- leagues in the other departments had shown us so much support that it would not be in good faith to leavefi Price said. ttArts and Sciences also did not seen particularly happy to receive us, and under Dean Sugrueis new regime, our funding of the Ph.D. program increased by 300 to 400 per- cent? Price said Sugrue brought a more relaxed atmosphere to the school. ttWe are back to doing the things acade- mics should be doing. We wasted so much energy last year that it is now time to grow? Price said. ttIn addition to the funding, there has been an increase of support. We are now going to be able to replace the faculty we have lost. We really now have support from the very minor to the very big things? A New Attitude ugrue made changes to nearly every program in the school. liWhat I am doing is totally independent of the problems of the last year by setting a course where I think we should be going? Sugrue said. tTve spent the last months getting my feet on the ground. I have gotten away from talking about last year because I donit think it does anybody any good. Ithink the ill feel- ings are behind us. ' File Photo President Foote continued to support Fedor even after the faculty of the 561900! voted ttno confidenceii m Fedor m Marcia, omd askedfor 192's resignation. The Year Ill Review ttPeople are looking forward and I am working on programs for the future of the school. I hired a new assistant to be in charge of gradu- ate programs and I hired an assistant dean for adminis- tration and devel- opment of external affairs? Sugrue said. Harold Berkman was appointed associate dean for Graduate Business Programs. Berkman was for- merly the director . of the Academy of J'C' R'dley Marketing Science Sugrue took over at UM. almost immediately iiI am respon- and made significant changes by the start of the fall 1992 semester. In November, the Department of Economics over- turned its February decision to move to the College of Arts and Sciences. sible for graduate business students - from the moment we recruit them all the way until we graduate them, Berkman said. ttI want grad- uate students to have a place to go, a place to deal with a problem, a place to find a job? Sugrue said he was not planning Changes on the undergraduate level. tttAssociate Dean Jamesl Foley contin- ues to do a great job with that office and stu- dents are well served. Thatis the feeling I have picked up. I have charged two commit- tees to review the curriculum and I am expecting some specific recommendations by the spring semester? he said. Sugrue is also hoping to physically expand the school. ttI am looking for some major successes in fundraising so that we can get a building where we can expand and meet with all the faculty at once? Sugrue said. 29