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The �鶹ӰԺ Board of Trustees has approved the university’s proposed realignment of degree-granting colleges within the Division of Academic Affairs, marking a significant milestone in the Transformation 2028 (T28) initiative. The approval, which came during the Board’s March 19 meeting, culminates a strategic planning process that began in April 2024 and included extensive consultation with faculty and university stakeholders.

The approved plan reduces �鶹ӰԺ State’s degree-granting colleges from 10 to nine and reconfigures them into three collective consortiums that will share administrative resources. This reorganization represents the university's most significant structural transformation since the 1960s and ’70s.

“The goals for T28 are two: first to strengthen academic affairs by reorganizing and realigning our academic units so that we are more cost efficient and therefore sustainable, and second, to ensure that we are providing the most in-demand, up-to-date and relevant academic programs and services for our learners,” said Melody Tankersley, Ph.D., �鶹ӰԺ State’s executive vice president and provost. 

Preparing Students for Future Careers

At its core, Transformation 2028 is designed to prepare students for the future demands of their careers in a rapidly changing world. 

The initiative recognizes that today’s graduates need more than just expertise in their chosen fields – they need interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary skills that equip them to lead and innovate in dynamic industries.

“Realigning our academic programs will allow us to realize opportunities to work across multidisciplinary boundaries in ways that address the current needs of the workforce and address the lifetime careers of our students,” Tankersley said. “Our educational goal will continue to be to preserve our healthy, top-choice degree program offerings, and to continue to prioritize the addition of sought-after and market-relevant programs.”

Financial Sustainability with Student Success at the Center

Under the newly approved structure, schools and departments within the reconfigured colleges will begin sharing administrative leadership and services, supporting the university’s strategic goals of operational efficiency and cost reduction. 

The reorganization delivers an annual savings of $1.5 million through a 40% reduction in academic leadership structure within the Division of Academic Affairs.

“When combined with previously implemented cost-saving measures, we’ve now achieved $4 million in annual savings toward our $8 million goal for the division,” Tankersley noted. “This milestone represents significant progress in creating a financially sustainable model for �鶹ӰԺ State’s academic future.”

Throughout the planning process, the university maintained a “students first” approach, one of the key guiding principles of Transformation 2028. The plan ensures that student degree paths continue uninterrupted, with many alignments potentially creating enhanced opportunities for student success.

Breaking Down Silos and Building Collaborations

The Transformation 2028 plan was developed with input from the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, the �鶹ӰԺ State United Faculty Association, and faculty and staff across the university. This inclusive approach reflects the initiative's commitment to “listening to our entire community” and “thinking beyond the silo.”

The reorganization aims to reduce silos and create synergies across programs, units, colleges and campuses, allowing the university to maintain and more efficiently build upon its successes in both education and research.

Implementation and Looking Forward

Implementation of the approved plan will begin fall 2025. Administrative units within degree-seeking colleges will now develop detailed transition plans for shared resources and leadership while identifying key areas affected by these changes. 

University leadership has indicated that additional guidance for non-degree-seeking colleges and �鶹ӰԺ State’s administrative divisions will follow to support the new academic configuration.

The Transformation 2028 initiative will be implemented in phases over the coming years, with completion expected in 2028. 

Throughout this process, the university remains committed to its core values, including teaching and research excellence, life-changing educational experiences, inclusive environments, collaborative engagement, diversity, freedom of expression, and respect in all endeavors.

“I’m appreciative of the engagement of the faculty and staff in Academic Affairs, and of the leadership and guidance of our administrators that occurred throughout this work,” Tankersley said. “The process relied on their consultation and feedback, and because of their dedication, we can move forward toward our sustainable future.”

Visit the Transformation 2028 webpage for more information about the initiative.