CHSBS Dean candidate Frank Goza outlines goals for liberal arts programs


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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Associate Dean and professor of sociology Franklin Goza speaks about his experience and priorities at the open forum held on April 24 in the Bovee University Center Auditorium.

Frank Goza wants to strengthen fiscal condition of programs and improve graduation rates if he was chosen as dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Goza was the second of three candidates to interview for the job and participated in an open forum April 24 in the Bovee University Center Auditorium. 

In his presentation, Goza explained the value behind liberal arts education and how he would add value to the liberal arts program at Central Michigan University.  

Goza said strengthening the fiscal condition would relieve the stress of a professor losing their job and in turn allow professors to solely focus on their students and their research. In order to do this, he said more students need to be enrolled in liberal arts programs. 

To retain more students, Goza wants to promote high impact practices, such as study abroad and internships. Goza said he wishes to create more curricular opportunities for students by assessing programs and seeing what students feel they need to better succeed.

An idea for a circular opportunity was adding a minor or certificate in liberal arts, Goza said. He believes this would be advantageous to students in different fields. 

“We’re offering (students) the opportunity to really get some special training here that’s going to benefit them the rest of their lives,” Gova said. 

To improve graduation rates, Goza said he hopes to revisit advising strategies and lower the required credit hours to 120 in order to graduate. Goza believes mandatory advising would be helpful to students based on his experience as assistant dean at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“We’ve assessed what students think of mandatory advising, and they want it. They think this is really helpful,” Goza said. 

Goza said he would promote interdisciplinary teaching and try to work with other deans to create more opportunities for this. 

Goza said that he also wants to promote the idea to have high school students come to CMU for dual enrollment and thinks it would attract more students. 

“These students are now becoming aware of the Central Michigan University brand,” Goza said. “We try to leverage that into, ‘Hey, you’ve tasted what it is that we have to offer. Now come join us and get your four-year degree.’”

The dean candidate wants to aid teachers with supplies to be able to rework their classes, so teachers can find the best way to teach a class, he said.

Goza added he believes CMU is a great fit for him. 

“The things that I most love about being a student are all in this college, so I think for me it would just be an ideal fit,” Goza said. “I’d have a tough time imagining a better fit.”

Robert Matz, interim dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University, visited campus April 23. Richard Rothaus, vice chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs for North Dakota University system, visits April 26.

CMU is looking for a replacement for Pamela Gates, who left in January after reaching a near $300,000 separation agreement. Marcy Taylor serves as interim dean of the college.

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