Academic Pathway Realignment

August 11, 2022 / Faculty/Staff Highlights

Academic Pathway Realignment

As part of the VCCS strategic planning process, colleges were requested to realign their existing academic pathways with the new VCCS Student Career Pathways. As we considered how to implement this request, our ultimate goal was to make changes that will help the college grow even stronger as we move forward with a new strategic plan and continue to embrace our college mission. Please note that this does not change the function of academic pathways or the pathway councils, but rather it just rearranges the programs and disciplines into a smaller number of pathways and changes the leadership.

With this in mind, beginning with the new faculty contract year on August 16, 2022, the following academic pathways will exist with the leadership assigned below:

(Note: we are aware that this is the busiest time of the year for student services staff and this change may cause some stress. Please know that you may still send items to the former deans throughout this transition and all will assist you in efficiently serving our students.)

  • Advanced Manufacturing & Skilled Trades – Dean Abe Eftekhari
  • Arts, Communication & Humanities – Interim Dean Ana Alonso
  • Business and Public Services – Interim Dean Cathy Cogdill
  • Computer Science & Information Technology – Dean Paula Ford
  • Education & Social Sciences – Dean Jimmie McClellan
  • Healthcare – Dean Megan Cook and Dean Gary Sargent
  • Life and Physical Sciences – Interim Dean Maggie Emblom-Callahan
  • Math & Engineering – Dean Alison Thimblin

The Deans noted above will lead the academic disciplines, pathway councils and programs of study associated with their assigned pathway. Their leadership over the pathways and unique vision will be instrumental to moving the college forward.

In keeping with VCCS guidelines, all disciplines and programs of study will fall under one of the newly organized Academic Pathways.  The only exception to this is the A.S. in General Studies, which will continue to fall under the Office of Academic Affairs along with General Education and the Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS).  For more information about which disciplines and programs of study are connected to each Pathway please see this Pathway Guidance Chart

In addition to the new Academic Pathways, the VCCS-required mandate also presented an opportunity for NOVA to revitalize its academic leadership structure. The above reconfiguration allowed the college to create new academic leadership areas that are of high academic importance. These areas directly relate to meeting our college mission and have a significant impact on students’ educational experiences at NOVA. To build and grow these areas, it is important to have a dean-level leader present to support faculty, staff and students. As such, effective in fall 2022, I am pleased to announce the following college-wide academic areas of importance and the deans who will provide college-wide leadership over each area.

  • NOVA Honors Program and Student Study Abroad ProgramsInterim Dean Laura Jacyna
  • NOVA Experiential Learning (Undergraduate Research, Internships, etc.)Interim Dean Jen Rainey
  • NOVA Faculty Professional Development/CETLDean David Epstein
  • NOVA Academic Inclusive Excellence (QEP, Faculty Equity Data Summits, etc.) –  Dean Jen Daniels

I would like to express sincere appreciation to all those who provided thoughtful commentary and feedback as NOVA discussed how to meet this VCCS expectation by the end of the Fall 2022 semester.  The academic pathways outlined in this message were approved by Dr. Kress in July and, as VPAA/CAO, I am summarizing the process and introducing the revised academic pathways to our college community.

As VPAA/CAO, I worked directly with the Deans and Provosts to consider each Dean’s stated preferences, professional expertise, academic background, and professional credentials before moving the above structure and leadership assignments forward to the President for approval. 

It is understood that no alignment will ever be perfect; however, this alignment meets the requirements of the VCCS and improves the business needs of the college on various levels. It also includes minimal structural changes and minimal disruption to faculty members on campus.

Please note, a dean’s campus-based duties will not change because of this pathway realignment.  The full-time faculty, Associate Deans, and Deans reporting structure remains the same.  Deans will continue to be supervised by their campus provost and will only report their pathway duties or college-wide area of importance duties to the VPAA/CAO.

Once again, thank you to all who have been part of this process.  Your dedication to NOVA students is unquestionable and I look forward to continuing the work we have started in support of the college community. Please contact the VPAA/CAO if you have any questions.

Submitted by:
Eun-Woo Chang, Ph. D., VP and Chief Academic Officer, EChang@nvcc.edu