In recent months, Dr. John Ostling, Vice President for Academic Affairs, has reorganized the Office of Academic Affairs at Nassau Community College. Gone is the Office of the Dean Of Instruction and the various associate deans that had been part of the old structure.

The need for restructuring was brought home to Dr. Ostling when outside experts made it clear that there was no way that the job of administering academic affairs at the college could be done effectively under the old creaking organization. Dr. Ostling has added a number of new administrative positions and created a new system of associate deans for various academic areas.

Of special interest to the AFA is the appointment of Professor Carol Farber as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Professor Farber will work closely with the AFA on matters of general concern.

Promoted to new positions are Dr. Anne Emmerson  and Dr. James Polo who both  hold the title of Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Dr. Emmerson is currently working on the development of the on-line availability form, which will be given a trial run soon. The next step will be a yearly availability submission by adjunct faculty. At a recent meeting with the chairs Dr. Ostling urged them to move rapidly toward the goal of developing a yearly schedule for all faculty. This is critical to the implementation of a yearly adjunct availability form.

In addition Dr. Emmerson's office is working on the development of on-line grade submission. This will be a welcome advance. Many local colleges already have these innovations in effect and they work well. Nassau must upgrade these aspects of its administrative structure.

         Dr. Polo is the administrator in charge of  the Department of Lifelong Learning. The weekend college is his responsibility. Dr. Ostling has promoted this innovation at Nassau for several years. There had been significant concern expressed over the staffing of the weekend college, but this hurdle has been successfully cleared. The  registration at the weekend college is strong and it appears to be off to a good start.

In addition, Professor Susan Kravitz has been promoted to Associate Dean of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts. Dr. Dean Kevlin, new to Nassau, is the Associate Dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Professor Janet Caruso, also new to Nassau, is the Associate Dean of Career & Pre-Professional Education, and Professor Maria Conzatti will assume the title Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, International Education. Dr. Dudley Chin has been appointed the Acting Associate Dean, Sciences and Math. Associate Dean Ann Muth will work on the weekend college with Dr. Polo as well as with the AFA on matters of contract enforcement.

Any new administrative structure will have growing pains and need fine-tuning, but in the words of Dr. Ostling:

 "I am proud of the talent and diversity of these new additions to the Office of Academic Affairs, and I am confident that individually and collectively they will impress you with their accomplishments. I also trust that the college community will welcome and support them as they undertake their responsibilities." 

The AFA wishes to express its support for Dr. Ostling and his efforts to modernize and streamline the administrative structure at Nassau. The union will do all that it can within the new framework to advance the interests of the college and the adjunct faculty.