Katie Plona Daily Staff Reporter LSA Dean Edie Goldenberg's resignation does not stand alone in a period marked by constant changes among the leading posts of the University's 19 schools. But a number of University officials said a high dean turnover is not unusual. Economics and Public Policy Prof. Paul Courant, former chair of the economics department, said that although dean positions are always changing, the period between former University President James Duderstadt's resignation and Bollinger's first day as head of the University was unique because deans took on more central administrative roles.
Deans are probably more in the business they have always been in.
But Courant said deans have always been instrumental within the University administration. Bollinger said the framework of the administration allows deans to be involved in key decisions throughout the University. Law Dean Jeffrey Lehman said that because the administrative structure is so decentralized, a flux of deans does not disrupt the overall operation of the University. John Chamberlin, interim dean of the School of Public Policy, said a constant change in deans does not cause an administration to be unstable. I don't think it presents any issues at all.