SIU Trustees meet in Carbondale this week, where they're expected to hear from Chancellor Carlo Montemagno on his campus reorganization proposal.
Montemagno says the changes - including eliminating departments and their chairs - will save money and boost enrollment.
"Saving money is, essentially, eliminating a layer of administration. But that's not the real driver. The real driver is to enable and advance a synergy among the faculty, to enable the creation of new programs and new ideas that you couldn't put in place."
Faculty and student groups have pushed back - they say Montemagno's plan is moving too quickly and doesn't represent their needs or the university's mission.
But Montemagno says it's necessary to elevate SIUC from a regional institution to a research powerhouse. He hopes to have the changes in place next year.
