Arts May Go Without Dean Until Spring

Seven months after the resignation of Dean Bruce Ferguson, the Columbia University School of the Arts is still without a permanent dean.

Ferguson, who had held the post since 1999, stepped down in April 2006, citing the need to explore alternate career paths. He had already been on sabbatical for a year when he announced his resignation, which means the school has been without permanent leadership for more than a year and a half.

"This is a longer gap between deanships than we would like to see," University Provost Alan Brinkley said.

Following the resignation, the University asked Acting Dean Dan Kleinman to stay on for an extra year and convened a search committee to find Ferguson's replacement. Co-chaired by both Brinkley and Vice President for Arts and Sciences Nick Dirks, the committee includes professors and administrators from the School of the Arts, the Graduate School of Journalism, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

In addition to the search committee, the University has also enlisted the help of a top international headhunting firm, Spencer Stuart, in its search for an acceptable candidate.

According to a statement issued by the firm, "The successful candidate will have an outstanding record of artistic accomplishment in an artistic field."

"We hope to have a candidate announced by the spring, so that the position can be permanently filled by next fall," Brinkley said.

Dirks declined to name possible candidates. Kleinman has indicated that he would not like to be considered for the permanent position.

Along with a proposed move of the school to a facility on 125th Street, whoever takes the helm will be faced with student concerns over the school's financial aid policies.