Dean of Undergraduate Education for Arts, Sciences, and Engineering James Glaser will be enacting his new role as an intermediary between school-wide departments and academic deans this semester.
Glaser assumed this new responsibility in December, though his official title has remained the same.
Although he will still keep the responsibilities he had as Dean of Undergraduate Education he will also have a new administrative function.
Previously, deans who headed the sub-departments of Student Life and Undergraduate Education, and the departments of Student Services and Athletics would all report directly to Dean of Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst and Dean of Engineering Linda Abriola.
Now, Glaser will also act as an intermediary between the high deans and the heads of each of the other three areas, including Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, Director of Administration Paul Stanton, and Director of Athletics William Gehling.
"I see us as a team," Glaser said. He explained that he would have all the accountability of the higher deans, but not all of the responsibility for getting things done.
According to Provost and Senior Vice President Jamshed Bharucha, Glaser was promoted to bring together these four distinct areas of undergraduate life.
"We wanted a single Academic Dean to directly oversee athletics, student life, student services and undergraduate education," he said. "Jim Glaser is a well-respected faculty member who has already served Tufts well as Dean of Undergraduate Education."
According to Glaser, part of his new position is also to bring together the administrations of the Schools of Arts and Sciences and of Engineering.
"Since the reorganization of the School of Arts, Sciences and Engineering into two schools, we are trying to encourage the sharing of responsibility," Glaser said. "All undergraduate students should feel like they are part of the same school."
A group made up of a mix of students and faculty will aim to make suggestions to the greater administration how life on campus can be improved. According to Bharucha, this task force was partially responsible for the Tower Caf?© in Tisch Library.
As Dean of Undergraduate Education, one of Glaser's primary responsibilities was to work to implement the recommendations of this group.
In his new position, Glaser will continue to work on implementing the group's recommendations, but now will be able to involve all four departments in this process.
Glaser will be able to carry out the recommendations of the Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience in a more comprehensive way, Bharucha said.
"We are delighted he has agreed to take on this role," he said.
Prior to his appointment to Dean of Undergraduate Education in Fall 2003, Glaser was a faculty member in the political science department.
Even with this new added responsibility, Glaser will continue to teach one course each semester in the political science department.
"[Glaser] is an excellent lecturer," said senior Mary Smith, who took with him this fall. "He enjoys teaching, and enjoys seeing his students' progress."
While noting that it is not always easy to find time to meet with Glaser outside the classroom, Smith said she does not believe Glaser's new responsibilities will hinder his classroom performance in any way."
"As an advisor and a professor he has given me his full attention, even with his busy schedule. I think he has shown that he is up to the challenge," she said.
