Tucson Standard

The University of Arizona has announced two significant academic realignments set to take effect on July 1. The changes are designed to enhance collaboration and improve the student experience.

The College of Health Sciences will integrate into the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, creating a new School of Health Professions and Global Medicine. This move will maintain current academic programs without altering student classes or course offerings. The integration aims to align clinical education and public health, furthering academic, clinical, and community-engagement efforts.

"This integration builds on the colleges' complementary missions and their many synergies, most notably greater incorporation of population health into clinical training, helping to develop professionals who are even stronger advocates for public health in Arizona," stated Dr. Michael D. Dake, senior vice president for health sciences, Dr. Iman Hakim, dean and Mel and Enid Zuckerman Endowed Chair in Public Health, and Dr. Kevin Lohenry, interim dean of the College of Health Sciences, in a joint message. "We believe these structural changes will also enrich the educational experience of our students by fostering innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration between clinical and public health disciplines as we work to grow the health care workforce in Arizona."

Simultaneously, the College of Applied Science and Technology will merge with the College of Information Science. This integration combines the strengths of both faculties, unifying their academic units. Programs including Cyber, Intelligence and Information Operations, Applied Computing, and Applied Sciences will continue seamlessly. The alignment merges CAST's focus on undergraduate and transfer education with the College of Information Science's expertise in graduate programs and research to create new collaborative opportunities.

"This change brings opportunities to strengthen partnerships across academic, government, industry, and community-engaged efforts, connecting vital aspects of our student success goals and land-grant mission to serve the university's strategic imperatives," wrote Gary Packard, Ph.D., interim senior vice provost for online initiatives; Catherine Brooks, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Information Science; and Nicol Rae, Ph.D., acting dean of CAST in a joint message.

Ron Marx, interim senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, expressed confidence in the transitions: "These transitions represent an exciting and forward-looking moment for the university," said Marx. "By combining the strengths of these academic units, we will enhance innovation, foster collaboration, and expand our collective impact, not only within the university but across the state and the nation."

University leadership is committed to working closely with faculty, staff, and students to ensure smooth transitions, with no impact on students' academic progress anticipated.