The Board of Trustees has voted to bring the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Division of Student Affairs under one administrative structure, creating a new entity that will strengthen the unique dynamic that exists at Dartmouth among its faculty, students, and staff.

Board members have discussed and debated this topic as the proposal took shape over the last two years and gave the new school their unanimous approval during their Nov. 8-9 meeting in Hanover.

“The Board is excited to see Dartmouth’s organization continue to evolve to meet the needs of students inside and outside the classroom and enhance the student experience,” said Board Chair Elizabeth Cahill Lempres ’83, Thayer ’84.

A key component of the new entity will be its unified leadership structure, led by a new dean of arts and sciences and with increased budgetary control and autonomy to pursue the school’s aspirations. But President Sian Leah Beilock said the opportunity for Dartmouth goes beyond administrative change. It will also formalize important collaborations among faculty and professional staff that will enable the research enterprise and benefit students.

In advising, for example, faculty advisers and undergraduate deans will reside under a single leadership structure, strengthening collaboration and paving the way for a more coordinated approach that better serves students. The effort will also streamline the provision of research opportunities for undergraduates by increasing their connectivity with faculty, graduate students, and postdocs who are driving new ideas, breakthroughs, and creative works.

“A move to a unified school allows us to enhance how we provide an exceptional, vibrant, and quintessential Dartmouth experience,” President Beilock said.

Prior to consideration by the board, the Arts and Sciences faculty voted overwhelmingly in support of the reorganization at an Oct. 30 meeting. Provost David Kotz ’86 and Professor Nina Pavcnik—leading a process initiated by then-President Philip Hanlon ’77 and Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Elizabeth F. Smith—met with hundreds of faculty, staff, students, and alumni and received feedback during more than 270 presentations and conversations before making the recommendation.

“Ultimately, this unified structure reflects the aspirations of those who know Dartmouth and the Arts and Sciences best through their day-to-day engagement in the mission,” said Kotz. 

Pavcnik added that “many people worked tirelessly to bring to life a more rational structure that will ensure a strong Arts and Sciences today, and for generations to come.”

Implementation will begin in early 2025, with the appointment of interim leadership for the newly unified Arts and Sciences. They will work closely with an implementation committee of faculty and staff to guide the transition, including how to best deliver the promise of dedicated support for Arts and Sciences from advancement, admissions, and communications. 

Building Skills Through Dialogue and Debate

The trustees also had an opportunity to experience the training students are receiving through the Dartmouth Dialogues initiative. Smith and Executive Director Kristi Clemens provided an update on an active fall term for their initiative, and led board members through a skill-building Dialogue Project exercise similar to what 1,200 undergraduates in the Class of 2028 received at new student orientation in September.

“The trustees have been supportive of Dartmouth Dialogues since its inception, but it’s not easy to fully appreciate something you haven’t experienced. We had an opportunity to get that experience and, to a person, we came away with a better understanding of—and appreciation for—what the College is doing to build communication skills across differences,” Lempres said.

Launched in January, Dartmouth Dialogues continues to focus on cultivating critical thinking and encouraging students, faculty, and staff “to question, probe, and reflect rather than adhering to a predetermined ideology.”

The 2024 Election Speaker Series, offered in partnership with the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences, is bringing politicians and policymakers from across the political spectrum, including Vice President Mike Pence, into conversation with students. The series has drawn more than 7,000 attendees in person and online. Two speakers remain, with a concluding visit scheduled from attorney and women’s rights advocate Anita Hill on Feb. 20.

The John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding hosted two events this fall that continued the work of the Middle East Dialogues—one focused on the relationship between Israel and Iran and another examining support for Hamas. The student-led Dartmouth Political Union hosted a sold-out debate between campaign strategists Kellyanne Conway and Donna Brazile. And Dartmouth’s partners at StoryCorps’ One Small Step initiative have returned to campus this week to host more recorded conversations between students with differing political views.

“This is an initiative to drive long-term culture change, made possible through small steps and sustained action,” Clemens said. “The ability to engage across ideological divides on contentious issues has never been more important for the future leaders we educate at Dartmouth.”

Continued Excellence and New Collaborations for Tuck

The trustees spent time with Matthew Slaughter, dean of the Tuck School of Business, as part of their responsibilities as fiduciaries for all of Dartmouth. Tuck, which reported a record-breaking year for its MBA program, plans to increase the school’s connection to undergraduates, and a new partnership with the Geisel School of Medicine during an update to the board.

In the MBA program, faculty and staff are incorporating artificial intelligence as a topic and a tool, with seven courses this year devoted to that subject. And Tuck continues to set records for the quality and diversity of each incoming class as well as the career outcomes its graduates achieve, Slaughter said. Applications to Tuck rose 36% this year to their highest-ever level.

The Tuck Pathfinders program will launch this winter, helping Dartmouth first-year students think creatively about future career opportunities—part of Beilock’s commitment to invest in the lifelong value of Dartmouth. Participants will develop an understanding of their distinct personal strengths and learn how to navigate the job search, negotiate with strength, and leverage the Dartmouth network with confidence. An information session is scheduled for Nov. 14.

Tuck faculty are also exploring how they can partner with the Thayer School of Engineering and Arts and Sciences departments to offer new Tuck-enhanced courses and majors. Cross-institution conversations will continue as they seek the necessary reviews and approvals.

Beilock is also supporting new scholarships to enable Dartmouth students from all financial backgrounds to participate in the Tuck Business Bridge Program, a three-week residential program in winter or summer featuring business courses for undergraduates taught by Tuck MBA faculty, a capstone team project, recruiting services, and one-on-one career guidance. The program was also made available in a hybrid form to students at Colby College in January 2024, and will expand access to include Colgate University and Trinity College students in January 2025.

Geisel and Tuck successfully launched the new master of health administration program this year, a hybrid program distinguished by its linkage to a school of medicine rather than the more traditional tie to public health. The inaugural cohort of 35 students began with a week-long residential experience in June.

“Across all our offerings, Tuck distinguishes itself by aspiring to deliver educational experiences that are distinctly personal, connected, and thus transformative,” Slaughter said.