New College to form from split

The College of Arts and Letters will undergo a split this year to create a new college, The College of Fine and Performing Arts.

According to Academic Enhancement Administrator Doug Brown, the Board of Visitors has decided to split the College of Arts and Letters, forming the College of Fine and Performing Arts.

"Collectively, we decided it was time to look again at how colleges were organized and their relationship with each other and other colleges," said Brown. "We’ll be looking at it over the next two years starting this fall. This year we will create the basic structure for the College of Fine and Performing Arts."

The College of Fine and Performing Arts also will be receiving its own building.

According to http://www.jmu.edu/betterva/letter.shtml, President Linwood Rose wrote that a bond passed by Virginia voters in 2002 gave JMU $29.8 million for a Center for the Arts and $20.9 million for a Music Recital Hall.

The university also has raised $5 million for each project. The new buildings will be built on South Main Street across from campus, where Anthony-Seeger Hall currently is located.

"Construction [on the buildings] depends on the bond, but planning is currently being done," Brown said. "It could take a year or two for construction to begin, but it will happen soon."

The bond was passed by voters on Nov. 5, 2002. According to the website $100 million went to JMU, and $50 million of that is going to the new Arts Center. While $9.7 million was budgeted for the Harrison Hall renovation, which is already underway but not yet complete.

The university will bring in a consultant to look at the College of Arts and Letters to help reorganize it, according to Brown.

"The College of Arts and Letters is by far the largest college, and perhaps it is too big and hard to manage, so we are going to put departments together that fit together," Brown said.

"The Fine and Performing Arts Complex is part of a comprehensive plan to enhance facilities for the arts at James Madison University," according to University Development.

"Construction of a Theatre and Dance Center and a Music Performance Center are the first two phases of the plan, with the third phase being the renovation of the current Duke Hall, home of the fine and visual arts."

The dean of the College of Arts and Letters, Richard Whitman, underwent triple bypass heart surgery last month.

According to David Jeffrey, who is standing in for Whitman while he is away, Whitman is "doing fine." Jeffrey said, "He expects to return to work in the next several weeks, but it all depends on his rehabilitation." .