October 26, 2005

Changes for the Public Services and English department chairs at Brigham Young University-Idaho have been finalized

Shane Cole replaced Sam Nielson as Public Services department chair in the David O. McKay Library on Oct. 15, 2005. In the English department, Karen Holt will serve as department chair beginning Jan. 1, 2006, filling the place currently held by Kip Hartvigsen.

“These individuals were chosen based on the confidence of their fellow department members,” said Phil Packer, Associate Academic Vice President of Instruction at BYU-Idaho. “The people we have chosen are people of integrity, ability and good judgment.”

“Both department chairs have been really great. We’re very pleased with and grateful to the people who have served,” Packer said.

The position of department chair is based on invitation. Alternating the position among faculty members gives added experience to teachers, enriching the department and allowing a variety of ideas to contribute to the program.

Faculty members serving as chair still teach but take on the added responsibilities of overseeing class scheduling and coordinating academic programs. “They take on a more administrative role,” Packer said. “Department chairs are largely responsible for the quality of our academic programs.”