Prior to the faculty vote to submit a proposal to change the name of our School, stakeholder feedback was solicited and shared with faculty. We valued the opportunity to hear from our alumni, students, faculty, and friends. As anticipated, we received a range of responses and viewpoints.
The following information summarizes frequently occurring themes in the responses, which shared both support for and concerns about the proposed changes. Our School takes this feedback very seriously, and initial responses are provided below. Plans for the future include collaborative, inclusive discussions to continue to address concerns as well as to consider positive feedback.
Concerns about Proposed Changes
- Is the MS degree in library and information science (MS/LIS) at risk, and will resources be diverted away from this academic program? Our commitment to our MS/LIS remains strong, and we are working to increase enrollment in this program while launching a new MS degree in information management (MS/IM), which is pending approval by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Prospective students will be able to choose between earning an MS/LIS or MS/IM, and the specific degree earned will be recorded on the student’s transcript. We have no intention of diverting resources away from the MS/LIS, which has been ranked number one by U.S. News & World Report for nearly two decades. On the contrary, we have hired new faculty to teach courses for MS/LIS students; we have hired staff and allocated additional resources to actively recruit for the MS/LIS, and these efforts are underway. Our goal is to expand the School, enriching and growing all programs and accommodating a wider variety of interests in the field.
- Has the decision already been made to change the name of the School? Our faculty have voted in favor of submitting a proposal, which is only the beginning of a process that will take many months and involve several levels of University administrative approval before the name change can occur. Details concerning these steps are outlined in our FAQ.
- Doesn’t the proposed name change signal a rejection of librarianship, including the values of librarianship and its relevancy in today’s world, as well as a rejection of the rich history of our School? Our commitment to librarianship is undiminished and non-negotiable. Our School has always evolved to meet the needs of a changing world while at the same time preserving our core identity and values. The proposed new name, School of Information Sciences, encompasses the breadth of our academic programs, both current and planned. Through the expansion of our School, we plan to bring the culture and values of librarianship to more information professions and settings. These values include our ethic of service, respect for diversity and the cultural heritage of all peoples, the protection of privacy and intellectual freedom rights, and more.
- Isn’t the proposed name too limited? After several discussions and proposals, our faculty have recommended School of Information Sciences to represent the breadth of our teaching, research, and public engagement. The use of the word “sciences” encompasses the full range of intellectual practices around information and information institutions. In addition, while “library science” refers to work within a particular institution, “information sciences” refers to multiple forms of work and knowledge across institutional settings.
- Will a name change affect our #1 ranking? Based on a comparison of schools in our field, there is no evidence that this name change will harm our ranking by U.S. News & World Report. To the contrary, some schools with new names similar to the one proposed by our faculty have risen in the rankings. Details are provided in the FAQ.
Feedback in Support of Proposed Changes
- Broad support for the MS/IM degree as a positive addition
- Recognition of the ongoing evolution of the field and the importance to remain at the forefront
- Proposed name is seen as more accurate and reflecting the current scope of the information professions, including librarianship
- Shared value of staying competitive and autonomous on campus
- Importance of attracting students with a wide variety of backgrounds
- Importance of teaching knowledge and skills that are valuable in a broad range of disciplines and environments