Why Drew Faust? Dean of FAS, David Pilbeam/Mike Smith is where the decision would have been made, as with the decision to keep Deans Sorensen for two more years and Skocpol for the time being. All good moves and all pretty decisive.
 

Here's Dick Gross' resignation letter:

http://www.college.harvard.edu/deans_office/communications/242.html
 

I call this good news.

At the same time I note:
A very nice fellow, this departing one.

Standing Eagle
 

Seems very unlikely to me that Pilbeam, who's temporary, would do it. And Mike Smith, after having had the job for what, a few weeks?
 

Yes, and let's remember that he has been talking for months now about leaving. These jobs are grueling and I would call people wise to step down after a five-year stretch.
 

That sounds like spin though, doesn't it, from someone anticipating an involuntary departure? Everything one heard suggested that he enjoyed the job, or at least parts of it, and wanted to stay.
 

Dean Smith's name is on the announcement; it was his decision, and a very good one. Gross had lost the faith of the faculty long ago. A good sign that Smith could figure this out and act with purpose to get a new Dean of the College to guide curricular implementation.
 

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=519271
 

3:04
This was done way before Mike Smith had any thought that he would be dean. Don't be so obtuse.
 

It was done when Mike Smith came to realize what were the main post-O'Brien problems with University Hall. He knows Gross the academic, but only recently came to know the other side of an essentially decent man from talking to colleagues. This is the second expulsion of Summers' (major) apparatchiks from that building, and all involved, interim president, president- elect, interim deans, dean-elect, deserve some credit. However, the decision was clearly made once Mike Smith, who wrote to faculty about the other dean decanal decisions he made two days ago, got the picture. The other shoe dropping.
 

I think you're reaching on this one Richard. The announcement is certainly noteworthy, but to many in FAS this is not an unexpected announcement; there's no great story or conspiracy here. But you are right with one question: Who will the next dean be?
 

There was Henry I and Henry II for the FAS Dean. What about Harry I and Harry II. Oops,that would be two white males from computer science. Can't do because the PC FAS crowd would be up in arms.
 

Why is it so hard to get a good dean for the College?

Dick Gross's incompetence has been obvious from the beginning, and his firing was overdetermined. Before him, Harry Lewis drove virtually every measure of student experience to the lowest levels among peer schools. The College's administration has been notoriously weak for years and is mocked at other schools. The next dean will be digging out of a very deep hole.
 

Last Hoxby posting pointed out abusiveness of discourse on this blog and how badly it reflects on the institution. I'm suspicious of people who use this blog to vent--makes me wonder if they feel that they should have been appointed.
 

If I qualify as one of the "PC FAS crowd", I can say I would be very happy to see Harry Lewis back in College administration. There goes that possibility! There are of course other suitable candidates. It would be good to get some examination of structures under way as well. Should there again be a Dean of Undergraduate Education, separate from the Dean of the College, so focus on pubs and cafés doesn't dilute the focus on curriculum, advising, concentrations, and the like? I always found it odd that the only elimination of a major administrative position I am aware of in recent years was this one (DUE) -- though I realize there are arguments for unifying. Mike Smith has asked faculty for suggestions strengths and challenges for the College, so this is a good topic for discussion, no?
 

If I qualify as one of the "PC FAS crowd", I can say I would be very happy to see Harry Lewis back in College administration. There goes that possibility! There are of course other suitable candidates. It would be good to get some examination of structures under way as well. Should there again be a Dean of Undergraduate Education, separate from the Dean of the College, so focus on pubs and cafés doesn't dilute the focus on curriculum, advising, concentrations, and the like? I always found it odd that the only elimination of a major administrative position I am aware of in recent years was this one (DUE) -- though I realize there are arguments for unifying. Mike Smith has asked faculty for suggestions strengths and challenges for the College, so this is a good topic for discussion, no?
 

Sorry about that. Internets slow.
 

In my view, the positions of Dean for Undergraduate Education and Dean of the College should be separated once more.
 

Seems to be pretty much a rule that the Dean of the College has an undergraduate degree from Harvard. Anyone know of a quick way to generate a list of all FAS senior faculty who have Harvard College degrees?
 

How about Alan M. Dershowitz as Dean of the College?
 

Nolo contendere
 

Nolle prosequi
 

sine nomine non significatur, IX:XXXIX
 

Drop the Latin, I say to myself. How about responses to Judith Ryan's clear-cut view, with which I happen to agree:

"In my view, the positions of Dean for Undergraduate Education and Dean of the College should be separated once more."

How about this as a post, Richard, with arguments on this issue?
 

This kind of turnover is pretty standard with a change of president, no? In fact, Hyman staying is more unusual than Gross going.
 

Waiting Emu,

I'm pretty sure you're wrong about the standardness of this event. As he did with the departure of Pat O'Brien last summer, Richard is underplaying the importance of this axing. In terms of its effect on actual Harvard students, this is much bigger news than anything else on the blog this year. It has the potential to mean much more significant and positive changes than the curricular review did.

Please don't promote this to the front page, Richard; just file it away: This is a big departure - as big as they come. Or go. Whatever.

SE