In a move which seems certain to provoke opposition within the college, the president of UCC, Prof Gerry Wrixon, has distributed a confidential document to staff in which he outlines his plans for a reorganisation of the college structures. John Downes reports.
The discussion document, circulated to staff in an e-mail last week, suggests that the number of faculties in the college should be reduced to as few as four, and that a new business school should be developed that would initially report directly to him.
The latter would help to bring UCC in line with other world-class universities, and could generate a substantial revenue stream for the university, the document states.
"In preparing this document I am formally initiating the process of consultation in relation to the potential restructuring of faculties and administrative departments in UCC," Prof Wrixon writes.
"There should be ownership at all levels within UCC and the proposals should be centred on academic issues looking forward to the next two decades."
The document, which severely criticises the existing academic structures in UCC, also stresses the need for reform to be introduced as early as the 2005/2006 academic year.
"UCC has grown significantly in recent decades. However, academic structures and the administrative organisation of the university have changed little during that period," Prof Wrixon states in the document.
"Systems and procedures that were efficient and effective in the past are, in many cases, inadequate and inappropriate to the large and complex organisation that UCC has now become ... Reshaping the university is not an option, but an imperative."
However, one source at the college warned that the relatively short time-frame for the introduction of the reforms - a steering group is to be set up this week - meant many would be "fairly sceptical" about Prof Wrixon's claims that he was interested in starting real discussion within the college.
"It seems almost like a foregone conclusion," the source said. "Without any proper debate, and in particular the involvement of those departments that are particularly vulnerable, for example in the humanities, it will probably go through as it is."
The e-mail also contains Prof Wrixon's opinions about some of the main weaknesses of the college's current structure.
These include heavily centralised administration, replication of administrative activity across the university, and a lack of transparency in resource management and allocation, he says.
Under the proposed plans, the three departments of accounting and finance, management and marketing, and food business and development would form a "nucleus" for a business school, which could incorporate other current programmes.
Prof Wrixon, a controversial figure who is set to secure an extension to his period in office shortly, is known for his rigorous, pro-business approach.
While this has been a factor in the success of UCC since his appointment in 1999, his support for a corporate-type structure in the university is opposed by many academics.