Pilot Program Will Streamline Staff Workload Across FAS

A novel administrative structure that streamlines staff workload by consolidating staff workers into a centralized body may expand next year to include more departments within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

The two-year pilot program aims to reduce the cost of staffing departments by having one individual perform the same function for many departments—in comparison to having various staffers perform analogous functions within their respective departments.

The pilot program will fall under the direct administration of the Social Sciences next year, allowing departments from across the division to take part.

Currently, the departments of History and History of Science share staff support after a merger in November. The merged administrative body was formed to adjust to reduced staff numbers in the aftermath of last year’s layoffs and early retirement program.

“This could be the model for the future,” said History of Science Chair Anne Harrington ’82 of the pilot program.

Economics Chair John Y. Campbell said it was too early to know whether his department would take part in the program in the coming semester since the budget will only be finalized by the end of the month. But he acknowledged that “it’s an idea.”

In an e-mailed statement, FAS spokesperson Jeff Neal wrote that the merged administrative group has already helped to reduce costs in the face of an FAS deficit that currently stands at $80 million.

“Despite already reducing the projected budget deficit for the coming fiscal year by more than $100 million, [FAS Dean Michael D. Smith] has indicated that we still have much more to accomplish,” Neal wrote. “Sharing administrative services more broadly across departments is one area under consideration.”

Currently, five staffers located at offices at 17 Sumner Road manage the finances and provide staff support for the History and History of Science departments. The two departments shared salary costs this year, but the Social Sciences Division will cover salaries and pay for the facility next year, eliminating the financial burden from the departments’ budgets.

According to the division’s administrative manager Jessica A. Glasser, the remote location has meant more traveling around campus to pick up documents and meet with faculty members.

But Glasser said that centralized support staff could be of service across various departments because of what she described as “generic job descriptions.”

The idea for the staff merger emerged last year when the History and History of Science departments lost eight of the two departments’ total 28 staff workers.

One of those staffers was stationed at the Center for European Studies, where the staff member served History faculty with offices at the CES. Now, the administrative group serves those faculty members, some of whom have expressed concern about the elimination of the staff position.

“She works like a demon. She works too hard,” said History Professor Patrice Higonnet, who works in CES and said his staff assistant supports 17 other faculty members.

“That’s a problem,” Higonnet added.

—Staff writer Noah S. Rayman can be reached at nrayman@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Elyssa A.L. Spitzer can be reached at spitzer@fas.harvard.edu.