Teachers College is working with Towers Perrin, a global consulting organization, to help improve upon the administrative and support service operations around the College to make performing day-to-day functions easier for all. Towers Perrin has 82 offices in 75 cities worldwide and nearly 8,000 employees.The company helps corporate, government and not-for-profit clients enhance their performance through people.

The purpose of this study is to look closely at the College's approach to administrative and support functions to ensure that each department has the necessary resources, focus, and tools necessary for performing its role at the College. The end result of this study will be a proposed plan of action that will lead to better service and create a more efficient working environment.

To better determine ways to improve College services and maximize the value of the institution, Towers Perrin will be conducting interviews and focus groups with faculty, students, managers and staff throughout June and July primarily. The results of the study will be shared with the College in the late Fall.

Focusing on multiple levels within the institution, the study will look specifically at the people, processes, culture, technology and overall structure of the College. Departments that will be addressed by this study include all functions reporting to the vice president for finance and administration, all functions reporting to the vice president for development and external affairs, and several functions reporting to the dean-student services, admissions, financial aid, library and administrative support staff within the academic departments only.

The process for the study will be overseen by President Arthur Levine and a Steering Community consisting of Karen Zumwalt, Dean of the College; Fred Schnur, Vice President for Finance and Administration; Barry Rosen, Executive Director of External Affairs; Scott Fahey, Assistant to the President; Antonia Grumbach, Co-Chairman of the Trustees; Ron Nicholson, trustee; and John Irwin, Vice Chairman of the Trustees.

For more information, to give your input and for an ongoing status update online, go to www.tc.columbia.edu/improvetc.

Published Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2001