Jack Morris Begins New Duties as Associate Dean Of UI's College of Business and Economics
Wednesday, October 11 2000
Oct. 11, 2000^MOSCOW – Jack Morris, long-time University of Idaho business professor, began duties this week as the first associate dean of the College of Business and Economics. ^Morris will take on much of the ongoing operations of the college including revising the curriculum, recruiting students to build diversity and addressing faculty salary concerns. He has been a UI faculty member for 27 years, teaching in the Business Department since 1980.^In describing the new post, Dean Byron Dangerfield, likened the relationship between himself and Morris to that between a corporate chief executive officer and chief operating officer.^"As our building project moves forward, I will need to devote greater portions of my time to our external relations, particularly fundraising," Dangerfield said. "With those increasing demands on my time and attention, it is important that we do not neglect the internal workings of the college.^"Jack's knowledge of the college, our curriculum and our students places him in a perfect position to pick up some of the on-going internal responsibilities of the dean's office, while also taking on some projects that we haven't been able to address."^Dangerfield said one of Morris' first responsibilities would be to continue to improve the Integrated Business Curriculum, a centerpiece of the college's overall program. Morris was one of the architects of the unique junior-level program that provides students with a broader, multi-disciplined view of the business enterprise.^"We have the advantage of having a very active faculty when it comes to building a curriculum," Morris said. "There is a dedication to making the program better every year, and it was this philosophy that led to our winning the 1999 Idaho Quality Award and achieving reaccreditation."^The college was the first not-for-profit organization to win the award that recognizes companies that achieve customer satisfaction and business results by applying principles of quality to everything they do.^Along with his curriculum duties, Morris will work to build greater diversity among the student body. During his first seven years at UI, Morris taught in what was then the Center for Native American Development, where he served a one-year term as acting director. He has been actively involved in Native American business development and has maintained close ties to alumni on the region's reservations.^Addressing faculty salary questions also will be a priority for the new associate dean. Noting that UI business faculty salaries are considerably below national averages, Morris said he will begin a review of the issue and seek ways to reverse the situation.^Morris will not give up all of teaching duties. He will continue to teach two or three upper level sections each year. "He's too good a teacher to take out of the classroom," Dangerfield said. As an example of Morris' relationship to his students, the dean noted that former students are raising $100,000 to have a conference room in the new building named in his honor.^Dangerfield said he will rely on Morris to help with the effort to raise $15.6 million for the new building as well as the planning for activities after the project is completed in early 2002. He noted that fundraising activities after the building is completed would go toward improving scholarship and fellowship opportunities.^^CONTACT: Jack Morris, College of Business and Economics, (208) 885-6820, jmorris@uidaho.edu or Kathy Barnard, University Communications and Marketing, (208) 885-6291, kbarnard@uidaho.edu^--30--^rd—10/4/00^B&E^
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