Rand Ziegler, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, announced Wednesday via email that the 2011-2012 academic year would be his last year as the academic dean on the Baldwin City campus.

While he will no longer serve Baker in this role, Ziegler will work as the Dean of Institutional and Faculty Development for the entire university.

According to his email, Ziegler will “assume oversight of the University Registrar’s Office, which will help to re-establish the link between academics and the records and registration functions of the university … will be responsible for keeping my administrative colleagues abreast of federal and other compliance requirements and will work closely with the registrar, financial aid and the deans in addressing these in an effective and timely manner.”

In a university wide email Thursday night after the annual State of the University address, University President Pat Long announced that the university will be doing a national search for a new position, the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

“By combining the role of the chief academic officer function and the responsibilities of the Dean of CAS, we have been able to design a streamlined and effective academic leadership model,” Long said in her email.

The decision to move Ziegler to his new role starting next year was made due to the self-study that was done for the Higher Learning Commission.

“The self-study validated what we had believed — that the Chief Academic Officer is essential in providing academic leadership across the college and the schools,” Long said. “From promoting One Baker to ensuring the highest academic quality in our programs, the Chief Academic Officer is also key to promoting and implemeting long-term, innovative initiatives that will enhance Baker’s repuation and growth potential.”

Ziegler said in his email to CAS faculty and staff that ‘some of the university’s needs were not being met as they could and that others might be met in better ways.’

“He was the perfect person (for this job), and I just think that when everyone thinks about the need we have, that he’s just the perfect person to fill that need,” Long said. “It’s just amazing sometimes how that happens. When you have a need and you see that perfect person that is there.”

For the past six years, Ziegler served as the academic dean. He has worked at Baker as a professor, department chair and in other capacities for more than 30 years.

“He’s served the college extremely well for us, and through a challenging time, so I know there will be sadness that he is going to take on another position, but I think there will be happiness that he is going to stay on and be in a top leadership position for the university,” Long said. “I think his email said it well. There are mixed emotions all around for us on this.”