University of Minnesota President Bob Bruininks today announced his decision on the restructuring of graduate education. The Graduate School will retain its current name and reporting line to the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the presidentâÄôs report states. A vice provost and dean of graduate education will oversee the Graduate School. The provost appointed Tim Mulcahy, vice president for research, as interim vice provost and dean of graduate education. His term begins July 1. A search for a permanent vice provost and dean of graduate education will begin immediately. Bruininks stated in the report that he anticipates a final appointment to be made in the beginning or middle of the fall semester. An administrative redesign will take place, which includes the decentralization of some masterâÄôs and professional degree programs to colleges and the Duluth campus, as well as the central administration of all Ph.D. degrees by the Graduate School, the presidentâÄôs report states. Bruininks passed on many future implementation decisions to the provost, vice provost and dean of graduate education, including the hosting of commencement ceremonies, which the president recommended be discontinued. The Committee on Graduate Education released its recommendations to President Bruininks and Senior Vice President and Provost Tom Sullivan on April 24. The public then had a period of one month to comment on the recommendations. BruininksâÄô decision came about one month after the public comment period ended after reviewing the recommendations and comments. Check WednesdayâÄôs Daily for the full story.