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New MET Dean Jay Halfond sees a clearer identity for the college

By Brian Fitzgerald

Metropolitan College, which enrolls more than 3,500 students, focuses on adult learners, offering working professionals the opportunity to take evening courses towards a practical degree -- undergraduate and advanced -- in subjects ranging from actuarial sciences to telecommunications.

Jay Halfond, dean of Metropolitan College. Photo by Larry Maglott

A new organizational structure establishes MET as the major unit of the new Division of Extended Education (EXED), allowing MET to expand its academic degree programs in a variety of innovative ways, according to Jay Halfond, who succeeded John Ebersole as dean. Ebersole was named an associate provost and dean of EXED. (See "Lifelong learning is goal of new Division of Extended Education")

"The college will have a much clearer identity," says Halfond. "Now MET will have a better defined sense of purpose -- with the resources and commitment to elevate the quality and reputation of this college."

Halfond, who was MET's acting dean and associate dean for academic affairs, came to BU in 1997 after serving as associate dean of Northeastern University's College of Business Administration for 10 years. From 1974 to 1984 he held various administrative posts at Harvard University, including associate registrar for arts and sciences. He earned a B.A. in history from Temple University, an M.A. in comparative history from Brandeis University, and a Ph.D. in higher education from Boston College.

"I'm excited about the new structure," says Halfond. "I think it plays to our strengths. Metropolitan College will continue to provide the intellectual capital for the division as a whole and will provide the full-time faculty. We won't be breaking away -- we'll be very much integrated into the division."

MET's degrees include bachelor of science, bachelor of liberal studies, master of science in management (actuarial studies, administrative studies, arts communication, computer science, computer information systems, and telecommunications), master of city planning, master of criminal justice, master of liberal arts, master of urban planning, and master of science management. Instruction is provided at BU's Charles River Campus, as well as the BU Downtown Center, in Braintree, and in Tyngsboro. MET also administers graduate programs in Brussels, Belgium, and at two military bases in North Carolina.

Halfond says that he would like to expand certain MET initiatives, including the graduate programs in Brussels and the graduate programs for U.S. Marines in North Carolina. "In fact, we are beginning to offer courses at the U.S. Marine Corps headquarters in Arlington, Va.," he says. "We're also looking to develop more of a presence in the areas of criminal justice and legal studies.

"What I like about this job are the challenges and the new opportunities for academic entrepreneurship. We have growth expectations, but they're responsible ones."

31 August 2001
Boston University
Office of University Relations