The University of North Texas is one step closer to forming a new college of study.

On Thursday, the Board of Regents approved a recommendation from the Academic Affairs and Student Success Com­mittee to consolidate the School of Library and Information Sciences with the Department of Learning Technologies.

Consolidation had been talked about in both departments since last year, said Herman Totten, dean of the School of Library and Information Sciences. With the provost’s permission, each department conducted its own feasibility study on the possible merger.

The reports were combined and then presented to the provost and the committee for recommendation.

Greater teaching and research opportunities are some of the benefits of the merger, Totten told committee members during the regents meeting.

“Combining schools makes available six regent professors,” he said. “The im­pact of seasoned professors with young, fresh minds, opportunity to do undergraduate research, hands-on things they would not have if we remained separate.”

Professors will be able to work more closely with students on academic goals and career plans, Totten said.

The departments will be housed in newly constructed quarters in Discovery Park, in a move that predates the departments’ talks of combining, according to the board briefing.

The briefing also noted the only cost to the school would be to annualize a new department chairperson.

The working title for the consolidated department is the College of Information, Library Science and Technologies, said Wendy Wilkins, provost and vice president of academic affairs.

“This will change over time,” she said in response to regent questions about the title.

The university is trying to be sensitive to alumni of the programs.

“We don’t want to alienate our graduates,” she said.

The next step is presenting the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board with the consolidation proposal.

The departments have long worked together extensively, but Totten and Jeff Allen, interim chairman of the Department of Learning Technologies, agreed the move would be a greater collaboration, which would be a boon to students.

“It’s an opportunity to strike while the iron is hot,” Allen said. “It provides leverage to hit the needs of the students and the community.”

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com  .