After the March 10 announcement that Mark Braun would be leaving Augustana College, administrators needed to find a new academic dean.

Murray Haar, chair of the religion department, has been named interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. Haar will transition from his current position as a professor of religion to the interim dean of the college this summer for the one-year interim position.

According to President Rob Oliver, interim positions are typically filled internally. To fill the place of Braun, Oliver conferred with individuals within the institution.

"The name of Murray Haar kept coming up," Oliver said. "I have worked with him in the past, so between my personal relationship and the recommendations from faculty, I chose to ask him to fill in."

The college will begin advertising for applicants this summer, with the hopes of beginning the search right away in the fall of 2011. Oliver said the college will consider both internal and external candidates.

"We try to ensure that the process is inclusive," Oliver said. "We want all members of the community to be included."

Within the religion department, Haar teaches courses on topics ranging from the Holocaust and Judaism to Hinduism and Buddhism.

With his absence, the religion department must not only find a new department chair, but also reconfigure teaching schedules to cover his course load.

Oliver said the department will likely hire someone to help with the courses.

"It caused a fruit-basket upset among the department," Oliver said. "[The extra course load]  is too much to cover internally."

While happy to help the college, Haar has no intention of applying to be Augustana's permanent academic dean.

As department chair, Haar is no stranger to the administrative duties that will now be his full-time job, but he will miss the daily interaction with students.

"I love teaching and being in a classroom," Haar said. "I'll miss the energy of the students."

Oliver said the college is grateful for Haar's willingness to assist with this transition.

"This is an important opportunity for the college," Oliver said. "Our academic programs are of extreme importance, and it's important that we choose wisely."

With an interim academic dean, college administrators won't be rushed to make a decision and can take the necessary time in choosing a replacement for Braun. The process will begin as soon as Braun has ended his term.

"The college is in a good place," Oliver said. "We can attract or identify the right candidate."