CAL POLY - The university's industrial technology department will remain in the Orfalea College of Business, Provost Paul Zingg ruled this week, disappointing teachers and students who had rallied to move the program to the agriculture college.

For the past several months, many students and teachers have been frustrated with the priorities of interim business Dean Teresa Swartz.

They allege that she is changing the philosophy of the program, taking it away from hands-on instruction and moving toward a more theoretical, production operations management approach.

Two spokeswomen for Swartz said she was unavailable for phone interviews Wednesday and Thursday. But in the past, she has denied she is changing the program's culture.

In an e-mail statement Wednesday, Swartz called the industrial technology department "a key element in our portfolio of programs."

The 350-student industrial technology program began in 1959 and trains students for careers such as production and packaging. It has been in the business college since 1992.

Students who rallied for the move to the agriculture college were upset with Zingg's decision.

"It became apparent then and now that his mind was made up a long time ago," said senior Danny Lanz. "The input of students and faculty had no impact on his decision whatsoever."

Zingg said that after consulting with students, teachers and administrators, he decided the program would stay put.

He also decided to establish a study group to improve relationships between the dean and industrial technology department.

Zingg will chair the group -- made up of faculty, students, alumni, advisory board members and others -- and hopes to have a report on how to improve areas by December.

"The college of business represents for I.T. a wonderful place in order for the mission of I.T. to succeed," Zingg said.

"... On paper, they should get along."

Some industrial technology teachers argued that Zingg didn't provide sound reasoning behind his decision.

In a memo to Swartz, the provost cited six accreditation reports and reviews on why the industrial technology program should remain in the business college.

"These statements (that were cited) were for outside consumption to accreditation boards," said David Kimble, a Cal Poly lecturer for the past five years. "Naturally, you don't air your dirty linen to outside authority. You try to solve your problems in house."

Zingg acknowledged that the university typically highlights its positive attributes in the accreditation reports, but still "we must tell the truth."