In an e-mail addressed to the College of Business Administration (CBA), current Dean Ira Weiss announced that he would resign from the position at the conclusion of this academic/fiscal year.

“The CBA needs and deserves leadership that can capitalize on past successes and build an even brighter future,” Weiss wrote in the e-mail obtained by The Northeastern News. “The CBA needs a leader who can assist in defining the next set of challenges and vision for the college and bring the energy to the table to help succeed in meeting those challenges.”

President Freeland confirmed Weiss’ resignation after 10 years at Northeastern University. Under Weiss’ direction, Northeastern’s BSIB undergraduate program was ranked 18th this year by US News and World Report.

Some business students expressed surprise over the resignation, but added that whenever a dean decides to leave a university, the decision comes as somewhat of a shock.

“I’ve only met with him casually once or twice and never really heard much about him,” said Allyson Savin, a sophomore BSI major.

Savin, who is also the executive vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA), said that now, as the College of Business regroups and prepares, it should also attempt to become more organizationally efficient. But above all, she said, questions remain.

“You’re always surprised, I think anyone would be surprised when a dean steps down. It raises a lot of questions as to what is really going on behind the scenes.”

Peter Antonellis, SGA’s Vice President for Academic Affairs said he is not surprised at the announcement, but that this is a good time for the college to improve and move forward.

“I’m not honestly surprised, I had heard loose rumors, nothing to go looking for a response to,” he said, adding that Weiss was very helpful when it came to meeting with all of the university deans this summer, preparing for the academic year ahead.

“I am aware that this will leave a void at the college that NU will have to fill, but in the meantime, I hope the college moves to improve academic advising services.”

Antonellis added that the main priority of the university should be to find a replacement and improving services should be next on the list of priorities.

Andres Vargas, the former vice president for academic affairs for student government, a senior political sceince major who is pursuing a minor in business, said student services need to be addressed and a search committee needs to be formed as soon as possible.

“I just, more than anything, hope the position is filled quickly … and more student-oriented issues are taken into effect. There are a lot of student services in that college that need to be addressed. I look forward to seeing a search committee put together, with adequate student advising,” Vargas said.