Board of Regent’s Response to Dugoni Backlash

Photo by Mōhailani Peloso

Will the relationship between Pacific and Dugoni be built back up again?

The controversy follows concerns from the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry regarding an increase in undergraduate pre-dental student enrollment by 100 students. Faculty and parents have voiced concerns over staff shortages, space constraints, and an American Dental Association (ADA) forecast indicating market saturation in the dental profession. Some parents have accused the university of using a “bait and switch” tactic, arguing that Dugoni lacks the capacity to accommodate the influx of qualified pre-dental students.

Despite this issue, the Board of Regents expressed continued confidence in President Chris Callahan. Hired to be a bold and forward-thinking leader, President Callahan has overseen substantial university-wide progress, including record-breaking enrollment, improved financial stability, and a heightened national profile. Still, the Board has called upon him to prioritize a renewed spirit of collaboration with the Dugoni community.

President Callahan has welcomed this direction, agreeing to pause operational changes and engage in deeper consultation moving forward.

“We asked him to be a bold and audacious President, and he has fulfilled that mission,” the Regents stated. “At the same time, we recognize that change is not always easy... It is important that everyone understands that President Callahan has made clear that he is fully on board with that mission.”

The ad hoc committee established by the Regents has completed its work, and the Board has now shifted its focus to the future. A new search for the next Dean of the Dugoni School of Dentistry is underway, with input from stakeholders guiding the process. The Regents underscored the need for all parties to re-engage with mutual respect, emphasizing that Dugoni’s strength lies in its dedicated faculty, passionate students, and commitment to excellence in dental education.

Both statements from the University’s leadership echo a shared belief: while the recent period has been challenging, it also offers an opportunity to rebuild trust, strengthen governance, and reinforce the values that define the Dugoni community.

As the Regents concluded, “We believe strongly that it is now time to reunite around our shared desire to make this incredible place all that it can be, both now and in the decades to come.”