Individual academic departments in Trinity College may be allowed to opt out of fully joining new academic schools, which are to be established as part of a radical restructure of the college.
Under confidential proposals to be presented to the college board later this week, departments such as Law, Psychology, English and Drama, would not be expected to integrate academic and other resources with these schools if they were unwilling to do so. Instead, they would be allowed to join a looser "federal" school.
The move follows strong resistance from several departments and from the TCD branch of the Irish Federation of University Teachers to the original restructuring proposals put forward by the college's provost, Dr John Hegarty. It will be seen by some as a significant concession by the college.
The original plan envisaged a huge reduction in the number of academic departments and a halving of the number of faculties from six to three.
Dr Hegarty, who was unavailable for comment last night, had previously stressed that the restructuring plans are subject to a "bottoms-up" consultation with college interests.
Consequently, the new proposals could be interpreted as a willingness by him to take on board their concerns. In a sign of some support within the college for the plans, more than two-thirds of all departments have made proposals for schools.
The plans have yet to be finalised. However, a discussion document detailing the likely number and composition of these schools, which has been circulated to the college board, indicates that between 13 and 15 will be created.
These could include two new schools incorporating the faculty of Arts, as well three schools for the faculty of Health Sciences.
The document was compiled by the college's senior lecturer,Prof John Murray. In it, he acknowledges that "a number of departments face particular dilemmas or difficulties in becoming part of proposals for integrated schools".
These departments are Education, Religions and Theology, Law, Music, Psychology, English, Drama, the Centre for Language and Communication Studies, and Mathematics.
"In instances where no integrated school arrangement proves possible, consideration should be given to these departments being embodied in a school of a federal nature - one in which academic and resource integration between the constituent academic units is not expected," said Prof Murray.
Any department entering such a school should have the option to join other schools in due course, Prof Murray adds, with those achieving an "agreed plan for growth" having the option to become schools in their own right.
"In many instances, a strong argument is made that departmental title is of substantive importance," he continues. "It is suggested that consideration be given to the retention of departmental titles in such instances and that the matter be reviewed by council and board in three years' time."
The college board will make its final decision on the new structures in December. They are due to be introduced not later than September 2005.