Don Bialostosky stepped down as head of the English department yesterday, according to an e-mail message sent to English faculty members.

"On the basis of her judgment of lack of sufficient support in the department, Dean (Susan) Welch has asked me to step down . . . without further review," Bialostosky wrote in a statement forwarded by his assistant, Donna Harpster. "I do so immediately."

Welch, dean of the College of the Liberal Arts, did not immediately return a call for comment. A woman who answered the phone in Bialostosky's office yesterday afternoon directed all inquiries to Welch.

Pamela Monk, lecturer in English, forwarded a copy of the e-mail to The Daily Collegian. She said the move came as a surprise to her.

"There wasn't any process that I'm aware of," Monk said. "As far as I know, there was nothing that involved the fixed-term employees."