The Division of Student Affairs restructured its organization in hopes to provide a more effective way of doing business.
The reorganization includes joining related services, combining duplicate services and redistributing responsibilities and resources.
“I think that it will allow us to do our jobs better, and it is a good opportunity to see what makes sense and where things need to be more efficient,” said Ruth Gerstner, special assistant for communications of Student Affairs.
“Clustering these services gives a more coherent approach to provide services,” said Richard Hollingsworth, associate vice president for Student Affairs.
Students will also benefit from the new changes that are being made.
For example, the Ohio Union, Schottenstein Center and the Office of Student Activities provides recreation and entertainment for students. They are now grouped together under the Campus Activities and Events unit, Hollingsworth said.
“The result of that will be more and better programming for students,” Hollingsworth said.
The Division of Student Affairs sponsors a variety of events for students including orientations, the Buck ID program, Welcome Week, and most recently the candlelight vigil.
The shuffling began spring quarter when Bill Hall was named vice president for Student Affairs. Hall saw an opportunity to enhance the services provided by Student Affairs.
“When I assumed responsibility for the office I looked at basic principles and what I thought was important,” Hall said. “I wanted to look at responsibilities based on principles of our mission statement and of the university’s mission statement.”
The mission statement of Student Affairs states in part that the division “partners with students and University and community colleagues to provide the highest quality services, programs, and opportunities that enhance students’ educational experience.”
To coordinate these principles, Hall consulted with other staff members and created a plan to reorganize Student Affairs. The plan is now reshaping the division.
The two positions of assistant vice presidents, formally held by Hall and Mary Daniels, who retired, have been eliminated.
Other changes are being made as well. Housing, Food Services and Event Centers will no longer exist as its own entity. Its functions have been redistributed.
The new addition, Hospitality and Conference Services, will be responsible for all non-student housing areas and food service operations, including campus dining.
The new units have been created to serve the Student Affairs division. Resource and Facilities Management provides fiscal and human resources management, facilities planning and support, including all construction and renovation projects and information and technology services.
Planning and Student Development provides leadership for division-wide planning and policy development, coordination with student governments, liaison with Legal Affairs and oversight for the offices of Student Judicial Affairs and Student Affairs Assessment.
“The primary goal was to realign services in clusters logically, but yet to provide the very best service to students,” Hollingsworth said.
