Ithaca College

In September, the campus was informed by President Collado that she would be Creating an Independent Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life . Shortly thereafter, during my first visit to campus this past October, I shared with many of you my hopes for the future of the Division of Student Affairs & Campus Life, but was also honest around the fact that I needed to take my time to truly understand the IC experience.  

Over the past six months I have had the opportunity to talk with many students over meals, at meetings and events. I also have held meetings with a number of stakeholders both inside and outside of the division to gain a greater understanding of the different facets of the campus and the student experience. The common thread throughout these interactions has been ensuring that we 1) continue to be student centered in all we do, and 2) are being innovative and intentional in supporting our students and helping them thrive during their time at Ithaca College and beyond.

To move the division towards the common goal of elevating the student experience, we must build on the great work that we have been doing while embracing the need for change. I want to share with you some of the exciting changes that are in the pipeline for our division. First, I’d like to introduce the talented team that will be working with me to lead all of the great work that lies ahead.

Student Affairs and Campus Life Executive Leadership Team

o   Susan Bassett, Associate Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports

o   Doreen Hettich-Atkins, Director of Strategic Planning & Administration

o   Bill Kerry, Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management

o   Bonnie Prunty, Dean of Students

o   Dr. Roger Richardson, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life

o   Karen Walls, Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life

You can find more information on these individuals and their areas of oversight and responsibilities here, and overall information regarding the division and its departments on our website at www.ithaca.edu/sacl.

Leadership Changes

First, I would like to share that after 34 years of service to Ithaca College, Rory Rothman has decided to retire, with his last day being April 13. I especially would like to thank Rory for his leadership of Student Affairs and Campus Life over the past five years prior to my arrival. His legacy will continue to be greatly appreciated, and we wish him a happy and well-deserved retirement.

Second, I am happy to share that I have asked Bonnie Prunty to step into a new leadership role within my team, as Dean of Students beginning June 1. Bonnie has been a member of the IC community for 30 years, leading the Office of Residential Life and Judicial Affairs since 2000. She most recently served as the co-chair of the college’s Middle States Review Team. In this new role, Bonnie will have a critical focus in ensuring that we are providing high-level support and resources to our students as they navigate IC. Her portfolio is still being developed, but I can share with you that it will include Residential Life, Judicial Affairs and Case Management. More details on her portfolio will be shared in a future announcement.

Re-Imagining the Student Experience

Departments and programs in the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life will be undergoing some exciting changes in the next couple of months and the staff in these areas will help inform these changes. While there is a great deal of work still to be done, here are some of the changes I am able to share at this time:

Campus Center

The student union, as it is often known, serves as the heart of the campus for many colleges and universities. It is a space where students host and attend events, spend time with each other, and enjoy meals. As we continue to think about how we can best create spaces for student engagement, it is clear that we need to give some greater attention to our Campus Center. To help achieve this goal, management of the Campus Center is now under our division, rather than under the Division of Finance and Administration. Sybil Conrad will assume a new leadership role as the Director of the Campus Center, with the charge of creating a thriving campus hub. As an additional indication of the high priority of this work, we will conduct a national search for the new position of Assistant Director of the Campus Center. This individual will have responsibility for evening and weekend programming, and will directly advise IC After Dark.

OSEMA

After giving great consideration to a structure that will best serve the interests of our student community, we have decided that the Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs will become three autonomous units effective Fall 2018, each having a distinct concentration on critical aspects of our student experience.

·         The Office of Student Leadership & Involvement will focus on leadership development, supporting student organizations and community service.

·         The Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of Programs and Outreach will be united in the formulation of a new office that will focus on various aspects of inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and social justice.

·         The Office of the First-Year Experience will be part of a newly reconfigured office that will focus on various transitional phases of the student experience as they navigate IC and beyond. I will share more information about this new structure in the coming weeks.

Religious Communities and Muller Chapel

I am happy to share that we have approved the creation of a new position, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life. The leadership of our current faith-based communities, in collaboration with Doc Richardson, put together a proposal that was presented to me upon my arrival. I reviewed the proposal’s recommendations, one of which was to create a full-time position that would have direct oversight of the services provided, develop new programs, and serve as another resource to students. We are in the final stages of reviewing the job description and will begin a national search for this position in the coming weeks.

Comprehensive External Review of Counseling, Health and Wellness

In all of my conversations with members of the campus community, a common concern has been about how to best support both the mental and physical well-being of our students. One of my top priorities is to address these concerns in a manner that is aligned with the need for support and services and with best practices in higher education. I have decided to initiate a comprehensive external review, which will give us objective information and recommendations that will guide the direction of the very critical services this area provides.

Student-Centered, Innovative, Intentional
In closing, I want to thank all of the individuals who offered their time to meet with me to provide feedback and suggestions, and who continue to be invested in the experiences of our students. I will continue to keep the community updated as more details about these plans unfold, and will continue to engage in collaborative conversations about how our collective efforts can remain student-centered, innovative, and intentional.