STUDENT SERVICES

Organization And Administration Of Student Personnel Services: Division of Student Services Katie Mey Western Illinois University

STUDENT SERVICES Organizing The Division Of Student Services In order to embark on the task of outlining a Division of Student Affairs within and

institution of higher education, it seems prudent to begin by outlining the institution that you are serving. Demographic information, such as that Ideal State University is a mid-sized, public research institution that maintains an emphasis on undergraduate liberal arts education, provides an important part of such an outline. More important, though, is discerning the reason detre of institution as a whole. Institutions of higher education exist in a state of service to a prime directive of sorts- a mission statement that articulates their reason for being. All subdivisions and subsidiaries of any such institution exist for the sole purpose of assisting the institution in achieving this mission and should in some way enhance its capacity to do so and its efficacy in doing so. Therefore, first step in articulating the organization of my ideal Division of Student Affairs is to articulate the mission of my ideal institution of higher education. Once the institutional mission has been articulated, a mission for the division that aligns with and supports this primary objective can be established and serve as the guiding logic for establishing an organizational chart for the Division of Student Affairs. Institutional Mission Ideal State University is a community defined by the engagement of all of its members in the pursuit of growth and development as whole persons who are dedicated to the preparation of graduates who are empowered and prepared serve as engaged, ethically conscious citizens of a global society intent on utilizing their skills as leaders and scholars for the benefit of all. The University has been created and supported by the citizens of the common wealth of this state to provide opportunities for transformative, experiential learning that will prepare them to assume the responsibilities endowed upon and entrusted to them as participants in a democratic society.

STUDENT SERVICES Divisional Mission and Structure The Division of Student Affairs shall further the mission of Ideal State University by providing inclusive, supportive, and development centered co-curricular environments and activities that facilitate the extension of learning beyond the classroom and encourage the

investigation of ethics, development of character, exploration of leadership, embrace of diversity, dedication to service, and the enhancement of the wellness and success of the student as a whole person. Towards this end, the head of the division shall serve in the dual role of the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) as well as the Dean of Students at Ideal State. This dual designation is to serve as a symbol of, as well as ensure a commitment to, bridging the traditional gap between the Divisions of Academic and Student Affairs within the institution. As the VPSA, this person will ensure that the extra and co-curricular needs of students are met during their time of enrollment. As the Dean of Students, this person will ensure that an emphasis on student learning and development and a connection to the traditional academic experience of students is maintained throughout the division. Reporting to the VPSA/Dean of Students within the Division will be four Associate Vice Presidents, each equal in rank and in charge of four distinct but interconnected areas under the purview of the Division. The Associate VP for Equity, Access, and Judicial Affairs would oversee all things directly under the umbrella of ethics and conduct, as well as the overlap between these areas and social justice. The department will including the area of Ethics and Conflict Resolution, which encompasses offices of; Student Judicial Services, (which oversees off campus relations), Student Legal Services, and Institutional Emergency Response and Crisis Management. Also collected under this Associate VP is the area of Identity Services and Diversity, which includes the office of; International Affairs (including an office of International

STUDENT SERVICES Studies and center for International Students), Diversity Affairs and Multicultural Programs (including a variety of identity specific centers). The logic behind this organization being: there is a large degree of overlap between the issues of equity and access and those associated with multicultural relations between and within groups and though it seems necessary to have

individuals and offices devoted to the mission of the Division that includes providing supportive and environments to student constituencies with unique needs, collecting these offices under one report system also seems prudent. The Associate VP of Student Success and Retention will oversee an area that collects all services and resources directly related to the retention of the student through degree completion as well as their academic success as a learner. This area encompasses Student Advising, Career Services, Academic Accessibility, Academic Support, and Transitions, as well as their subsidiaries. The logic behind this organization is that collecting these services into a one-stop hub of assistance will reduce barriers to students seeking support in meeting the requirements that the institution places on students. The Associate VP for Health and Wellness will oversee an area that includes offices devoted to Psychological Services, Physical Health Services, and Campus Safety. The logic behind this organization is that these departments and their subsidiaries all pertain to the preservation of the medical wellbeing of students. Though highly interrelated, each of these offices will be responsible for serving a high volume of students, necessitating the designation of individuals to oversee each department separately. The Associate VP for Student Development and Campus Environment will oversee all areas related to facilitating the involvement of students in the campus and broader community. This department encompasses departments of: Activities, Leadership, and Service; Physical

STUDENT SERVICES Resources and Accessibility; Residential Life; and Recreation and Athletics. The logic behind this organization being that these departments and their subsidiaries are all directly involved in facilitating the co-curricular environments- both tangible and intangible- that students need in order to pursue learning outside the physical bounds of the classroom. Though the explanation of organizational logic is brief, my hope is that reference to the

organizational chart, included as an appendix, will provide a visual description that enhances and clarifies my reasoning. For instance, one can see the institutionalization of emphasis on equity and access, or student development and campus environment, by noting the human resources that are allocated to the provision of services under this heading. Furthermore, the conceptualization of each broad department can be further understood by reference to the offices it is comprised of. Please refer to the attached organizational chart in order to gain a broad understanding of my vision of the ideal Division of Student Affairs.