In an email sent on July 28, PSU President Ann Cudd announced a restructuring of the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA). Facing mounting financial challenges for the University, two key departments will be relocating their operations.
“Enrollment Management will move to OAA reporting to a newly created Vice Provost of Enrollment Management,” the email said. “The portfolio of student support services currently existing within Global Diversity and Inclusion, including multicultural student services and student retention programs, will move to the Office of Academic Affairs; the Office of Equity and Compliance will transition to a newly created Office of Equity, Compliance & Internal Audit. A new, university-wide Chief Diversity Officer position will be created, reporting to the President’s Office and working with departments across campus.”
In this transition, select positions will be eliminated.
Cudd wrote, “We will be working hard to ensure that each person affected — and everyone on campus — can have a clear understanding of the changes coming on Jan. 1 and how to prepare for them.”
The message assures that within the coming months administration will collaborate to confirm how to run the new OAA efficiently. Within this new office, a Vice Provost is set to serve, implying new, expanded duties for the role. Current Provost Shelly Chabon is set to leave the position, in addition to two unnamed positions within GDI.
“Reporting relationships will be shifting, and some positions will be eliminated by this reorganization, and some new positions will be created,” the email stated.
Sheila Martin, the Vice President of Public Affairs, presented a clearer picture of the impact on the PSU community. She noted that this restructuring is modelled to centralize student resources, maximizing efficiency.
“Student success is our job,” Martin said.
Under this new model, collaboration is emphasized to provide consistency for both students and student resources.
“The goal is to have no wrong door for students, consistency rather than streamlining.”
In addition to hiring a new Provost, a new position, entitled Chief Diversity Officer, will be filled.
According to Martin, the role would center on, “Developing and implementing strategies around inclusivity, helping students feel welcome, and ensuring equitable practices.”
The findings of the Huron report point to disorganization within student services as a major issue. Martin advocates for “leaders who can holistically view the situation.”
“We want to center the student journey; we want students to be able to find help along every step of that journey,” Martin said. “We want to improve the student experience.”
Martin assures that student opinions will be considered as this restructuring develops, aiming for a “clear pathway forward.”
She additionally emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the intersecting groups in adapting to new spaces. With a community outreach-emphasized approach, the administration aims to support students through this shift.
