Hong: Reorganization to have minimal impact on student services

Student services are continuing without interruption following the recent reorganization of student affairs units at UW–Madison.

The administrative moves, completed in November, resulted in a new organizational structure and a leave of absence for Paul Barrows, who had served as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) since 1999. Dean of Students Luoluo Hong has assumed many of his duties and now serves as chief student affairs officer at the university.

“I want to let you know that the university is committed to ensuring uninterrupted services and programs that assist students with their academic success and provide important out-of-classroom learning opportunities,” Hong says.

“While our campus has made some significant administrative changes, I hope that most of these changes will have a minimal impact on your day-to-day lives as students.”

Hong answered some questions students have asked about the reorganization during the past few weeks:

Q: Now that the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (VCSA) no longer exists, where do I go if I have a question about student life at UW–Madison?

Hong: Even prior to the dissolution of the VCSA office, the staff in the division of the Offices of the Dean of Students (ODOS) served as a central resource and referral network for students.

This key role of the ODOS as an advocate for student voices and needs will now be reaffirmed and augmented. To help meet the increased demand from students, the university has allocated additional staff to the central office of the ODOS to ensure that students’ questions and concerns will be addressed in a timely, effective manner.

Again, these changes should have a minimal impact on your life here on campus. For more information about the ODOS, visit: http://www.wisc.edu/students/ or call 263-5700.

Q: Does this mean that UW–Madison is no longer as committed to Plan 2008 and its goals for increasing campus diversity?

Hong: Absolutely not. For many years, Paul Barrows played a key role in affirming the university’s commitment to multiculturalism, but the work of fostering diversity on campus was being implemented by dedicated staff and faculty members from all over campus – not just in the VCSA office. The work of these individuals will continue and will be supported, regardless of whether or not the VCSA position exists. Leadership for Plan 2008 – which previously was shared by the offices of the VCSA and the provost – will now be assumed solely by the Office of the Provost.

However, many of the staff members who provided support for Plan 2008 while in the VCSA office will continue to do that same work under the direction of Bernice Durand, associate provost for campus climate and diversity. For more information, visit http://www.provost.wisc.edu/climate.html.

Q: Why did this happen? Did Student Affairs have to be reorganized?

Hong: In the higher-education community, there are nearly as many different ways to administratively organize student affairs units as there are different institutions. There is no research or anecdotal evidence to indicate which model might be most effective. Most institutions have structures that best fit their unique needs. Chancellor John Wiley believed it was time to reorganize the units that previously reported to the VCSA in a different way.

Please let me know if you have additional questions or concerns by e-mailing dos@bascom.wisc.edu.