Message from Vice President for Student Affairs Lori McDonald: Department Realignment
Dear Student Affairs Team,
As we continue to navigate campus-wide transitions, I want to take a moment to share what’s next for our division and provide clarity on an upcoming reorganization within Student Affairs. As we have shared for several months, we knew further change was on the horizon and I am glad to share with you that we have finalized these organizational changes.
This reorganization is designed to strategically align our reporting structure with the Student Experience Project. Led by Academic Affairs this project focuses on six interconnected efforts to enhance the student experience—one being Student Access to Support Services. As part of this effort, Student Affairs will introduce a new department focused on helping students navigate common needs and connect with specialized resources.
In addition, this reorganization comes in response to retirements and vacancies, and to better connect teams whose work naturally overlaps, so we can be more coordinated and responsive.
Along with the updated organizational chart and FAQs (see below), I’ve recorded a short video message to provide more context and share how these changes position us for continued success:
Thank you for your continued commitment, flexibility, and care for our students and colleagues. I’m grateful for all you do and I’m excited for what we’ll accomplish together in this next chapter.
Sincerely,
Lori McDonald, PhD
Vice President for Student Affairs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
This reorganization is part of our continued commitment to the Student Experience Project (SEP). Over the past year, we’ve assessed how Student Affairs can work more efficiently and collaboratively to improve the overall student experience. The changes reflect our evolving needs, natural staff transitions, and a desire to align our structure with the university’s broader strategic priorities.
For most staff, day-to-day responsibilities will remain largely the same. Some reporting lines and supervisory structures will shift to create better alignment between teams and functions. If your role is directly affected, your supervisor or AVP will meet with you individually to discuss details and answer any questions.
The reorganization is designed to:
- Strengthen collaboration across departments
- Improve communication and efficiency
- Clarify reporting lines and areas of responsibility
- Better support staff and student success through more integrated operations
In short, this change is about positioning Student Affairs to be more connected, nimble, and impactful in advancing the overall student experience.
The Student Experience Project emphasizes belonging, engagement, and student success. This organizational realignment allows our teams to better coordinate those efforts by connecting departments whose work intersects with student engagement, well-being, and support. It ensures we’re using our collective strengths to create a more unified experience for students across campus.
Absolutely. We’re committed to open communication throughout this process. Staff can share questions through their supervisors or AVPs in the coming weeks and we will work to answer these as we continue working through this change. In addition, we’ll provide ongoing updates through divisional emails and staff meetings.
These changes will begin to go into effect starting November 1, 2025. with full implementation expected by the end of the fall semester. Communication and transition meetings will continue during this period to ensure a smooth process for all teams.