Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Linda Lazzell announced the new Student Affairs organization. Over the past several months, Vice Chancellor Lazzell conducted interviews with UAA students, faculty, staff, and community partners to gain their insights on how best to serve students. Additional input about Student Affairs services, programs, and processes was received from the Bureaucracy Busting campaign.
"After analyzing the valuable input from our UAA and community partners and using Student Affairs best practices, teams have been established with the common purpose of providing student-centered services to support student development and academic success. These teams will collaborate to provide responsive, high quality programs and services at UAA and in the communities we serve" Vice Chancellor Lazzell said.
The Division of Student Development replaces the former Division of Student Affairs. Bruce Schultz has been appointed as the dean of students to lead and develop the student life and student development programs and services that include Campus Life, Career Services Center, Leadership and Ethical Development, Residence Life, Student Activities, Student Health and Counseling Center, and Tanaina Child Care Liaison. Student Development serves a special role in advising and developing student leaders, student governance groups and student organizations at UAA.
Vice Chancellor Lazzell noted that, "Bruce Schultz served UAA well as the associate dean of students from 1995 to 2005, developing student leaders and successful living - learning communities. Dean Schulz is completing a doctorate in organizational leadership and will develop divisional staff development training and design Student Affairs assessment tools to track our quality improvement efforts". Prior to assuming the associate dean's position, Bruce was the administrative coordinator for the Department of Residence Life, and joined UAA in 1991 as a summer conference coordinator.
The Division of Academic and Multicultural Student Services replaces the Academic Center for Excellence. Vara Allen-Jones serves as the assistant vice chancellor for Academic and Multicultural Student Services to lead and develop multicultural student programs and academic support services that include Native Student Services, AHAINA Student Programs, Advising and Testing Center, TRIO Grant Pre-college Outreach Programs, UA Scholars, New Student Orientation, Disability Support Services, and the new Student Support Services Grant Program.
"Vara Allen-Jones served as the assistance vice provost for Student Success from 1998 to 2005. Vara won the Noel-Levitz National Award for Student Retention and was successful in bringing $3.5 million in external federal grants to UAA to support the recruitment and retention of diverse student populations" Vice Chancellor Lazzell said. Vara served as the director of AHAINA Student Programs from 1994 to 1998. Vara holds the rank of assistant professor of counseling with tenure, and joined UAA in 1991 as a faculty counselor in the Advising and Counseling Center.
Rick Weems serves as the assistant vice chancellor for the Division of Enrollment Management to lead and develop the enrollment management services that include Admissions, Banner Student Services and Training, Degree Services, Enrollment Information Services, Federal Work Study Program, Financial Aid, International Student Services, Records, Recruitment, Registration Services, Scholarships, Student Exchange Programs, University Center Kiosk, and Veteran Affairs. Rick Weems has served as UAA's chief enrollment officer since 1999, joining UAA as the director of Student Financial Aid in 1998. Vice Chancellor Lazzell said, " Over the years Rick has held leadership positions and has received service awards from student financial aid professional organizations. Rick recognized the need to reorganize the services and staff at the University Center Kiosk to be more student-centered and responsive. This summer, Rick added additional staff at the UC Kiosk and call center who were cross-trained that has dramatically improved services and wait times".
Vice Chancellor Lazzell added that, "with the active involvement of the UAA community and our partners, Student Affairs will provide progressive, engaging and responsive student-centered services that meet the growing needs of our diverse student body".
