January marked a month of great change for NIU’s Student Affairs division. Five assistant vice presidents were added to the division, which faced its first reorganization in more than 30 years.

Brian Hemphill, vice president for Student Affairs, implemented the changes recommended by two focus groups. The last time the department was reorganized was 1973.

Two groups representing 13 academic departments and all levels of Student Affairs researched other universities’ student affairs departments, and reviewed organizational charts and annual reports to come up with recommendations for the reorganization. The teams also conducted internal and external department reviews to determine where student services overlapped within the department.

The implementation of Student Involvement and Leadership Development, formerly the office of University Programming and Activities, was one part of the department reorganization that introduced five assistant vice presidents to the office of Student Affairs.

A flow chart shows five assistant vice presidents reporting to Hemphill, with the vice president for community and diversity position vacant. Hemphill oversees the offices and centers in the Community and Diversity division.

The vice presidents, in spite of taking on extra responsibilities, did not receive a pay increase, Hemphill said.