Students should recognize a stronger focus on student involvement and leadership development from offices due to a newly reorganized Student Affairs department.

Brian Hemphill, vice president for Student Affairs, implemented the changes last month as 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.

“They took on significant responsibilities,” Hemphill said. “This is a group passionate about making contributions to our students. It says something about their character, and I am proud to say that.”

A national search to fill the VP for community and diversity position will start in February. Hemphill said he expects the new VP to start July 1.

As part of the reorganization, former UP&A director Rick Clark was reassigned as director of Campus Relations Career Services.

“I am shifting gears,” Clark said. “It gives me some additional skills that I have, but did not have to use as much in my other position.”

In his new position, Clark will be responsible for a marketing campaign informing the NIU community about the merger between the Cooperative Education/Internship Program and Career Planning and Placement Center.

“As a part of any reorganizations, you look at unique talents,” Hemphill said. “We realized he has great ability, he is a valued member of our organization, and felt he could help us greatly in our career services unit.”

Clark also will be responsible for assisting Karen Castelein, campus relations specialist, in the implementation of service learning.

“Service learning, for example, is usually when you put a class working together with maybe Hope Haven to provide a service,” Clark said. “Students should get more out of the class actually getting involved, not just sitting there taking notes.”

An official definition of service learning at NIU has not been developed. Clark and Castelein distributed surveys to the deans of academic departments to gain feedback on service learning at NIU.

Clark said some service learning opportunities exist on campus and the office will function as an official liaison to match up teachers, departments and community organizations to provide more opportunities.