Dear Case Western Reserve University Faculty and Staff:
Since we last communicated in May about the Division of Student Affairs reorganization, we have been very busy working to build the division into a beacon of support for our students. I would like to share some of those updates with you.
- We have hired the first 18 four-year advisors, and they are engaging with one another and incoming students. We will soon have the team to its full complement of 25 four-year advisors, a number that will allow more attention to the wellbeing of our undergraduates. Our search for the dean of undergraduate advising, who will lead this office, continues. In the meantime, Peter Whiting, interim VP for student affairs, will serve as the lead of the office.
- The Undergraduate Advising Support Office is prioritizing working with new students as well as continuing students having academic difficulty—engagement that typically occurs in the summer months. As we build the office and culture, we are working to bring best practices from Student Advancement and Undergraduate Studies into the office. Additionally, we held the first training for the four-year advisors on June 5.
- In early August, new students will receive a communication identifying both their permanent four-year advisor along with their faculty pre-major advisor.
- The following are offices that are moving from Student Success and the Center of International Affairs to the Division of Student Affairs, and in some cases we have changed the names for simplicity:
- The Career Center
- Undergraduate Research Office
- Office of Education Abroad
- First-Year Experience & Family Programs
- Academic Support Resources for Students
- We also are in the process of enhancing the international student support framework, and we will provide more detail in a future communication.
As I prepare to turn over leadership responsibilities to Interim Provost Joy Ward, I am proud of what these changes represent: building the best support and services for our student body. We will continue to provide updates on these activities, working toward a very strong and smooth start to the academic year.
With gratitude,
Ben Vinson III
Provost and Executive Vice President