Wright State University | Photo by Cheyenne Waddell | Edited by Jessica Fugett | The Wright State Guardian
Dylan Collison contributed to this story.
In an interview with Provost Edwards, it was confirmed that the vice provost for student affairs (VPSA) position continues to be vacant.
In October, Dr. Gary Dickstein, the interim VPSA, accepted a position with the Dayton Public School system. Since then, the position has been vacant.
What is the VPSA?
The position of VPSA currently supervises numerous campus departments that are student service-oriented.
According to the Student Affairs website, one of their priorities is to “evidence quality in all operations, strive for continuous improvement and create a collaborative, caring and participative work environment.”
It was earlier reported that Edwards would name an interim VPSA prior to a national search in the spring. This stance has since been retracted.
“Student Affairs is an incredibly well-oiled machine and my philosophy is ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t get in there and try to fix something that doesn’t need to be fixed.’ They work so incredibly well together. They’re very autonomous in their little areas and they just need someone they can touch base with, that’s provost. That’s not changing,” said Edwards.
Student Involvement and Leadership (then Student Activities) and the Student Union were reorganized together in 2017 due to university budget cuts.
This merged the educational aspect of Student Involvement and Leadership with the facilities aspect of the Student Union.
Structured currently based on ‘small tweaks’
“We’re working on that. Facilities part of the Student Union is reporting to facilities right now. The program side is more Student Affairs so we’re kind of moving back to the old model,” said Edwards.
According to Eric Corbitt, director of the student union, student involvement and leadership, and campus recreation, the Division of Student Affairs is evaluating how to provide the best level of service to the students it serves.
“The division is structured the way it is as a result of small tweaks and changes that have been implemented over time by various division and university leaders,” said Corbitt.
In the interim, Edwards has delegated various Student Affairs responsibilities between Chief Operating Officer (COO) Greg Sample and to the provost.
“Dr. Edwards understands any time there is leadership change in an organization, it is wise to evaluate the manner in which that organization operates,” said Corbitt. “She’s asked us to do just that and, currently, we’re exploring multiple models for Student Affairs (including the Student Union) to determine how to provide the highest level of service to students in the most efficient way possible.”
“During this interim period, Corbitt reports to both the chief operations officer and the provost as he oversees a facility (the Student Union) and [Student Involvement and Leadership]” said Seth Bauguess, director of communications.
Whose overseeing these areas?
Edwards has asked Sample to oversee some of the facility-related student affairs departments while the VPSA position is vacant.
“Once the VPSA position is filled the plan is to transition those interim assignments from the COO back. The COO is currently overseeing the facilities functions within the Student Union and student housing,” said Bauguess.
A search for a new VPSA will not occur until spring and students will be heavily involved with the process.
Student Affairs is reevaluating their departments and deciding between hiring a dean of students or a vice provost of students, according to Edwards.
“Student Affairs is the [department] that really advocates directly for student life on campus and in that regard, is very important,” said Ivan Mallett, student body president.
Mallett hopes to be involved in the process and will update the student body as more information becomes available.
