Administrative Announcement
Oct. 30, 2017
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
One of the areas on which I have focused significant attention during the past year is the state of the academic, cultural, and social experience of our undergraduate and graduate students. A deep commitment to learning and intellectual discovery requires the close integration of the academic and non-academic aspects of a student’s education. To advance that integration, I am announcing the reorganization of some departments and reporting structures within the university.
The changes, which take effect today, will streamline operations, increase accountability, and align administrative responsibilities with authority in a way intended to support our students more effectively.
Undergraduate and graduate student life will be integrated into the provost’s office. Sheryl Sousa ’90, vice president for student affairs, who oversees the dean of students, community living, athletics, the Hiatt Career Center, the Health Center, and student activities, will now report to Provost Lisa Lynch. Sheryl and Kim Godsoe, associate provost, will together lead a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the academic and non-academic support we provide our undergraduate and graduate students. This work will help us define what constitutes vibrant and engaged communities in our residence halls, and how we can best support our graduate students with services that do not now exist or need greater attention.
To align responsibilities with authority, the Chaplaincy will report to our chief diversity officer and vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our successful and growing pre-college programs will become the responsibility of the vice president of the Rabb School of Continuing Studies; admissions will report to the dean of arts and sciences; and student financial services will report to the chief financial officer.
Andrew Flagel, senior vice president for students and enrollment, has been offered a senior research fellowship at the National Research Center for College and University Admissions. In recognition of his years of dedicated service to Brandeis, I have granted him a research leave beginning after Thanksgiving to further his research on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We thank Andrew for his years of dedicated service to Brandeis and wish him the best in his future endeavors.
I want to thank everyone within the student affairs division for their hard work, ongoing cooperation, collegiality, and commitment to our students and university.
Sincerely,
Ron