The University of Wyoming is currently conducting interviews for the Director of the recently formed Center for Student Involvement and Leadership.
The establishment of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership represents a new initiative by the university to bring together the leadership, engagement and involvement portions of the Division of Student Affairs.
Sean Blackburn, the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, said, “these different units can start working more closely together and can support one another.”
Due to a shortfall in state revenue, there are extensive university hiring freezes.
“This is a good time to think about how we create an environment where our students feel connected, engaged, have the option to pursue leadership experiences, and can do the things that give a college degree that extra benefit,” Blackburn said.
The administration is hoping that the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership with give current students the opportunity to engage with their peers, create programs and lead efforts.
Campus involvement is important for student success.
“We know from research that if we [the university] can get you connected to a program, survey, or other peers in a club, you are more likely to do better in class, stay at your current institution and graduate quicker,” Blackburn said. “The Center for Student Involvement and Leadership is designed to lead that effort.”
Candidate Jeremy Davis is the current Associate Director for the Office of Student Life at the University of Northern Colorado. During an open interview with current students, he stressed the importance of involvement for new students in their first semester.
“The first six weeks that a student is on campus is the most formative,” Davis said. “When it comes to getting involved and finding your sense of belonging on campus, that is a critical time.”
Davis touched on his experiences at the University of Northern Colorado to provide a basis for his new student outreach plans as the potential director at UW.
“We found that the clubs weren’t ready to receive those folks,” Davis said in regards to the student organizations’ ability to recruit and cater to new students at Northern Colorado.
“We decided as an office maybe there is a way that we could build a bridge and help them, so we started something called ‘Club Night,’” Davis said.
For ‘Club Night,’ Davis said that during “the first week of classes, we reserve spaces in the union for clubs to make their pitch to prospective members.”
Davis said this would give incoming UW students the opportunity to plan which clubs and organizations they would like to meet with, increasing their exposure to the opportunities on campus.
Jennifer Kirk, another potential candidate for the position and current Assistant Director of the Campus Activities Center, specified her plans regarding the duties and responsibilities of the new center.
“We really have to look at the programs that we’re offering, we have to assess these programs and see if they are truly serving the students,” Kirk said.
Kirk also recognized the need for the increase in student and faculty support that the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership can provide to current organizations.
“I understand and respect that there are areas that need to stand on their own to serve their student populations, but having that structure of student and staff support to be able to build up these areas to the best that they can be; there is something to be said for that,” Kirk said.
