Dean’s Office to be restructured

The Office of the Dean of Students is restructuring some of its offices as some will leave to go to work in the Center of Academic Success and some will join the Office of the Dean of Students.

Joining the Office of the Dean of Students will be the offices of FASET, Sophomore Programs, Convocation, R.A.T.S. Week and Welcome Home. These offices will combine to create the New Student Office and will be relocated to the Smithgall Student Services Building in the Greek Affairs Office.

“All of these are exciting changes…the best thing is I think that they are all done with the right reason and that’s to make things even more efficient and better for students, all in the best interest for students,” said Dean of Students John Stein.

Leaving the office to join the Center of Academic Success are the programs of GT 1000, One-to-One Tutoring and Academic Support. These programs will now be under the direction of Provost Rafael Bras.

“We’ll still work very collaboratively with [Academic Programs moved to the Center of Academic Success],” Stein said.

Plans for the restructuring of the programs began in Fall 2010 as new staff began their terms. The concept was suggested under the idea that it would make more sense to have support for academic programs hosted within the Center of Academic Support as opposed to the Office of the Dean of Students.

The Office of the Dean of Students hopes that these new changes will help better align their offices and departments with the Tech Strategic Plan.

The LEAD Program in particular is an organization that aligns with the Strategic Plan. Headed by Wes Wynens, the LEAD Program is hoping to further collaborate with the Office of the Dean of Students by pairing up with the Student Involvement Office.

Another change to the Office of the Dean of Students is a newly created position, Associate Dean of Students. Cara Appel-Silbaugh now serves in this position to work alongside Dean Stein and the rest of the office.

Previously at the University of California-San Diego, Appel-Silbaugh worked as the director of Parenting and Family Programs. She is excited to work with the students in her current position.

“It’s been a very smooth transition…so far everyone’s been very welcoming, very informative and helpful,” Appel-Silbaugh said.