Central Michigan U. Rebranding DEI Office as ‘Division of University Engagement and Student Affairs’
“leaders will develop a new webpage for the unit and communicate planned changes with the campus community throughout the summer”
It’s amazing that so many schools have tried this tactic, as if just changing the words makes a difference. Someone sent us the text of this email and we’re sharing it to remind people that this is happening.
Subject: Announcing the new Division of University Engagement and Student Affairs
Central Michigan University President Neil MacKinnon today announced the formation of a new administrative unit that will bring together leadership and teams from two important CMU areas: the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Division of Student Affairs.
The new Division of University Engagement and Student Affairs will be led by Shawna Patterson-Stephens, Ph.D., the current Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging, who will expand her leadership role at CMU. Effective May 16, her new title will be Vice President of University Engagement and Student Affairs.
“Dr. Patterson-Stephens is an experienced higher education scholar-practitioner who has led university-wide efforts to enhance policies and processes, improve campus climate, and create a welcoming, supportive environment for all students, faculty and staff,” MacKinnon said. “Her education, research, experience and achievements make her an ideal candidate to lead this vitally important division.”
In the weeks ahead, Patterson-Stephens will work alongside Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Stan Shingles, as well as with staff and students, to map out the organizational structure of the new Division of University Engagement and Student Affairs. From those discussions, leaders will develop a new webpage for the unit and communicate planned changes with the campus community throughout the summer.
Stabilizing leadership
Understanding that multiple leadership transitions had occurred within the Division of Student Affairs over the last decade, MacKinnon said securing stable leadership for the division was a top priority for his first year as university president. With Interim Vice President Shingles set to re-retire this summer, MacKinnon said identifying a new leader was a paramount concern.
“Dr. Patterson-Stephens is well-known and well-respected at CMU, and she is deeply familiar with our university culture, values, policies and practices,” MacKinnon said. “She has more than twenty years of experience in higher education in roles that center on student success and fostering a culture of inclusion.”
Since Patterson-Stephens’ tenure as vice president began in 2021, there has been significant collaboration between the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, especially in areas such as co-curricular programming, professional training and development, and support for students, faculty, and staff in difficult times. She has worked closely and frequently with Shingles and other Student Affairs leaders to develop, deliver, and assess program offerings and to review and revise student-focused practices.
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Comments
They all doing that now. Same people with new job titles, new office names.
In other news, Mayo clinic is re-branding its DEI office as “Office of Bel0nging”.
Same people doing the same things.