Residential changes start with staffing

The Office of the VPUL and the Business Services Department will assume joint duties. Administrative staffing and organizational shifts are the first visible changes to accompany the recent release of the Biddison Hier and Brownlee reports -- which offered the administration's vision for the future of on-campus residential life. In order to implement the reports' programmatic and structural changes in residences, the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Life and the Business Services department will assume joint responsibilities. Associate VPUL Larry Moneta will head that new partnership, assuming the role of associate vice president for campus services. In addition, the Housing and Residence Life Department will see further restructuring, ending its year-long period of transitional operations after shakeups in the department last summer. "A lot of the restructuring flows from the Biddison Hier analysis of the way we're currently operating," Moneta said. While the report cited the residential programming leadership as "a model for the nation," it noted weaknesses in the department's operational side -- including timeliness to response of maintenance repair requests. "The report made clear that we needed to be able to account for the difference between programs and operations," Moneta said. The transition represents the first time that Business Services will have formal jurisdiction over the operations -- including maintenance and housekeeping -- of both the residences and dining halls. And VPUL will have expanded programming oversight in the residence halls and -- for the first time -- in the dining halls, according to VPUL Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum. "We will work on defining these responsibilities and implementing them during the next academic year into both new specific projects and in the ongoing program planning for the residential communities," McCoullum said. Vice President for Business Services Steve Murray explained that the joint efforts stem from a need to combine the physical, financial and programmatic aspects of upcoming changes. "This will be a difficult, complex and exciting process as we? put together a master plan that will be the blueprint for residences in the next generation," Murray said. As a result of the restructuring, Moneta will have primary oversight of the Residential Operations department -- a newly formed division of Housing and Residence Life -- that includes occupancy administration, facilities operation and administration of assignments and finances. "We're looking for efficiency," Moneta said. "We'll have to support the creation of communities and renovation." In addition, Moneta will supervise the Dining Services operation, overseeing all dining halls and retail operations including Chats and McClelland Marketplace. And he will also be responsible for the Sheraton Hotel -- which has been designated for use as a temporary dormitory during upcoming residence hall renovations. "This linkage is an important one? since the Sheraton will play a key role? during the implementation process," Murray said. Administrators will begin the search for a director to manage residential operations and maintenance. Moneta said the new position should be filled by next fall. The new position will incorporate the responsibilities of former Acting Director of Housing Services Lynn Horner. Horner left the University approximately two weeks ago, because she "had another opportunity and chose to move on," Moneta said. Under the new structure, Director of Academic Programs in Residence Chris Dennis will continue to direct the programmatic portion of the department.