Due to budget reductions, two departments have merged, saving UCCS hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, some of which will go back to supporting students.
The Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Enrollment Management were merged in June and will save UCCS an estimated $400,000 a year, according to Stephanie Hanenberg, interim vice chancellor for the new merged division. A portion of the savings will be reinvested in student support-focused areas, and services will also be easier to navigate.
The merger includes Health and Wellness and Chief of Staff in addition to Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, making the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, or EMSA, which is made up of 30 departments such as Student Life.
Previously the Assistant Vice Chancellor for the Wellness Center, Hanenberg is serving as the division’s interim vice chancellor while UCCS conducts a nationwide search to permanently fill the position. During her time at UCCS, helped merge the Health and Wellness Center, according to a Communique article.
EMSA and the positions created within the division were created to serve students more efficiently while supporting staff in their respective positions and teams, Hanenberg said. “Having this partnership and being at the same table to say, how do we support [students] in a more proactive way from both sides has been really exciting to watch,” she said.
To address necessary budget cuts, position descriptions and reporting structures have been reorganized and certain positions have been eliminated.
The associate vice chancellor of student affairs, executive assistant to the vice chancellor of enrollment management, the director of online learning and the online senior transfer navigator positions have been eliminated.
Hanenberg said that Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet was looking to eliminate a vice chancellor position amid the budget cuts. “That was kind of what put the two divisions together, and it makes a lot of sense because it’s literally the student’s experience from before they come to school to walking across the stage and everything in between,” Hanenberg said.
According to Director of Communications Jenna Press, these positions were only eliminated because of the budget and were not reflective of the performance of the individuals serving in those positions.
The University Center, Dining and Hospitality Services, Housing and the UCCS Farm no longer fall under Auxiliary Services and have been consolidated under the Division of Administration and Finance as part of the reorganization.
With the removal or merging of some, four divisions oversee all of UCCS: EMSA, Academic Affairs, Administration & Finance and Advancement & Development. Like EMSA, Academic Affairs has an interim serving as the provost, which helps oversee the division, while UCCS searches for one.
Chris Valentine, assistant vice chancellor of marketing and communication, said that a search for a provost is happening this fall, and a search for EMSA vice chancellor will happen in the spring.
Students can find more information about the division and layout on the EMSA website. Enrollment Management and Student Affairs is also hosting an informational session on Oct. 16 in Berger Hall from 10:30 a.m. to noon that will discuss the merger further.
Photo courtesy of UCCS Photography Database