By Justin Wier
The Youngstown State University Board of Trustees passed two resolutions that restructure the office of student affairs, combining three positions into an associate vice president for student success and an associate vice president for student experience.
The associate vice president for student success manages the Student Success Division, which focuses on increasing retention, completion and post-graduation success. The position involves overseeing the Center for Student Progress and the Office of Career Services to meet these goals.
The associate vice president for student experience manages the Student Experience Division, which includes Kilcawley Center, Student Government Association, Greek Life and Housing and Campus Recreation, among others. The division also handles student issues and regulates student conduct.
The positions being eliminated are the vice president of student affairs, executive director of student life and the executive director of student services.
Jack Fahey, current vice president of student affairs, said it’s part of university president Jim Tressel’s plan for reorganization. Tressel served as vice president for student success during his time at the University of Akron.
“He’s trying to take the existing services that we have and take them to the next level,” Fahey said. “We hope to recruit two new, really talented people that will take the leadership reins of those two areas and develop those areas significantly from where they are now.”
Fahey said they will be looking to hire people from outside the university.
Fahey will be retiring at the end of the year and his position will not be filled. Executive director of student life has remained vacant since Jonelle Beatrice retired at the end of 2014. Matt Novotny, current executive director of student services, has been informed that his contract will not be renewed when it expires in June of this year.
In fiscal year 2013, the salary for vice president of student affairs was $143,630, executive director of student life was $84,954 and executive director of student services was $36,800. The new positions have a salary range of $90,000 to $130,000, resulting in a savings of between $5,000 and $85,000 to the university.
The Jambar was not able to reach Tressel for comment, check TheJambar.com for updates on this story.