Search under way for Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs

Administration hopes to see chosen candidate in office in January

September 24, 2008
By Ashley Rueff
Staff Writer

A UIS search committee began reviewing applications for the vacant vice chancellor of student affairs position this week, with hopes of hiring a worthy candidate by January.

The search committee is sifting through applications and calling references to narrow down the applicant pool to three to six candidates who will be invited to on-campus interviews in early November, said Ed Wojcicki, associate chancellor for constituent relations, who is co-chairing the search committee.

The position has been vacant since July when Christopher Miller left his position as vice chancellor of student affairs and administrative services at UIS to become the vice president for student affairs at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.

After Miller's departure, his position was divided into two positions.
“We all learned that that was too much for one person,” Wojcicki said.
Dave Barrows was appointed associate chancellor for administrative services, but the search for the student affairs vice chancellor continues.
The search committee for vice chancellor of student affairs first met in late August to begin the search. The committee is made up of 11 members representing campus constituencies including faculty, administration, academic professionals, civil service and students.

Ads for the position were placed nationally in late August inviting candidates to apply. Co-chairs Wojcicki and Karen Kirkendall, faculty member and director of the Capital Scholars Honors Program, declined to release any information about the number of applications they've received for the position.

“We want to keep this within the search committee until we're ready to bring the finalists to campus,” Wojcicki said.

Applications are kept confidential to protect the privacy of candidates who might be employed at other universities.

Wojcicki and Kirkendall said the committee is looking for someone with strong experience in student affairs who will be able to work with the diversity of students at UIS.

“We're looking for someone who is student oriented and is looking to the future,” Kirkendall said. “Someone who can build strong programs for our students.”

UIS's students range widely between undergrad and graduate, full-time and part time, on-campus residents and commuters, and the new vice chancellor of student affairs will need the ability to work with all of those students, Kirkendall said.

The committee is also hoping for help from the campus to choose a candidate for the position. During the on-campus interviews, the campus community will have an opportunity to meet with and then share their opinions about the finalists.

“We will look at the feedback as we narrow our decision,” Kirkendall said.

The committee will submit their unranked top three choices to Chancellor Richard Ringeisen, who will then make the final decision.

Wojcicki and Kirkendall said the best timeline would bring finalists to campus before Thanksgiving break to allow time for the chancellor to make a decision, offer the position, and for the candidate to begin working in January.

Until the positon is filled, Steve Chrans and Marya Leatherwood in the student affairs office will continue serving as interim chancellors.