Student Affairs : About Us : Student Affairs Mission and Strategy

Student Affairs Mission & Strategy

A message from the Vice President with the status of post-Keeling strategic planning

Mission statement:
The mission of the Division of Student Affairs is to advance student learning for a lifetime, support students in their development as whole people, and promote an inclusive learning environment.

Division review and strategic planning:
The mission statement above emerged from work during the period May to December 2008, during which Student Affairs engaged Keeling and Associates (K&A) to conduct a review of the division and to prepare a framework for strategic planning.  K&A is a highly regarded consulting agency, based in New York City, whose principal consultant, Richard Keeling is well known for his contributions in the field of student learning outcomes.  The executive summary of the K&A report is available at the link below.

The review focused on the optimal organization, structure, and strategy for the Division, especially in the context of potential budget reductions that might require restructuring or realigning programs and positions.  Four key recommendations are:

• Increase our focus on strategy
• Upgrade our program of assessing student learning outcomes and operational effectiveness
• Employ a resource allocation matrix for decision-making about programs and resource allocations
• Restructure over time for more effective delivery of services and programs for students

In January 2009, the division launched Phase 1 of the strategic plan. This phase involves the following features:

• Roles of the Senior Team and SALT (Student Affairs Leadership Team) have been modified and more clearly defined.
  • Senior Team has responsibility and accountability for the strategic plan, forming work groups and consulting with other division leaders as needed.
  • SALT meets once per month to engage in professional development, provide advice to the Senior Team, share information among departments, and engage in networking.
• Reorganization for greater efficiency (phase 1) has occurred or is being studied for possible implementation during the spring 2009.
  • The Assistant Vice President has an increased role in providing division leadership for assessment - both learning outcomes and operational effectiveness.
  • A position of Senior Director for Information Technology has been established by reassigning a vacant management position.
  • Educational Counseling, a component of Counseling Services, is under study using the new resource allocation matrix.
  • The goal of assembling a team into the VP office to coordinate fiscal, human, and facilities resources is under study.
  • The best fit for a reporting line for the Testing Office is under study.
  • The long-term means of coordinating educational partnerships (with pre-college agencies) is under study.
• Fiscal restraint is emphasized.
  • Freeze on hiring SSP's - the Vice President must approve all exceptions.
  • Other vacancies are carefully examined by the appropriate associate vice president and tracked carefully by the Vice President.
  • Travel and other expenditures are limited by the department directors and associate vice presidents.
• Fiscal realignment is under development.
  • A student health services fee increase for mental health is under consideration.
  • A programmatic review process is under development.

Our goal is to become just as effective in achieving our mission as we can be, given the fiscal realities—both long-term and short-term. 

Veril L. Phillips
Vice President for Student Affairs
January 27, 2009

Executive Summary of the Keeling Report [.pdf]

Send comments to the Vice President about the report at vpsa@sjsu.edu