Today's Update: Monday, March 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

Dear Student Life team,

It is hard to believe that two years ago we launched the Student Life Strategic Plan. . At that time, I shared my vision for the future of Student Life – to be the premier student affairs division in the country; student- and staff-centered with cross-cutting experiential learning and a dedication to being equity-minded.    
 
We have made great progress toward the goals in our strategic plan and have measurable outcomes that I know we are all proud of. Here are just a few highlights:  

• Launched the Off-Campus Housing Network, which now represents over 10,000 properties  
• Started our staff well-being program and hired a program manager for staff well-being   
• Implemented required educational modules on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs to new and transfer undergraduate students in autumn 2022 
• Expanded Student Life’s wellness model to include digital wellness and have created an easy-to-use guide to find resources for each dimension of wellness  
• The Center for Belonging and Social Change was formed and continues to offer robust educational and engagement opportunities for our community  
• Created the Student Life Staff Mentoring program, Professional Development Plans for staff and a centralized professional development fund opportunity to support staff development 
• The Student Life Facilities Master Plan is on track for completion at the end of June  

My goal continues to be that we have a strategic plan that is agile, nimble and dynamic in nature so we can be responsive to our students’ and staff’s ever-changing needs. To honor that goal, this spring, we are reviewing and refreshing our strategic plan.  

 As with before, this will be an all-hands-on-deck approach, involving our team – all of you – along with students, parents and families, and Student Life’s key university and community partners. Please review our current plan and reflect on where we are now and where we want to go. As you review, think about how Student Life can continue to be innovative and forward-thinking. How can we be flexible and proactive in meeting the needs of our always-changing student body and staff?   

Please take a few minutes to share your ideas for our future in this short, anonymous survey, which will be open until Sunday, April 30. 
 
Thank you for your help in creating a Scarlet and Great future for the Office of Student Life!  

 

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD  
Senior Vice President for Student Life  
The Ohio State University