3.9.3 Qualified staff
The institution employs qualified personnel to ensure the quality and effectiveness of its student affairs programs.
Judgement of Compliance
Compliance
Narrative:
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) employs qualified personnel to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the student development programs. Under the direction of the Vice President for Student Development, the division includes the offices of the Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid, Dean of Students office, the Multicultural Center, Counseling and Career Planning, University Health Services, the Women’s Center, and various additional student life units, all of which actively support the overall mission of UTC as well as the mission of the division. Each of these units provides programs and services that promote student learning and enhance the development of enrolled students. Personnel in the various offices in Student Development also adhere to guidelines, standards, and principles for best practice compiled by their respective professional associations.
As of July 2010, eighty-four (84) administrative, professional, and classified staff members were employed within the Division of Student Affairs. Eleven employees have served ten years or more, and thirteen have served between five and ten years. The longevity and low turnover rates of student affairs personnel provide evidence of effective hiring and performance evaluation practices, attention to ongoing professional development, and overall commitment to the mission. In addition to the professional staff, the division employs over 120 part-time student employees.
The organizational chart for the Division of Student Development demonstrates how the leadership responsibilities are delegated within the division among the associate and assistant vice presidents, deans, and directors. Forty-one (41) staff members hold advanced degrees, seven of which are earned doctorates. Many of the remaining leaders are currently enrolled in graduate programs. The job descriptions and resumes document the qualifications and educational attainments of these leaders and other key student development personnel.
Highlights of the credentials of the highest level of leadership in the Division of Student Development are as follows:
- Dr. John Delaney, Vice Chancellor for Student Development, earned his undergraduate degree in English from Rice University, an M.Ed. in College Student Personnel and an Ed. D. in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Delaney has served in the following positions: Assistant Dean of Students (UTC, 1990-94); Associate Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Student Life (Sam Houston State University, 1994-2000), and Dean of Students (Ohio Wesleyan University, 2000-2007).
- Dr. Dee Dee Anderson is Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with her Doctorate in Educational Leadership in 1998. Dr. Anderson received the following degrees from Louisiana Tech University prior to earning her doctorate degree: Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, 1990; Master of Arts in Elementary Education, 1991; and Masters of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 1994. While at Louisiana Tech she worked as a Coordinator of Residential Life, Director of Student Development, and Dean of Students. Dr. Anderson’s primary areas of responsibilities at UTC include: The Dean of Students Office; Fraternity and Sorority Life; Student Activities; Student Conduct; Multicultural Affairs; University Center; and Campus Recreation. Dr. Anderson is engaged on many campus-wide committees and projects to strengthen the role of Student Development departments in the curricular and co-curricular success of students.
- Mr. Yancy Freeman, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from UTC, and had served as the Director of Undergraduate Admissions from 1993 until 2008 when his position was promoted to lead campus-wide, enrollment management efforts. The departments included in our Enrollment Management model are: Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions; the Office of Financial Aid (including the Scholarship Office); and the New Student Orientation Office/Parent Programs. Mr. Freeman has played a central role helping lead the introduction and transition of Banner Software (the student information system) for the UTC campus.
- Dr. Nancy Badger is Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Services. She earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology, master’s degrees in School Psychology and Student Administration from Ball State University, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Kent State University. Dr. Badger served in the following positions prior to joining UTC: Assistant Dean, Adaptive Programs (Purdue University, 1989 – 1992); Psychologist (East Carolina University, 1996 – 2004). Before assuming the role of Asst. Vice Chancellor, Dr. Badger served as the Director of Counseling and Career Planning (2004 – 2009).
- Dr. Steven Hood, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Housing, earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of West Alabama, his MPA from Troy University, and his Ed.D. from UTC. Dr. Hood began his career in higher education as an Area Coordinator at Samford University from 1999 to 2003, and then moved to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as the Director of Housing and Residence Life. In 2010, Dr. Hood was promoted to the position of Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Housing at UTC, where he continues to lead the Housing and Residence Life department while supporting the work of the Student Development Division in the management of debt-related facility projects. Dr. Hood and his staff oversee the full operation of the 3000+ living-learning student community at UTC. The Student Housing Office includes the Residential Life area (programming, wellness, community building. etc.) and the Student Housing functions (facility management, planning, fiscal oversight, personnel management).
- Mr. James Hicks, Dean of Students, earned his bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Alabama, and a Master of Arts in Education in Student Personnel Services from Virginia Polytechnic and State University. Before coming to UTC, Mr. Hicks served as the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Greek Life at Radford University in Radford, VA (1995 – 1997). In 1998, he came to UTC as the Assistant Dean of Students. Mr. Hicks has served in a variety of roles in the Dean of Students office and was promoted to the position of Dean of Students in 2010. In this role, Mr. Hicks works closely with a number of offices within Student Development and across campus to ensure the delivery of quality frontline student services and programs.
Student Development Administrative Staff
Position |
Name |
Degree |
Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
Vice Chancellor for Student Development |
Dr. John Delaney |
Ed.D., Higher Education Administration |
Vanderbilt |
Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Student Development |
Dr. DeeDee Anderson |
Ed.D., Industrial and Organizational Psychology |
Louisiana Tech |
Dean of Students |
Jim Hicks |
M.A.Ed., Student Personnel Services |
Virginia Tech |
Associate Dean of Students/Director of Student Conduct |
Justin Moses |
J.D.; M.Ed. |
Ohio State University |
Associate Dean of Students/Director of Multicultural Affairs |
Tara Mathis |
M.B.A. |
U. Tennessee at Chattanooga |
Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Greek Affairs |
Sara Jahansouz |
M.Ed., Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration; M.P.A. |
Indiana University; UNC-Pembroke |
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management/Director of Admissions |
Yancy Freeman |
M.P.A. |
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga |
Associate Director of Admissions |
Lee Pierce |
M.P.A. |
U.of Tennessee at Chattanooga |
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Development/Director, Counseling Center |
Dr. Nancy Badger |
Ph.D., Counseling Psychology |
Kent State University |
Director, University Housing and Residence Life |
Steven Hood |
Ed. D |
U. Tennessee at Chattanooga |
Assistant Director for Residence Life |
Val Sample |
Ed. S. |
U. Memphis |
Director, Women's Center |
Sara Peters |
M.A., History |
Auburn U. |
Director, Placement and Student Employment |
Jean Dake |
M.Ed. |
U. of Tennessee at Chattanooga |
Director, Office for Students with Disabilities |
Michelle Rigler |
M.A., Special Education, Severe Affective Needs, Special Education Administration |
Prescott College |
Assistant Director |
Leslie Harms |
B.S., Education/Human Services - Educational Interpreting |
U. of Tennessee at Knoxville |
Director of Campus Recreation |
Ron Nelson |
M.S., Physical Education, Recreation and Safety |
Middle Tennessee State U. |
Director, University Center |
Shannon Smith |
M.S., Education - College Student Personnel |
U. of Tennessee at Knoxville |
The leadership in the Division of Student Development recognizes the importance of continued education and professional development. For this reason, staff members in the division are given a variety of opportunities, both on and off-campus, to remain current in their respective fields and to expand their knowledge and skills. Staff members within the division maintain active memberships in many state, regional, and national professional associations. Forty-two (42) staff members participated in at least one conference, workshop, or seminar during the 2009-2010 academic year. Additional opportunities for professional development and team building, such as retreats and staff meetings, are coordinated by individual units. Staff members also take advantage of the various training opportunities made available through the Office of Human Resources and the Walker Teaching Resource Center.
The Division of Student Development follows university policy for conducting annual job performance evaluations to ensure the quality of student development programs and service delivery. All non-faculty staff complete a performance review form and receive an evaluation of their performance on an annual basis. The Vice Chancellor may establish alternative review periods and deadlines for submission to Human Resources. Newly hired staff members receive an evaluation of their general performance and a review of prospective goals and development opportunities at the end of their six-month probationary period.
These hiring practices, performance appraisal procedures, and staff development efforts ensure the quality and effectiveness of the programs and services offered by units within the UTC Division of Student Development.
Documentation:
- UTC Administration Organizational Chart
http://www.utc.edu/Administration/PlanningEvaluationAndInstitutionalResearch/documents/UTCOrgChart2009.pdf - Human Resources, Performance Review, SPDR Form
http://www.utc.edu/Administration/HumanResources/Forms/
