Wednesday, April 11, the Vice President for Student Life search committee had a drop-in student session in the KAV from 11-11:45 a.m. The committee wished to address the many previous survey questions and responses they received.

There were five panelists: Chaplain Dr. Tracy Sadd, associate professor of Japanese Dr. Mahua Bhattacharya, athletic director Chris Morgan, Center for Student Success Director Stephanie Rankin and Senior Manager of Special Events and Summer Programs Joe Hudzick.

There were many major concerns or questions from the survey that was emailed out in Campus News. The committee considered the type of respondent and looked at the results, which were anonymous and confidential, and they specified that deciding what the important traits in a new vice president would be is a large task. The committee hopes to find someone who is caring and understands the College’s students. Sadd spoke about the search process, saying that it has been a complex process in which they have had to find a balance between keeping people informed and being respectful of privacy and confidentiality. Hiring any employee is governed by human resources’ practicing policy and law, as well as the goal of finding someone who is a good fit and meets all of the qualifications.

According to the committee’s timeline, the next three to four weeks will be spent doing on-campus interviews, and the committee is looking to have a recommendation by May 10 so that the new Vice President for Student Life can start by July 1.

This position has undergone many title changes: Dean of College Life to Dean of Students to Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Life. This person would essentially work in many different ways.

Currently as Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, Marianne Calenda has upheld many of her responsibilities such as serving on the hiring committee (which has hired over 400 employees), being a part of Senior Staff (which includes six Vice Presidents and the President), being a voice for students and being on the resources and strategic planning committees.

Before instituting this position of Vice President for Student Life, Elizabethtown College originally went with the Provost model, in which the Dean of Students and the Dean of Faculty would report to the Provost, but in 2015, the College did away with the Provost model. Now, there is the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Student Life. The exact model moving forward is not clear, but the position is being advertised as Vice President for Student Life.

According to Sadd, the committee is “doing their best to be thorough.” Sadd also stressed that the idea of eventually hiring a new president and the copious amounts of uncertainty ahead will not hinder the search or hiring of a new Vice President of Student Life.

Etown is hiring a regular, full-time, continuing Vice President for Student Life, and the committee wants him or her to demonstrate accompaniment to the advancement of Student Life and the continuing interim arrangements.

Sadd concluded the discussion by stating that there are many uncertainties, but there will certainly still be progress moving forward.