Reorganization is Aimed at Improving Lincoln's Image

Board of Trustees and President realign the campus

By: Alicia C. Beach

Posted: 3/8/10

In response to a mandate by the Board of Trustees, Lincoln University has made some changes within its organizational structure.

Academic Affairs, Development /External Relations and Fiscal Affairs have undergone a dramatic change since last month. The Division of Student Affairs, which used to be an autonomous division within the university, is now under the day-to-day management of Dr. Grant D. Venerable II, who has been promoted from Vice President of Academic Affairs to Provost.

In January, President Ivory V. Nelson released a memorandum to the Lincoln University community discussing that the restructuring is part of a long-term effort by the university to reach its goals and objectives. Nelson and the Board of Trustees have launched an "Advance to the Top" campaign aimed at increasing Lincoln's academic standing among other Historically Black Colleges and Universities by the year 2012.

The Registrar and Admissions office have been restructured under the Office of Development and External Relations. Michael B. Hill is responsible for these areas and serves as the university's Executive Vice President.

"Historically at most universities, there has been a disconnect in bridging academic affairs and student affairs together," said Venerable. "Even though it might not be intended when you have that sort of a bifurcated system, you're going to have some problems. But the mission and the notion behind higher education has always been that student affairs is there to supplement and complement what happens in the classroom. The university is making a formal structure where that support and understanding [between the two divisions] is more defined, and more clear."

Interim Vice President Jerryl Briggs says his position will not change much as a result of the realignment.

"It [the realignment] will make everything more seamless with me working directly with Dr. Venerable making sure that the activities within student affairs are seamless within academic affairs," he said.
"When you have a separate system it is harder to really have an understanding of how everything will work. Now that everything is sort of under one umbrella, this will be a little more clear," he added.

Some students and faculty members have expressed concerns over the Registrar's office no longer having the oversight of academic affairs. The office has been plagued by a number of problems in recent years including high turn-over and problems managing the new technology. Venerable, however, said that he is not concerned.

"We are jarring the structure, this is not a bad thing," says Venerable, adding that Hill is more responsible for the operational departments on campus.

Some students said that they are uncertain of the administrative changes and wonder how much it will impact their day-to-day lives at the university. Several faculty members said that they were not consulted before the changes were made.

"Students should have been informed through a variety of ways such as social media outlets, the university's email system, flyers that are centrally posted throughout campus, and through personal engagement by school administrators to further elucidate the Lincoln University administrative structure," said John C. Scott, Student Government Association Treasurer.

Still, many see this move as a good thing-a concerted effort to improve Lincoln's standing in the academic community.

"The Board of Trustees Leadership and the Lincoln University administrative leadership team believe that this organizational realignment will provide the structure and accountability mechanisms necessary to achieve specific goals," said Nelson. "Some of them include the recruiting and enrollment of students with higher grade point averages, increased retention rates and increased graduation rates."