By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief
Dr. Jeff Arrington was appointed associate dean of Campus Life last week-a new position that will oversee four areas of the office.
The director of each area in Campus Life-La Shae Sloan in Student Services, Mark Lewis in Student Life, Dr. Jan Meyer in Student Leadership and Dr. Mimi Barnard in Residence Life Education and Housing-will report directly to Arrington.
Arrington, who had served eight years as the associate dean of the College of Arts and Science, will be the first to have the position, which Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, said he has thought about creating for more than two years.
“I was just needing some help overseeing Campus Life,” Barnard said. “There’s the daily view and the long-range-planning view,” and Barnard said Arrington will be responsible mostly for the daily management.
Moving from a role that dealt mostly with academic curriculum to one that oversees learning outside of the classroom, Arrington said he hopes to create a “closer partnership for student learning” in and outside the classroom.
“I hope to accomplish an even better bridge between the Campus Life division and the academic division,” Arrington said.
Arrington admits he will spend time on a learning curve.
“I’m moving from something I have experience with and moving to something I believe strongly in but have less experience,” Arrington said. “I’ll be learning and leading at the same time.”
After eight years with the College of Arts and Sciences, Arrington said he was looking for new challenges but wanted to stay at ACU at the same time. He began talking with Barnard about the possibility of working in Campus Life throughout last semester.
Barnard said he selected Arrington because of the academic perspective he could bring to Campus Life.
“He has a keen understanding of how students learn outside the classroom,” Barnard said. “He will help us see things we [Campus Life personnel] can’t see, which is true whenever you bring someone from outside Campus Life inside.”
Besides his new role in Campus Life, Arrington will continue in his role on the General Education Review steering committee, which is looking at the university’s core curriculum requirements. He will also teach one course in the Physics Department.
He will also spend some time throughout January still working with the College of Arts and Sciences while its personnel transitions.
Dr. Colleen Durrington, dean of CAS, said the college would not make any staffing changes this semester to fill Arrington’s role; instead, she said she would look at the needs of the college this semester and determine what changes need to be made next year.
“Dr. Arrington has been a vital part to our office the last eight years,” Durrington said. “Our loss is the university’s gain.”
