IT, Enrollment part of strategic reorganization
New cultural cluster of W&M historic sites and programs also part of strategic shifts
The reporting lines of several key areas at William & Mary shifted recently as part of a restructuring effort to create new collaborations and synergies across the university.
The strategic reorganization included three areas: Information Technology, Undergraduate Admission & Financial Aid and a newly formed cultural cluster comprised of W&M historical sites and programs, President Katherine A. Rowe said in a message this month to the Cabinet. The changes come after several months of review and reassessment of the university’s organizational structure, as well as consultation with the Executive Leadership Team, respective leads and new Provost Peggy Agouris, she added. The following actions took effect July 15.
Information Technology
IT will report strategically to the president, with an operational report to Finance & Administration, through Vice President for Finance & Technology Amy Sebring. In addition to IT, Sebring oversees the University Budget Office, Capital Budgeting, Procurement Services and Financial Operations.
“As the university embarks on a new strategic plan, IT will be a critical partner across all facets of the university as we look to transform how we serve students, faculty and staff,” Sebring said.
The shift comes as longtime Chief Information Officer Courtney Carpenter, who began his career at W&M in 1995 and became the university’s first CIO in 2006, is planning to retire effective August 24. Rowe said Berni Kenney, Carpenter’s longtime deputy CIO, will serve in an interim capacity as W&M launches an immediate search. The new Chief Information Officer will report to Sebring with a dotted line to the president.
“Let us all thank Courtney for his 24 years of dedicated service in this important role. We look forward in the coming weeks to formally recognizing him and celebrating his achievements at W&M,” Rowe said.
Enrollment
The Undergraduate Admission & Financial Aid offices are now part of the Office of Strategic Initiatives & Public Affairs, which includes University Communications, Economic Development and Business Innovation, Government Relations and Sustainability. Tim Wolfe, dean of admission and associate vice president for enrollment, reports to Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Public Affairs Henry Broaddus and maintains a dotted line to the provost.
“In light of the importance of prospective students and their families as an audience for university communications, and in light of the prominence of enrollment-related considerations in the university's strategic initiatives, we see this is an outstanding opportunity to align the work of Undergraduate Admission & Financial Aid with that of the other units already within Strategic Initiatives & Public Affairs,” Broaddus said.
Cultural Heritage Cluster
The Historic Campus, James Monroe’s Highland, the Muscarelle Museum of Art and the Omohundro Institute are now part of a newly formed Cultural Heritage Cluster and report to Vice Provost for Academic Affairs & Faculty Affairs Ann Marie Stock. Previously, the three W&M units and Omohundro sat in three different places organizationally with different reporting lines. While Omohundro is an independent entity, William & Mary is a founding sponsor of the institute and the director is a university employee, reporting up to the provost’s office.
“By bringing these units together, we will create new synergies and collaborative opportunities to integrate our exceptional cultural resources into our teaching and learning mission,” Rowe said.
She added, “I am particularly excited about the relationship of this new cluster to the Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation and the Washington Center, both of which already report to the vice provost for academic affairs. These directors join a team – led by a renowned specialist in cultural studies and practitioner of public humanities – focused on enhancing student learning and teaching innovation. We will also build on the important work these units have done to engage the public.”