Reorganization of UW Academic Affairs Nears Completion

Structural changes in the University of Wyoming’s Division of Academic Affairs are nearly complete, aimed at improving student enrollment, retention and completion by bringing campus units focused on student services together with the university’s academic functions.

The reorganization also is intended to redistribute functions carried out by the former Outreach School, part of an effort to achieve efficiencies and improve effectiveness and service to all UW students -- those studying on the Laramie and Casper campuses as well as those studying at a distance.

New Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Kyle Moore arrived at UW three weeks ago and is working with his team in the offices of Admissions, Registrar, and Scholarships and Financial Aid to establish a new enrollment management enterprise that will enhance the university’s ability to recruit, enroll and support an academically strong and diverse student body in alignment with UW’s goals for enrollment.

Added to the duties of Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Anne Alexander are the Advising, Career Services and Exploratory Studies (ACES) office (formerly the Center for Advising and Career Services), the Student Educational Opportunity programs, and the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center -- in addition to expanded transfer services in the form of the new Transfer Success Center, the STEP tutoring program, the Synergy program, accreditation and program review, and the Army and Air Force ROTC programs.

Within this cluster, the reorganization has allowed stronger collaboration and cooperation among groups responsible for retention services, academic success and postgraduate career preparation. This includes those primarily responsible for the undergraduate academic curriculum and programs, such as the general education curriculum, transfer relations, academic advising and career services, and multiple academic support programs.

A new Global Engagement Office has been established to expand recruitment of international students and broaden the exposure of faculty and students to international events and cultures. Through gifts from the Cheney family and other donors, UW holds the largest study-abroad scholarship endowment of any four-year, land-grant institution. A national search is underway for a new associate vice provost for global engagement, who will be tasked with expanding opportunities for transformative learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom -- including internships, research and international experiences. This person also will work with the Global Engagement Office team to provide programs and support for students and faculty, facilitate global research partnerships and promote global citizenship.

The Academic Affairs reorganization also is intended to put into place structures that embrace and support the 21st century instructional environment, including online, hybrid, distance and outreach teaching approaches, along with strong partnerships with community colleges. Mark Lyford, executive director of the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning (ECTL), leads the team from ECTL and the newly created Office of Online Education Support to help colleges and departments broaden their educational efforts across the state, region and nation.

The Office of Online Education Support will work with UW colleges and departments to offer a broader set of courses, certificates and degrees to meet the educational needs of Wyoming and regional citizens who are unable to complete coursework on site at UW or UW-Casper.

The dean of UW-Casper, Jeff Edgens, is leading efforts to assure that UW’s branch campus in Casper thrives and meets the needs of that community, in cooperation with Casper College, by providing access to bachelor’s degrees, certificates and graduate degrees. Edgens also oversees UW’s regional centers in Cheyenne, Cody, Gillette, Jackson, Powell, Riverton, Rock Springs, Sheridan and Torrington -- each served by an academic coordinator to provide information on the array of UW academic programs available through distance and on-campus courses.

The UW Board of Trustees is expected to soon appoint an associate vice provost for graduate education, who will be tasked with facilitating new strategic graduate degree initiatives and providing guidance and support for graduate faculty mentors and graduate students.

The board also is expected to appoint a dean for the newly formed Honors College, who will provide the vision and leadership to structure a formal experiential learning portfolio and will work with faculty to expand the curriculum to tap into the opportunity for students to pursue an honors credential in their disciplines. The Honors College will infuse and formalize high-impact practices for its students, including first-year experiences, writing-intensive courses, undergraduate research, service learning, internships and capstone projects. Plans call for the Honors College to be fully in place by fall 2020, although several colleges and departments, including the College of Engineering and Applied Science, are moving forward with development of honors tracks that could be in place before then.

The new Academic Affairs organization chart may be found at www.uwyo.edu/acadaffairs/_files/docs/academic_affairs_org_chart.pdf.