Published: Nov. 17, 2017

Thank you to everyone who attended our Town Hall yesterday, and for being so responsive to this week’s announcement on our new Redefining Student Support initiative.

I am extremely thankful to Russell Moore, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, for joining us to speak on the Academic Futures and Foundations of Excellence initiatives. As we look to the future and determine how we can provide a seamless and meaningful experience at CU Boulder, I’m confident that the Redefining Student Support initiative will go hand-in-hand with university efforts to improve the holistic student experience.

Providing the best student experience possible is a big responsibility, and as Student Affairs practitioners, it’s what we do well. Every single person within the Student Affairs Division has an opportunity to positively impact the overall student experience - from the minute students begin the Online Experience to how they live, eat, study, work, get involved, and improve their health and wellness on campus.

One of the best aspects of our new organizational structure is visually seeing how we are all connected within the Division and finding opportunities to increase collaboration. I am proud to work with the leaders of our VCSA Cabinet, and am confident that our Associate/Assistant Vice Chancellors will provide support and forward-thinking direction in the areas of student engagement, health and wellness, and student development.

We are at a tipping point of change, and I encourage everyone to shift the mindset around how we view change. Change and flexibility will become the new norm as we welcome new generations of students with shifting needs. We sometimes worry or feel nervous when things change, however, I encourage you instead to view change with excitement and as a chance to do things differently.

The student experience is at the core of success at CU Boulder, and Student Affairs affects a large part of the student experience. We are in a prime position to lead, and I look forward to seeing our new initiative in action.

With gratitude for all that you do,

Christina Gonzales