Transition of UC Student Services and Programs

As higher education administrators, we have the privilege of working with incredible staff and faculty, but the most fulfilling and important part of our roles is being stewards of state and university resources, and having a part in providing leadership to provide a stellar student experience and to prepare our future leaders. As first generation college students, we understand the profound impact and transformation that a quality education and student experience has on the lives of our students. Every day, we show up and lead with that perspective in mind and with great conviction.

We are at a watershed moment in terms of delivering quality student services at HSU. The changes in the programs now overseen by University Center present an opportunity to resolve concerns that have been expressed over many years by students, faculty, staff, elected student officials, and members of the community. We do not take lightly the termination of the UC operating agreement by the CSU and HSU. Yet, we remain committed to providing the most robust student experience possible by working in collaboration across divisions, with students and our partners to deliver a vibrant and thriving student experience. We will emphasize student-first programming, enhanced services, more hours of operations and greater accessibility for students to learn, engage, and connect. In addition, we have the opportunity to reimagine the student center and make it the heart of the campus life for our students.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of HSU managing services formerly managed by the University Center. HSU is excited to lead the transformation of services delivered to our students, faculty, staff, and community. We are grateful for the diligence and perseverance of our team members who worked assiduously to make this transition happen. They include, but are not limited to:

Enrollment Management

Wendy Sotomayor, UC Executive Director

Todd Larsen, Director of Housing Operations

Steve St. Onge, Interim AVP for Student Success

Administration and Finance

Amber Blakeslee, University Budget Director

Tawny Fleming, Director of Procurement and Contracts

David Montoya, AVP for Human Resources

Scott Kasper, Employee Relations and Compliance Manager

Eric Palma, Compensation and Classification Manager

Nicole Log, Recruitment Manager

Alexis Collins, Payroll Officer

Elizabeth Whitchurch, Director of Facilities Operations

Sandy Wieckowski, Associate Director, Student Financial Services

Cris Kozerca, Interim Director of Risk & Emergency Management

Academic Affairs

Josh Callahan, Information Security Officer and CTO

University Advancement

Kristen Gould, Director of Marketing

Grant Scott-Goforth, Public Information Officer

We have created the UC Transition Fact Sheet to provide substantive detail regarding the transition with respect to the transition of student and professional employees, Dining, CenterArts, Center Activities, and the physical building operation. Further, this document provides details about the campus union fee, the operational deficit, and other budget details. Finally, this document discusses other nuances of the transition and clarifies priorities for the reimagination of the operations to create a student center that will bolster the campus experience for years to come.

We are committed to continued engagement and providing important updates to our many stakeholders about this important transition, and look forward to working with our students and our teams to transition the operation, improve efficiencies, and reimagine service delivery to our students and other stakeholders.

Sincerely,

Jason L. Meriwether, Ph.D., Vice President of Enrollment Management

Sherie C. Gordon, Chief of Staff and Interim Vice President for Administration & Finance

Jane Teixeira, J.D., Director of Intercollegiate Athletics & Recreational Sports

More information on the UC transition can be found here.