Good afternoon CMC Community,
I am writing to you with some exciting news. Since my arrival at CMC in July, I’ve spent my time getting to know and coming to love this place. In addition to my own observations, I’ve enjoyed hundreds of conversations with many of you regarding your insights as to existing strengths and opportunities to improve the student experience. I am grateful to all the faculty, staff, alumnae, parents, and especially students who offered their thoughts and perspectives.
I believe college should be transformative, in and out of the classroom, and CMC has the potential to have a best-in-class student life experience. With the help of the DOS team, amazing students, and my colleagues across campus, we have been developing a path forward, and discussed that strategic vision with the Board of Trustees at their December meeting. Subsequent conversations and meetings this spring semester with the Board’s Student Affairs Committee, members of the Finance Committee, as well as the Plenary Session with faculty and students at the Board March retreat have resulted in some exciting news. In the coming months, in partnership with others across campus, we will be making enhancements to the student experience in the following areas; academic support services, residential life, mental health support, health and wellness, community standards, and student leadership and engagement.
Some of you may be familiar with the recent prior CMC Student Affairs staffing model that included both a Dean of Students position and a Vice President for Student Affairs role. As one element of the plan moving forward, CMC will return to that staffing model in which the Dean of Students is a distinct position from Vice President for Student Affairs, rather than a combined role, that is currently in place. Some of the very best student development work happens with the face-to-face connections DOS staff have with students to advise, mentor, coach, support, and to assist them in making meaning of their many experiences. The Dean of Students role is critical to the orchestration of a talented staff and the provision of such a transformational model. The presence of a Dean of Students serving these critical functions in partnership with me as Vice President, allows for an enhanced focus on vision and strategy, continued important advocacy work at the highest levels for the student development experience, strengthened cross-College partnerships, and amplified consortium coordination and resources for CMC students.
We have launched a national search for the next CMC Dean of Students. Such a search can only be truly successful with engagement from major campus collaborators and colleagues. We have pulled together an outstanding CMC search committee comprised of faculty, staff and students. Working with the search firm of Isaacson, Miller, the position profile is now live on their website and we are actively seeking nominations for talented candidates. We hope to have candidates on campus prior to the conclusion of the spring semester. I would like to encourage you to consider nominating any potential candidates for the Dean of Students position. You may nominate by communicating directly to our search consultants and using the “nominate” link at the bottom of this position announcement. I very much appreciate your ongoing investment in the CMC student experience and look forward to great things ahead.
Take care,
Sharon
Sharon K. Basso, Ed.D
Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students