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I am pleased to announce the creation of the Office of Diversity and Social Justice at Millersville University. This organization will facilitate University initiatives related to diversity, equity, accessibility and social justice for students, faculty and staff. The Office will report to the President and work through a newly formed advisory committee, the three President’s Commissions, University departments and organizations to plan, implement and evaluate initiatives.
I am pleased to announce that Ms. Jan Bechtel will serve as the Interim Director of the Office of Diversity and Social Justice beginning on August 3, 2015.
Ms. Bethel holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology from Drexel University and will receive her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Millersville University on May 8, 2015. Ms. Bechtel is currently completing her final year as the MSW intern with the Career & Life Studies Program here at Millersville. She has also served as the graduate assistant to the President’s Commission on Cultural Diversity & Inclusion and the President’s Commission on Gender & Sexual Diversity, advisor to the GSA, and President of the Disability Student Union. Ms. Bechtel has also volunteered with the LGBT Center of Central PA and Alder Health Services.
As Interim Director of the Office of Diversity & Social Justice, Ms. Bechtel will work with the University to ensure that Millersville is a safe and inclusive space for all individuals. She will also support students in their efforts to advocate and engage with the campus around social justice concerns impacting our campus and surrounding community.
John M. Anderson, Ph.D.
President
From Dr. Vilas Prabhu, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs:
In March, I announced to faculty and staff in the Division of Academic Affairs a plan for a reorganization of our academic units. I am now pleased to share this plan for a new Academic Affairs organizational structure with the entire University Community. A transition process is currently underway for the new structure to be in effect as of the new fiscal year, July 1, 2015. Until then, the current structure remains in place.
As Millersville University is now a doctoral-granting institution of higher education, its academic units are better represented as “colleges” rather than by their current label of “schools.” This change aligns us with the majority of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities, which have colleges instead of schools as their degree-granting units. In addition, the department changes indicated below reflect a better fit within the new colleges, and give the three affected departments the potential for higher visibility, increased growth and additional opportunities for collaboration within their new colleges. This reorganization within Academic Affairs adds no new administrative positions and is revenue-neutral.
The new Academic Affairs organizational structure will be as follows:
- The School of Education will become the College of Education and Human Services. The Department of Social Work will become the School of Social Work within the new College of Education and Human Services.
- The School of Science and Mathematics will become the College of Science and Technology. The Department of Applied Engineering, Safety and Technology will become part of the new College of Science and Technology.
- The Department of Geography will also become part of the new College.
- The School of Humanities and Social Sciences will become the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
- The College of Graduate and Professional Studies will become the College of Graduate Studies and Adult Learning.
The new organizational structure and realignment of our academic programs better support the mission and vision of Millersville University and Our Bold Path. Academic Affairs administration and staff will work closely with the departments impacted to ensure a smooth transition.
