Since the new chancellor, Dr. Randy Woodson, officially started at N.C. State, he has made several changes to the hierarchal system that was already in place. He has changed the system making it similar to Purdue University, as well as most of the universities in the UNC system.
Dr. Thomas Stafford, who has been the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at N.C. State University for 27 years, will no longer report directly to Chancellor Woodson. Instead, he will make his reports to the yet to be hired Provost.
According to Chancellor Woodson, he moved Dr. Stafford to reporting to the provost starting July 1, 2010 for several reasons including honesty in advertising the provost position as well as lessening the amount of direct reports to him.
“Here’s the bottom line, in advertising for the new provost, I want it to be as honest as possible. We had to move Dr. Stafford to reporting to the provost, so we could advertise the position and show what the person we hire as provost would be responsible for,” said Chancellor Woodson.
Dr. Stafford has about forty different University departments reporting to him. Some of these include the arts programs, like Center Stage and ARTS NC State, the ROTC programs, CSLEPS, University Scholars, Caldwell Fellows, and Campus Recreation.
Dr. Stafford said, “The primary reason that Chancellor Woodson changed certain parts of the hierarchal system is because he felt there were too many direct reports to him. He decided to reorganize a bit to relieve some of these direct reports.”
Along with Dr. Stafford, the dean of the graduate school and the director of institutional research will also be reporting to the provost instead of Chancellor Woodson.
“Making this change is not going to have a negative impact on the students, if it was, I wouldn’t do it. This change will make sure Student Affairs is an integral part of the university,” said Woodson. “We want to increase the retention rate of students as well as the graduation rates, and Student Affairs plays a big role in this. This will help us to focus our attention in Student Affairs on academic success.”
According to Woodson, N.C. State administration is categorized into four “silos.” They are academic affairs, business, research and engagement.
“These silos are organized along the four pillars of the University; therefore it is important for Student Affairs to be a part of the academic side of the University.” Woodson said, “I’m trying to get everything organized along those four pillars to make things run smoother.”
The current University hierarchal structure is set so that the inter-collegiate sports will report to the athletic director, who reports directly to the Chancellor. Intramural and club sports are under campus recreation and will report to Dr. Stafford.
Chancellor Woodson said, “The rearrangement of the hierarchal structure is coming from the fact that we want our organizational structure to be so that the success of the students is central to everything we do at the University.”
The provost is considered the chief academic officer under the Chancellor for the University. Currently, a search is underway for the new Provost. Marjory Overton, the chair for the faculty, is in charge of the search and targeting on-campus interviews to start in September.
“The provost has responsibility for all the deans, all the colleges, and therefore all the students and faculty,” said Woodson.
According to Chancellor Woodson, he has the most direct reports of any Chancellor in North Carolina and this rearrangement will alleviate some of that from him.
Woodson said, “I want to stress that this move is not showing a lack of support of the students at N.C. State, it’s showing the opposite. We want to make sure Student Affairs is an integral part of academic affairs and helping students succeed.”
Chancellor Woodson officially began work at N.C. State on April 5, 2010. With the rearrangement of the hierarchal system, Lee Fowler, the athletic director, stepping down from his position before the end of his contract, and the current legislative meetings, Woodson has been busy. He has also been traveling around North Carolina meeting with alumni from N.C. State and visiting places that will hire graduates. He has also testified for North Carolina’s Senate and House about the budget and the University’s need to continue to develop Centennial Campus.