University Aligns Student Affairs With Provost’s Office to Bring Students Closer to Academic Mission

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Daniel J. Pugh Sr.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –The University of Arkansas is moving forward with plans to realign its student affairs operations within the Division of Academic Affairs in an effort to better address the needs of students both inside and outside the classroom, increase efficiency and streamline the administrative structure of the university.

As part of the realignment, Daniel J. Pugh Sr. has been permanently appointed to the newly designated position of vice provost for student affairs, effective April 1. In this role, Pugh will report to the provost and administer 326 full-time employees and more than 250 student employees on the student services staff, in addition to some 350 contract employees with Chartwells on the Fayetteville campus.

A special task force was appointed by Chancellor G. David Gearhart more than a month ago to review the structure, and it recommended the realignment.

“In order to continue strengthening our ‘students first’ ideal, our students need to be more closely aligned with the fundamental purpose of the academy,” said Gearhart. “I believe in the full integration of educating a student and that there should not be a division for educating students outside the classroom that is separate from a division responsible for education inside the classroom – each having different missions.

“By appointing Danny Pugh for this central leadership and student support role, we are elevating an admired professional with unquestioned dedication to students at the University of Arkansas,” he added. “Danny possesses exceptional leadership skills and has proven to be a superior manager of our large, complex student services operation. I have every confidence that he will seamlessly lead this realignment of services and he is the perfect choice to serve as our senior student affairs officer.”

In his new role, Pugh will essentially succeed Johnetta Cross Brazzell, who retired as vice chancellor for student affairs on Jan. 31 after 10 years service to the university. Through this realignment, the position of vice chancellor for student affairs will not be filled, resulting in an administrative cost savings of $162,038 annually.

Pugh, who will retain his appointment as dean of students, held since he joined the university in 2005, will assume his new designation within the provost’s office and continue serving on the chancellor’s executive committee.

Gearhart cited the fact that more than half of the nation’s colleges and universities – and two-thirds of all Southeastern Conference schools – have blended the student services and academic affairs units under one senior officer of the university. Through such an approach, the university is better equipped to integrate learning experiences in and out of the classroom, and also reduce duplication of services between the two divisions.

“We exist as a university to serve academic programs and help students graduate,” said Gearhart. “We need to have our student-specific functions inextricably linked to academic affairs, without exception. We need to look carefully at programs to determine their effectiveness in advancing our mission and the development of the student.”

Pugh will initially be charged with overseeing the realignment effort, and the university should benefit from his more than three years of experience with the division as associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students.

A native of Memphis, Tenn., Pugh earned a Bachelor of Science in communication and Master of Science in education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He earned a doctorate in higher education from the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia.

Prior to arriving at the University of Arkansas, Pugh served as dean of students and associate vice president for student life at Eastern Washington University from 2000 to 2005. He also has held positions as director of judicial programs at the University of Georgia, area coordinator of residence education at Virginia Tech University, and hall director at the University of Tennessee.

“I appreciate the confidence Chancellor Gearhart and Provost [Sharon L.] Gaber have shown in me,” said Pugh. “I am inheriting a strong team of professionals who value their work with students, and we all look forward to working closely with academic affairs in support of our students. The students’ success will continue to be the centerpiece of our efforts.

“On a personal as well as professional level, my family and I look forward to continuing to be part of the Razorback family,” he said.