In an effort to be more strategic with our approach to housing on campus, the operation of Residential Life has been split between the divisions of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.
Although students should not feel this change, the business aspects of residential life will fall under enrollment management and the student engagement and residential hall programming aspects will remain in student affairs. As searches are planned for a director of housing operations and a director of residential engagement, current Associate Director of Housing Josh Hettrick and Associate Director of Residential Life Jennifer Gould will manage additional duties.
According to Vice President of Enrollment Management Dan Forster, “As a leading residential campus, this move and related changes will better leverage the advantages of living on campus at Westfield State.” He explained that the residential experience needs to be a larger part of the value proposition we provide to prospective students. “A need for better marketing, a stronger emphasis on student engagement, and declining occupancy in our residence halls over the last few years played into the decision for this move to a more strategic overall approach and plan for residential living on campus.”