The Office of the Dean of Students and Undergraduate Education (ODSUE) has been restructured into two new organizations, the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Education (DUE) and the Office of the Dean for Student Life (DSL).
The reorganization became effective July 1, the day Professor Robert P. Redwine assumed his position as dean for undergraduate education. Larry G. Benedict, the newly appointed dean for student life, will assume his duties on August 21. Dean Benedict and Dean Redwine will both serve on Academic Council.
"These changes were made to strengthen both student life and undergraduate education," said Chancellor Lawrence S. Bacow, to whom both new deans report. "By pulling the offices apart just a bit, the new dean for undergraduate education can focus on issues of educational policy while the dean for student life can focus on enhancing the co-curricular experience of our students. As a member of Academic Council, the dean for student life will also raise the visibility of student life issues at the highest levels of the administration. The two deans will work very closely as a team along with the dean for graduate students, Dr. Ike Colbert."
Associate Dean Kirk D. Kolenbrander will continue to act as interim dean for student life until Dean Benedict arrives.
Departments and offices that report to DUE include Academic Services, Admissions, Career Services and Preprofessional Advising, Minority Education, ROTC, Student Financial Services (including the Student Services Center), and Student Services Information Technology, formerly ODSUE-IT. This name change recognizes the broad responsibility that this office has for supporting student-related technology throughout the entire MIT community.
Departments and offices that report to DSL include Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation, the Campus Activities Complex and Office of Campus Dining, Counseling and Support Services, the MIT Card Office, and Residential Life and Student Life Programs. Betty Sultan, program administrator for student conflict resolution and discipline, and Robert Randolph, senior associate dean, also report to the dean for student life.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on July 12, 2000.