A Message from President Aceves: The Student Journey

Dear Colleagues, 

Last autumn, I had the privilege of engaging with many students across all our programs, in a series of illuminating conversations with over 200 residential students who are primarily (though not exclusively) traditional undergraduates. The conversations were not only rich in detail but highly inspiring and informative. Throughout these discussions, students consistently emphasized the sacred relationship between faculty and themselves, revealing the potential for critical learning beyond the traditional classroom setting. This insight helped me to formulate a series of questions: Can we do more to help students experience a Regis journey that integrates all their curricular and co-curricular activities? If so, how? Above all, can we reshape the student experience into a seamless journey? 

In pursuit of answers, I initiated conversations with Presidents of other AJCU institutions and discovered that a significant number of our sister schools have integrated their Student Affairs and Academic Affairs units. Additionally, I consulted with my Senior Leadership Team, faculty from each of the colleges, and staff from across the university. These conversations helped me focus on how to better serve our students. In contemplating the appropriate structure for the Student Affairs unit at Regis University at this time, we will be integrating the co-curricular, student-facing activities from Student Affairs into the Academic Affairs unit. Simultaneously, we will integrate auxiliary services, campus safety, and revenue-producing activities and units with business operations and other institutional supporting units, enhancing organizational efficiency, synergy, and effectiveness.

I am deeply aware that our Student Affairs Office currently serves our students with care and expertise. Therefore, this organizational shift can only occur in the context of a collective planning effort strengthening the "student-affairs" and "co-curricular" aspects of our service to students. Likewise, we need to augment clear lines of communication and intentional collaboration between Academic/Student Affairs, on the one hand, and the operational units of the University, on the other. We do not want the "business" side of our operations to get in the way of our students' education. Through my own discernment and prayer, I realize that developing organizational efficiency and effectiveness is not a final or primary goal, but a way to strengthen our programs to better serve our students by ensuring that those who foster their education –faculty and staff – are supported and aligned in their work. I would like the outcome of our organizational efficiency and effectiveness to inform where we invest our resources in strengthening existing programs and in developing new programs that provide a truly holistic approach to caring for and accompanying students along their journey.

Setting an effective integration date of May 1, I've asked Dr. Bucher, Dr. Wilcots, Dr. Kumar, and Ms. Morris—all members of the Student Journey governance group – to take a lead role in planning for this transition. Likewise, I will enlist the wisdom and guidance of our Mission team, University Advancement, Human Resources, and faculty and staff throughout the university. We look to all in our community for ideas and opportunities seen in the new structures. Therefore, I am asking you, my colleagues, to please join me in reimagining the student journey as we move together toward the future we envision for our university, and especially for our students. 

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our shared mission.

Kindly,

Salvador D. Aceves, Ed.D

President