SUU Conserves Resources With Administrative Reorganization
SUU moved to help accommodate the legislative-imposed budget cuts by
making significant changes in its Administrative Organization while at
the same time, moving toward the goal of growing its student body.
The reorganization announced in April includes the elimination of two
administrative positions, the appointment of two new vice presidents,
and the consolidation of several responsibilities of others.
"Our current fiscal challenges did not afford us the luxury to maintain
business as usual," says University President, Dr.
Steven Bennion.
Dr. Stuart Jones ('86 Political Science/Business),
after providing splendid leadership as Vice President for Advancement
and Regional Services for the past decade, left SUU in June to pursue
a similar position at Sonoma State University in northern California.
Dr. Sterling Church ('64 Education) announced
last semester that he will be taking early retirement later this year
from his role as Vice President of Student Services. Church gave more
than 30 years of service to SUU. Among his countless contributions, Church
played a pivotal role in the planning of the beautiful Sharwan Smith Center
which serves as a central facility for meeting many students' needs. He
was the mentor to 30+ student body presidents.
"With two major leadership positions becoming vacant, we determined
it would be wise to appoint their replacements in a timely fashion and
consolidate other administrative positions, thus allowing us to redeploy
scarce resources to meet our most pressing priorities," Bennion explains.
 Thus,
Georgia Beth Thompson has been appointed the
new Vice President of Student Services. A longtime leader at SUU who has
served as associate vice president of student services for many years,
Thompson is a strong and seasoned advocate for the needs of students.
Georgia Beth understands the importance of academic quality and the need
to provide students with superb curricular and extra-curricular experiences.
As a leader both on campus and off campus (she currently serves on the
Cedar City Council), she will bring seasoned leadership to this pivotal
assignment, undoubtedly building on the strengths of SUU.
 Mark
Barton ('96 M.Education) will serve as Vice President for Advancement
and Regional Services where he will oversee development, alumni relations,
and other programs. Barton's 20+ years of service at the University include
most recently his time as assistant vice president of student services.
Mark has been directly involved with the recruitment of students since
he began at SUU. He and his student service colleagues have helped the
University to more than triple enrollment during this time. His passion
and excitement about the University is genuine and enthusiastic. First
on his agenda, Mark will surely work effectively with a splendid advancement
team to help SUU successfully reach our Capital Campaign goal of $42 million.
 SUU's
new provost took office in mid-July. Dr. Abe Harraf,
previously a professor of management and economics and academic dean at
Embry Riddle University in Florida, brings impressive experience and expertise
to SUU. Harraf strengthened the business administration program at Embry
Riddle, tripled its graduate enrollment within a five-year period, and
spearheaded the creation of an Executive MBA degree. He led the reaccreditation
of such programs as Aeronautical Science, Business and Engineering Physics,
and played a strong role in broadening the liberal arts and science offerings
at Embry. A seasoned academic leader and administrator, a first-rate teacher
and scholar in business management and economics, and a strategic planner,
Harraf's open communication, participatory leadership style and financial
planning skills will be of major benefit. Born and reared in Iran, Harraf
came to America nearly a quarter of a century ago with a bachelor's degree
in English. He earned an MBA and a master's in education in Texas before
undertaking a doctoral program in economics at Utah State University.
 A
huge Thank You is due to Dr. Carl Templin, dean
of the College of Business and Technology, who served as Interim Provost
this past year. Carl has done a tremendous job of representing faculty
and leading the complex reaccreditation process.
 Dale
Orton ('99 M.Education) will execute the responsibilities for financial
aid, the registrar's office, admissions and school relations in his new
role as Assistant Vice President for Student Services. Dale was the director
of admissions before his new appointment.
 Dr.
Neal Cox, dean of students for the past two years, will also take
over as Associate Vice President for Students Services, assuming the additional
responsibilities of student housing and discipline.
 To
complete the shift in responsibilities and to streamline efforts, the
University will consolidate the former marketing, recruitment and retention
committees into a single enrollment management committee to be chaired
by Dean O'Driscoll ('83 Communication and Physical
Education). Dean, also the director public relations and marketing, will
take on some other additional duties in his expanded role as assistant
to the president for university relations.
President Bennion is pleased with the opportunities presented in this
reorganization to free up some badly-needed resources for the recruitment
and retention of students while being able to take advantage of the talents
of several people who have been serving the University for a long time.
"We live in a fast changing world," the University leader states.
"To meet important and compelling institutional priorities with fewer
people will require enhanced effort and cooperation. I am delighted and
proud of the existing qualified and dedicated personnel who are willing
to step forward to meet these important University challenges."
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