Running Head: RWU ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS 1

Roger Williams University Organizational Analysis

Emily Hyde

Bridgewater State University

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Introduction

Located in beautiful Bristol, RI, Roger Williams University (RWU) is an

institution that empowers students to make a positive impact on the world. The primarily

residential campus provides students the opportunity to study many different academic

areas, such as law and architecture. While academics are a priority, the division of

Student Life at RWU focuses on developing students in all aspects of life. With over

eighty clubs, organizations, and club sports, the university encourages student

involvement and leadership on campus (C. Sacchetti, personal communication,

November 2, 2018).

This organizational analysis will include insights from three key administrators in

the division of Student Life at RWU. The first will be from a senior-level employee, Dr.

John King, the Vice President for Student Life. The second will be from a mid-level

employee, Ms. Carol Sacchetti, the Director of Student Programs & Leadership. The final

insight will come from an entry-level employee, Ms. Kate Stewart, Staff Psychologist.

The content of this analysis will be primarily based upon insight gathered from these

administrators through on-campus and phone interviews.

RWU takes great pride in its Division of Student Life. The division of Student

Life’s mission statement (see Appendix A) captures the goals of the division to develop

students holistically in order “to become life-long learners who contribute to an equitable

society” (The Division of Student Life Mission, n.d.). The division of Student Life

includes the following departments: Athletics, Counseling & Student Development,

Student Programs & Leadership, Health Services, Conferences, Student Conduct &

Conflict Resolution, Intercultural Center, Residence Life & Housing, Dining, Public
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Safety, Transportation, Health Education/AOD Prevention, Student & Family Assistance,

and Title IX. All departments within the division of Student Life report either directly to

Dr. John King or to Dr. Lisa Landreman, the Assistant Vice President and Dean of

Student Life. Dr. Landreman then reports directly to Dr. King (The Division of Student

Life Organizational Chart, 2018). Recently, staff members from all departments of the

division of Student Life were invited to attend a retreat. The goal of the retreat was to

update the mission statements of each department within the division of Student Life

using input from staff in all areas (J. King, personal communication, November 2, 2018).

These updated mission statements give a renewed sense of purpose to the departments

within the division.

Dr. John King

Dr. John King has been in his current role as Vice President for Student Life for

the past fifteen years. Prior to working at RWU, he spent time working at College of the

Holy Cross and Stonehill College. Dr. King’s days are mostly spent attending to the

needs of the departments he supervises, strategic planning for the university, and taking

on positions in vacancy (i.e. he is currently the acting director of conferences since that

position is vacant). Additionally, Dr. King is a cabinet member, sits on task forces, and

reports to the board of trustees and to the president (J. King, personal communication,

November 2, 2018).

Within his role, King recognizes the importance of belonging to professional

organizations and following industry standards. Such organizations provide opportunity

to seek professional development and consistency within the field. King has been a

member of NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, since he was in

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graduate school and has held positions in NASPA Region I (such as conference chair).

King cited the importance of the Student Learning Imperative and the impact of student

learning outside of the classroom. He also noted that he periodically reviews the areas of

the CAS standards (J. King, personal communication, November 2, 2018).

King’s position sets the tone for how Student Life is perceived on campus, and

what its mission and goals are. As the Senior Student Affairs Officer (SSAO), King has

an obligation to do right by all students, faculty, and staff at RWU. While his specific

office may not host student programs and events, the division of Student Life

encompasses many offices and employees who engage directly with students on a regular

basis.

Ms. Carol Sacchetti

Ms. Carol Sacchetti has been the Director of Student Programs and Leadership for

the past eight years. She is the university’s longest acting director. She previously worked

in Residence Life & Housing and has her Master’s degree in organizational

communication. Sacchetti works very closely with student organizations, clubs, and club

sports in her role as director. She oversees Homecoming, Weeks of Welcome,

Orientation (including the supervision of 42 orientation advisors), the campus radio

station, and has stepped in as a coach for a club team (C. Sacchetti, personal

communication, November 2, 2018).

Sacchetti’s days are very full at RWU. She can often be found in staff meetings,

preparing for events, and having one-on-one meetings with student leaders on campus.

Her job often requires her to stay late at work for club meetings or special events, but she

does not mind because helping students succeed and develop is her passion. She is
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always asking herself how she can further help students. Given her position and how long

she has been at RWU, Sacchetti acknowledges that she is in a leadership role on campus

and is always mindful that she uses that influence for the betterment of students (C.

Sacchetti, personal communication, November 2, 2018).

Similar to King, Sacchetti belongs to professional organizations and follows

standards consistent with the field in order to stay up to day with best practices. Since

most of her day-to-day tasks involve student programs, Sacchetti is closely affiliated with

the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA). She follows CAS standards for

advising and orientation, and follows Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

guidelines for her work with the campus radio station. When she worked in housing, Ms.

Sacchetti was involved with the Northeast Association of College and University

Housing Officers (NEACUHO) and the Association of College and University Housing

Officers – International (ACUHO-I) (C. Sacchetti, personal communication, November

2, 2018).

Sacchetti and the Office of Student Programs and Leadership are integral

components of the division of Student Life at RWU. The office puts on countless events

each semester to engage students on campus. Some notable events include Homecoming

and Family Weekend, Late Night Breakfast, Weeks of Welcome, New Student

Convocation, Commencement, Campus Ball, and Mr. RWU (which raises money for the

Children’s Miracle Network). The office takes pride in the fact that it directly interacts

with students from orientation to commencement (C. Sacchetti, personal communication,

November 2, 2018). Sacchetti and the Office of Student Programs and Leadership are
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essential to the overall experience of a student’s time at RWU and are thus an incredibly

important part of the division of Student Life.

Ms. Kate Stewart

Ms. Kate Stewart has been a Staff Psychologist at RWU for the past few months.

At RWU, the Center for Counseling and Student Development falls under the umbrella of

Student Life. In her current role, Ms. Stewart conducts individual therapy sessions,

coordinates the group therapy program, supervises graduate interns, and wants to seek out

collaboration with the Queer and Trans Resource and Advocacy Center (K. Stewart,

personal communication, November 2, 2018).

While Ms. Stewart’s position and the Center for Counseling and Student

Development fall under the division of Student Life, she follows different standards and

belongs to different professional organizations than traditional student affairs

professionals would. Ms. Stewart is unfamiliar with NASPA and its competencies.

However, Stewart does follow guidelines set by the American Psychological Association

(APA). The APA coordinates licensing, continuing education, conferences, and

assessments of college and mental health that are vital to the efficiency of Ms. Stewart’s

position and department (K. Stewart, personal communication, November 2, 2018).

Stewart and the Center for Counseling and Student Development recognize the

obligation they have to the division of Student Life and the greater RWU community to

provide outreach regarding mental health. Mental health among college students is an

incredibly important topic of concern for today’s student affairs professionals. Stewart

and the Center for Counseling and Student Development strive to reach out to various

faculty, staff, students, organizations, and departments on campus to collaborate for

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programs and events that will educate students about ways to combat struggles with

mental health. The department offers training for Student Life personnel, especially

Residence Life and Housing staff, for topics such as suicide prevention. They also partner

with health services to combat issues such as eating disorders, and outreach to student

athletes for mindful meditation. The office outreaches to the Intercultural Center,

international students, and Student Accessibility Services. Stewart and the Center for

Counseling and Student Development provide primary support for students in academic

and social distress. Their role in Student Life is to assist students and educate the

community at large about mental health, and to provide faculty and staff with the

knowledge and resources they need in order to best serve students (K. Stewart, personal

communication, November 2, 2018). Stewart strives to educate students holistically and

help them become the best people they can be, thus her position is a critical component of

Student Life at RWU.

Conclusion

The division of Student Life at RWU is focused on developing the holistic student

(The Division of Student Life Mission, n.d.). The offices and departments within the

division support that mission through the programs, best practices, and outreach that they

provide to students. The three administrators cited in this analysis provide a snapshot of

some of the ways that the division of Student Life at RWU impacts the lives of its

students and community members.

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References

Roger Williams University. (n.d.). The division of student life mission. Retrieved from

https://www.rwu.edu/undergraduate/student-life/about-student-life

Roger Williams University (2018). The division of student life organizational chart.

Print.
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Appendix A

The Division of Student Life Mission

With a focus on students' holistic development, the Division of Student Life partners with

students, staff, and faculty to cultivate diverse and thriving communities. We provide

support, mentorship, educational initiatives, and opportunities for identity exploration and

leadership development to foster students' academic success, well-being, and capacity to

become life-long learners who contribute to an equitable society.