The Office of Student Affairs has created a new administrative position that university officials hope will allow Vice President for Student Affairs Juan C. Gonzalez more time for direct student interaction.

The new Associate Vice President of Student Affairs will assume many of Gonzalez’s current responsibilities, including the supervision of Center for Minority Educational Affairs, MBNA Career Education Center, the Office of Student Conduct and other student life programs.

Gonzalez said the new position will allow him to focus less on the day-to-day operational tasks of the office, and give him more time for direct student contact.

“My energy, my mission is driven by students,” Gonzalez said. “Right now, I’m pressed in so many different directions . I hope to be freed up to spend more time with students.”

Assembled by Gonzalez, the search committee will begin advertising the position this week, and applicants will be interviewed in March. By April 1, 2002, the committee plans to present Gonzalez with its recommendations. Gonzalez will make the final decision from the finalists presented by the committee.

The committee will be chaired by Government Professor Anthony Arend and includes three representatives of the Student Affairs Office, faculty and student body, and one representative from the President’s Office, Campus Ministry, the Jesuit Community and the Athletic Department.

The salary of the position has yet to be determined, but Gonzalez said the money will be taken from university funding, not from the budgets of student clubs or organizations.

Gonzalez said the ideal candidate for the position must have a “commitment to creating an organization to the learning that takes place outside the classroom.”

Over the next few years, funds for student clubs and organization will be increased through the student activities fee and the Third Century Campaign. Gonzalez has recently committed to raising $3 million dollars specifically for student clubs and organizations.

“I have a greater responsibility to ensure that the graduate students are taken care of, and I have a desire, a goal to raise funds for Student Affairs.”

Gonzalez has also requested that candidates have at least eight years of higher education leadership experience, a doctorate degree and previous experience in supervising student affairs departments.

Gonzalez said he has been hoping to create this position since his arrival in May 2000.

“I hesitated to do this last year because I wanted to really get a good feel for this campus,” he said.

Another search committee, appointed by University President John J. DeGioia, is currently looking for an individual to fill Provost Dorothy Brown’s position when she retires at the end of the academic year. Chaired by Professor Joseph Neale, the committee includes 14 faculty members, three students and a representative from A.T. Kearney, a nationwide search firm.