In an email sent to staff and faculty Monday afternoon, May 18, 2026, Eastern Michigan University President Brendan Kelly announced a plan to create a separate Division of Student Affairs at the university.
Formerly housed together under the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, there will now be two distinct divisions, part of a plan to advance a student-first strategy for the university, Kelly said.
The Division of Academic Affairs will include the university's five academic colleges, the Halle Library, the Honors College and the office of Graduate Studies and Research, Interim Provost David Schecter said in an email to staff and faculty shortly after Kelly's email. It will also retain advising and tutoring functions, the Faculty Development Center, Institutional Research and Information Management, and functions associated with accreditation. Additionally, it will continue to act as the administrative liaison with the Faculty Senate and the AAUP and EMUFT unions, Schecter said.
The Children's Institute will also remain in the Academic Affairs Division, but will report to the dean of the College of Education, Schecter said. The Office of Records and Registration will move to Enrollment Management in the coming weeks.
The Student Affairs Division will house Campus Life, Counseling and Psychological Services, Housing and Residential Life, the Dean of Students Office, the Office of International Students and Scholars, the REC/IM, the Student Centers and other student affairs programming.
"This transition reflects our belief that student success outcomes at EMU must improve significantly if we are to fully realize our commitment to providing a first-choice student experience. While academic excellence remains foundational to our mission, higher education today requires a far more integrated and holistic approach to student development, engagement, persistence, and completion," Kelly said in the email. "For that reason, I believe separating Student Affairs from Academic Affairs at this moment in EMU'S evolution is both timely and necessary."
The restructuring brings changes to personnel in these divisions. Current Chief Access and Opportunity Officer Dwight Hamilton will become interim chief student affairs officer, effective June 1, 2026, Kelly said in his email.
Effective May 31, 2026, current Interim Assistant Vice President of Academic Budgeting and Operations Steve Pernecky will return to faculty in the chemistry department, Interim Associate Provost and and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Programming Doris Fields will return to faculty in the Communication, Media and Theatre Arts school, and Special Associate to the Provost Sherry Bumpus will return to faculty in the School of Nursing, Schecter said in the email.
Current Associate Vice President for Student Success and Academic Support Services Calvin McFarland will leave the university and move on to other opportunities at the end of the month, Schecter said.
James Carroll, currently the associate provost and vice president for academic budget and operations, will become vice provost, in an expanded role, Schecter said.
In his email, Interim Provost Schecter said that he takes full responsibility for decreasing his administrative staff.
"Dr. Kelly has received his charge from the Board of Regents, and it includes clear objectives related to increasing enrollment, focusing on the student experience, and ensuring financial stability and increased efficiency. I believe the University is at an important crossroads in its history and if we do not make some necessary changes now, changes are likely to be made for us in the future," Schecter said in the email.
Schecter assumed post as interim provost in mid-April, with former Provost Rhonda Longworth moving to a faculty position May 1, 2026.
The focus on student experience and increasing enrollment echoes the goals Kelly has laid out since entering office April 1, 2026. In an interview with The Eastern Echo, he said there are typically changes in leadership when a new presidential administration begins at a university.
"As we go through the coming months, there will be other transitions, both in how we are organized and who is in service to the university, because the goals that are set for this institution are set by the Board of Regents, and when they set those goals, we have to make sure we put the right team on the field to achieve those goals," Kelly told The Echo April 29.
These personnel changes follow other recent staffing changes, including changes in the human resources department and the provost and chief of staff positions.
