Vice Provost for Student Success

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jaye Padgett, professor of linguistics, as interim vice provost for the Division of Student Success, effective immediately. This appointment, which was made earlier this fall, formalizes the half-time position Jaye assumed in 2013 to focus on retention and time-to-degree. The interim appointment will continue through June 30, 2016, or until the career vice provost for student success appointment is made.

Jaye is uniquely qualified to undertake this important role as leader for the newly formed Division of Student Success. He has demonstrated exemplary campus leadership in numerous capacities, from his experience as the chair of the Academic Senate's Committee on Educational Policy, to his service as chair of the Linguistics Department, to his strong involvement in the academic life of Stevenson College. His appointment to this new position is a critical part of our broader strategy to strengthen student support in and out of the classroom.

As you know, two of my top priorities have been increasing retention rates for undergraduate students and enhancing academic pathways to help students graduate on time. I have been involved in many conversations on these topics across the campus community, and I have received significant feedback about how to strengthen our support for students and their academic achievement, both in the classroom and across student engagement programs. To spur these efforts, I realigned Retention Services, led by Assistant Vice Provost Pablo Reguerin, from Campus Life to the newly formed Division of Student Success. This realignment will refocus the Campus Life organization on student wellness, encompassing student health, Slug Support, sports and recreation, and student conduct.

As the campus prepares to increase undergraduate enrollment, requested by state lawmakers and committed to by the Office of the President, it is even more important to ensure that sufficient support is in place for students to be able to graduate on time and that such efforts are consistently coordinated with the work of our academic divisions.

Jaye earned a B.A. in linguistics and another one in Russian language from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1985. He received his Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1991 and was a visiting assistant professor for one year at Yale before joining our campus in 1992.

Information about the recruitment process for the position will be provided as available.

Please join me in thanking Jaye for taking on this critical role.