The Office of Student Affairs has changed its name to the Office of Student Life. The name change was initiated by President E. Gordon Gee, who believes that the new name is a more accurate description of what the office does.

The name change reflects the mission of the office, which is to “foster student learning and development by providing the highest quality programs and services that enhance students’ educational experiences and that prepare students to be contributing members of a diverse society,” according to the office’s Web site.

“The services and programs evolve over time to meet the current needs of students and the university community, and this name change is simply a better way to convey what we do,” said Ruth Gerstner, director of communication for Student Life.

The focus of the departments in the Office of Student Life is to help students have the best possible total college experience at Ohio State.

“It signals a more complete focus on the well-being of our students, one which acknowledges that Ohio State is very much our students’ home during their time here, and also acknowledges our obligation to provide an environment in which all students can grow and thrive, in the classroom and outside it,” Gee said to faculty in a May speech. We have at Ohio State an opportunity to create a true collegiate experience. This is an unprecedented notion among large public universities. We can, and will, accomplish it here,” he said.

In some sense the functions will change in the ways they always have, whether it is updating food options in Campus Dining Services, adding staff at Counseling and Consultation Services or creating a personal financial advising component at the Student Wellness Center.

Student opinion on the matter varied.

Vanessa Roig, a junior in English, is excited about the change.

“Despite the sudden name change, I believe that this office’s initiative – to help students have the best possible college experience – will continue to be their first priority,” said Vanessa Roig, a junior in English.

Other students were surprised to learn of the new name.

“Really? I had no idea that the name changed,” said Daniel Kennedy, a senior in Italian.

Student Life’s location will not change. Student Life has 30 departments in a number of locations-RPAC, Pomerene, Younkin, 33 W. 11th Avenue, the Schottenstein Center, the Blackwell, Fawcett Center, and all the residence and dining hall locations, Gerstner said. This list also includes the Ohio Union, temporarily located in Ohio Stadium, and some administrative offices in Lincoln Tower.

“We certainly have a major leadership role in meeting President Gee’s strategic goal of putting students first and that will result in some exciting new initiatives, such as the $200 million renovation of residence halls and the opening of a new Leadership and Service Center,” Gerstner said.

Gerstner said the name change is really a reflection of changes that are already in the works. She also said there are always personnel changes in an operation this large, but none are anticipated as a direct result of the name change.

Vice President of Student Life Richard Hollingsworth has announced his retirement effective Jan. 3, 2009 and a search is currently ongoing to find a replacement, whose office will be located in the new Ohio Union when it opens in 2010.

Caitlin Coyle can be reached at [email protected].