Pursuing the Unparalleled Student Experience
Division of Student Life
Impact Report 2023–2024
A Message from Vice President José-Luis Riera
Dear Blue Hens,
It has been an exciting and dynamic year for the Division of Student Life. I am thrilled to share with you that we officially launched our strategic plan: An Unparalleled Student Experience.
Our plan is based on five strategic priorities:
- Seamless student experience
- Racial equity and inclusion
- Student development for work, life and society
- Graduate student success
- Operational and organizational excellence
While our strategic plan is in its early stages, we already have tremendous momentum in these priority areas and are making a significant impact on the student experience. We are dedicated to supporting the success of each student from access through completion and into post-graduate achievement and adapting to the changing needs of our Blue Hens. This report highlights a few of the many initiatives and programs from the Division over the past academic year and establishes a solid benchmark for measuring our continued success.
I am so proud of what we have accomplished and I look forward to the opportunity to share with you in the coming years about the continued strides we have made to connect to our north star, creating an unparalleled experience for all Blue Hens.
Sincerely,
José-Luis Riera, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Life and Interim Chief Diversity Officer
Blue Hen Essentials
The newly created Center for Intercultural Engagement (CIE) opened in Fall 2023 with dedicated space for the first time addressing food insecurity through the creation of a Food and Supply Pantry. Over the course of this first year, the pantry was able to host 32 ordering sessions, operating generally every week classes were held, and filling 672 orders for students. Due to capacity, the Food and Supply Pantry can only serve about 35 students per week and after a few months of operation, the ordering form consistently reaches capacity within five minutes of opening, demonstrating high food insecurity and a need for Blue Hen Essentials.
The Division of Student Life provided other Blue Hen Essentials through the CIE and Student Advocacy & Support, including serving 280 students through the Mobile Food Pantry, assisting 33 students through the Swipe Out Hunger program, working with 16 students experiencing housing insecurity over academic breaks and approving 61 students for a long-term laptop loan through a partnership with Information Technology. Additionally, 277 appointments were made with the Clothing Coop, which provides free professional attire and gender-affirming clothing and accessories. Moving into 2024, these areas are looking to increase efficiency in management and operations to enhance capacity and better meet student needs in these areas.
There's no restriction, there's no red tape. It's just, if you need help, there's help for you. And I think that's very important.
Free Menstrual Product Program
Student Wellbeing opened the first Wellbeing Vending Machine in Perkins Student Center providing discounted health products, including emergency contraception, pregnancy tests, condoms, cough drops, thermometers and other assorted over-the-counter medication.
Additionally, the Free Menstrual Product program is about to expand into 10 more locations throughout the residence halls due to its initial success. One source of positive feedback about the program from a member of the UD community reads:
I don’t panic if I forget to pack products in my bag when I leave my house. My period is irregular and despite a tracker, it rarely starts on time. Knowing I can go into a bathroom on campus with a free supply helps me remain level headed in an otherwise uncomfortable moment.
5,000
Incoming students and more than 10,000 family members were welcomed between summer and winter New Student Orientation (NSO).
6,508
Total students moved in and 3,195 first-year students moved in over a two-day period.
2,278
Incidents of student concern were responded to by Student Advocacy & Support.
40,255
Student appointments were conducted at Student Health Services (SHS), a 7% increase from the previous year.
1,842
Unique students received direct clinical services from the Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD).
1st Full Year
The Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) provided embedded mental health services at the Associate in Arts satellite campuses.
Advancing Racial Equity and Inclusion Leadership
In support of the Advancing Racial Equity & Inclusion (AREI) strategic plan, the Division of Student Life fulfilled a key objective this year with the hiring of the Director for Advancing Racial Equity & Inclusion who is charged with ensuring the action items within the plan continue to be realized.
In its inaugural year, the director has established a strong foundation with deepening understanding of institutional dynamics, cultural contexts and developing key relationships serving as a primary focus to prepare for enacting future changes. Foundational work has involved identifying the values and needs related to racial equity within the Division, insight which will inform our vision for future initiatives.
Priority areas include anti-racism and bias training for evaluators and developing standardized rubrics and tools to ensure equitable access to resources. Additionally, anti-racist presentations and resources were developed to enhance departmental decision-making, including a glossary of terms related to equity and a compilation of educational materials on anti-racism in higher education. To supplement the work of the Director of Advancing Racial Equity & Inclusion, the Student Life Assessment, Data Analytics and Research (SLADAR) unit offered training around equity-centered assessment practices, as well as exploring existing Divisional data regarding the experiences of Black men, which served to illuminate areas of needed infrastructure and data management to support the goals of the Advancing Racial Equity & Inclusion strategic plan.
Equitable Access to Resources
AREI and SLADAR started developing standardized rubrics and tools to ensure fairness and equitable access to resources for students, such as the QUEST program and Seitz award.
Black Hair and Storytelling
Student Diversity & Inclusion (SDI) launched a signature Black History Month program, “Black Hair and Storytelling,” that brought in more than 100 students and connected them with resources on campus, as well as Black beauty and haircare products.
Cooking with SDI
Piloted “Cooking with SDI” events that gave students the opportunity to cook cultural foods and learn more about food insecurity.
Student Development for Work, Life & Society
In an ever-evolving world, Student Life strives to equip students with the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to thrive not just academically, but also in their personal and professional lives. Our approach illustrates our dedication to cultivating leaders who are not only prepared for the workforce but also committed to making a positive impact on society.
Micro-Internships
This academic year, we have expanded our initiatives through new interdepartmental partnerships and innovative methods to ensure that resources are accessible to all students. A notable collaboration between the UD Career Center (UDCC) and the College of Arts and Sciences Student Success Center led to the funding of 22 DoMore24 internship projects via the Parker Dewey platform and UDCC's BlueHensWork initiative. This partnership connected UD students with Delaware nonprofits, facilitating micro-internships focused on social media campaigns to promote DoMore24. By providing financial support for these typically unpaid opportunities, we have removed barriers to invaluable, career-focused experiential learning.
Blue Hens CARE and Intervene
In our commitment to fostering a supportive community, we also introduced “Blue Hens CARE and Intervene,” a homegrown bystander intervention program. Previously, the institution offered “Bringing in the Bystander,” an evidence-based program that did not resonate with our students. In response to feedback from the Fraternity & Sorority Leadership and Learning (FSLL) team, we developed a tailored program that better aligns with the unique context of UD students. This initiative not only empowers students to support one another but also reinforces our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive campus environment.
Career Readiness for Student-Athletes
The revamped Career Readiness Office within Student Services for Athletes successfully piloted career development programs while also establishing methods to track student athlete engagement in career services. This involved launching a winter internship program, a job shadowing program and a student-athlete alumni mentoring program.
Conflict Resolution Support
Community Standards & Conflict Resolution’s (CSCR) efforts have focused on the development and implementation of alternative resolution options, including mediation and restorative practices. These approaches have allowed us to address the complexity of student incidents with a more comprehensive approach, focusing not only on disciplinary outcomes but also on conflict resolution support and education.
Career Center on Canvas
12,789
Students utilized Career Center Canvas sites, resulting in 475,251 unique page views of learning content.
Business Operations Processes
Process improvements were evident on the Business Operations team. Beyond partnerships and collaboration within the division, Student Life’s Budget & Finance team partnered with IT for the Division’s first Dell bulk purchase implementing new processes, creating efficiencies and saving more than $5,600 in the first year. In addition, they partnered with Facilities, Real Estate & Auxiliary Services (FREAS) to create a more efficient process for Aramark Donations-in-Kind requests to help improve the student experience.
Parents Fund Tracking
In partnership with SL Philanthropy and Parent & Family Giving in Development & Alumni Relations (DAR), the Budget & Finance team implemented a more efficient, automated process for requesting, tracking and reporting on annual utilization of Parents Fund support. The Communications and Marketing team also worked with our DAR partners to optimize donor stewardship communications.
Employee Engagement Survey
To deeply understand and engage SL staff, the Gallup Q12 employee engagement survey was conducted in Spring 2024, garnering more than 80% participation. This data will be utilized in the next academic year to drive employee engagement efforts and staff development, investing in the people who work daily to create this unparalleled student experience.
New Leadership Hires
We hired several new prominent leadership positions in Student Life, including:
- Joy Allison, Director of Health Promotion and Prevention Education in Student Wellness and Health Promotion
- Philip Badaszewski, Executive Director of Residence Life & Housing
- Yadeira Burnett, Director of Residential Communities
- Jessica Ryan, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Leadership & Learning
- Whiquitta Tobar, Director of Advancing Racial Equity & Inclusion
- Sophie Tullier, Director of Student Life Assessment, Data Analytics & Research
Assessment Training
Student Life Assessment, Data Analytics and Research (SLADAR) launched two professional development opportunities for staff. We ran a concurrent UD cohort with the Student Affairs Assessment Leaders Open Course, as well as an equity-centered reading group, both during the spring semester. These opportunities afforded staff to be introduced to the basics of either assessment broadly or—for those with more familiarity with assessment—how to think about and include equity-centered approaches in their assessment work.
18,553
Views of the Student Life News Blog during the 2023–2024 academic year, adding 27 new posts after setting a goal of at least one blog post per week in Spring 2024.
7,192
Followers on the @udstudents Instagram and 766 followers on Threads, surpassing the 2023–2024 goals of 5,000 and 500 followers.
Graduate Student Lounge
In a continued effort to address the unique needs of graduate students, Student Life made an investment in this community by creating a Graduate Student Lounge, located within the University Student Centers. The lounge has become a vital facility, designed specifically to offer graduate students a space for both informal and formal gatherings. With its comfortable seating and practical amenities, the lounge supports the academic, social and personal needs of the graduate student body.
4,823
Total card swipes into the Graduate Student Lounge from 493 unique individuals between July 25, 2023 and April 17, 2024.
Graduate Support
Vice President for Student Life José-Luis Riera emphasized the institution’s commitment to supporting graduate students in a recent discussion about ongoing initiatives.
“The Division of Student Life, in very close partnership with the Graduate College, has certainly been laser-focused on how we support graduate students,” Riera explained. “We are becoming an institution and a Division of Student Life that, when we talk about students, we are thinking critically about both undergraduate and graduate students.”
Riera further highlighted the distinct needs of graduate students, acknowledging the critical role they play on campus. “Graduate students contribute to our campus in so many different ways. We recognize that their needs are different from undergraduates. Our goal is to create spaces where they feel a sense of belonging outside their department and can utilize the resources available to them.”
Fundraising
One of the most notable achievements is the $1.9 million raised for the Division, underscoring the increasing recognition of Student Life as a key priority. This success is also reflected in the direct efforts made in securing major gifts and strengthening donor stewardship.
Parent Giving saw a remarkable increase of $500K, and the Parents Fund experienced similar growth. Behind the scenes, invaluable work has been done to create a process for tracking Divisional fundraising. These efforts, both seen and unseen, lay a strong foundation for continued success and growth in the years to come.
$1.9M
Raised toward a goal of $850K from 5,019 donors (surpassed projected fundraising goal by 124%)
$168,129
Raised by the Division of Student Life on I Heart UD Giving Day, securing 1,465 donors. This accounted for 16% of all dollars raised during the program.
Staff Excellence
As we strive for excellence, our commitment to core values serves as the foundation for all that we do. These values—amplifying student voice, pursuing equity, fostering transformational collaboration, encouraging learning and innovation, and upholding integrity and respect—guide our interactions, inform our decision-making processes, and shape the collective culture within our organization. By embedding these principles into every aspect of our work, we create an environment that not only supports our mission and vision but also empowers us to achieve them in meaningful and lasting ways.
Excellence in the Classroom
35 total sections of 15 different courses resulting in 1,486 enrolled students taught by Student Life staff members.
2024 Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs, Honorable Mention from ACPA (College Student Educators International) and Diverse: Issues In Higher Education
2023 Campus Prevention Network (CPN) Seal of Prevention
This seal represents the highest standard for online prevention education and recognizes institutions making a measurable impact across areas including sexual assault prevention, alcohol and drug misuse, mental health and inclusion.
Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics Women’s Online Leadership Certificate Recipients
Karen AuYeung, University Student Centers
Christine Jehu, PhD, Center for Counseling and Student Development
Katie Kondrad, Business Operations
Kelli Murray, Orientation & Transition Programs
Debbie Rhodunda, Business Operations
Dr. Andrew Reisman, MD, FAMSSM, FAAFP, CAQSM, Student Health Services, recognized as a Fellow of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM). The designation of fellow was created in 2019 to recognize sports medicine physicians who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning, the advancement of the profession, service to AMSSM and leadership in their communities. Conferred on sports medicine physicians who meet specific academic, practice and service requirements, the Fellow designation can only be used by Fellows in good standing with the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. Currently only 100 physicians have received this designation.
Corrie Schmitt, MAJ, LMSW, Center for Counseling and Student Development, received the inaugural UD University-level Community Advocate Excellence Award.
Student Life Business Operations team received the UD HR Staff Excellence Award.
2024 American College Professional Association award winners
Outstanding New Professional: Jeremiah Steigleman, Residence Life & Housing
Outstanding Experienced Professional (4-9 years): Kristin Rolnick, Residence Life & Housing
Excellence in Service: Helen Ann Lawless, Strategic Wellbeing
Jessica Estok, Student Wellness and Health Promotion, received the Association of Recovery in Higher Education's (ARHE) Collegiate Recovery Award for Outstanding Service!
Zainab Shah, Student Advocacy & Support received a Compassionate Champion Award in the education category from the Family Services Cabinet Council, Trauma Matters Delaware and the Office of Governor Carney. The Compassionate Champion Awards recognize individuals and organizations providing exemplary trauma-informed services in Delaware.
Delaware Today Top Nurses for 2024:
Colleen Cresswell, BSN, RN, Student Health Services - Category: Ambulatory Care Nursing
Cherie Ward, MBA, MSN, RN, CEN, Student Health Services - Category: Advancing and Leading the Profession
Promotional Products (Professional)
First: University of Delaware; Egg Promotional Products; Abby Phillips, Student Life Communications & Marketing
Digital Campaigns (Professional)
Third: University of Delaware; Finals Week Coffee; Kirk Smith, Student Life Communications & Marketing
Signs/Banners (Professional)
Third: University of Delaware; Mental Health Walk Yard Signs; Ivan Avila, Student Life Communications & Marketing
Multi-Page Publications (Professional)
Third: University of Delaware; Path To Eggcellence Booklet; Abby Phillips, Student Life Communications & Marketing