The Division of Student Life fosters student success by creating and promoting educationally purposeful services and activities within and beyond the classroom. The departmental program review process empowers departments within the Division of Student Life to critically evaluate their work and their effect on the UI student experience through a lens of continuous improvement. The University Housing & Dining (UHD) review took place in fall 2024. 

Recommendation #1

Increase and/or improve departmental staff support, development, and compensation.

Senior leadership at the University of Iowa needs to complete a comprehensive and detailed market salary analysis and adjust salaries in University Housing to more closely align to Big Ten peers and other units of similar scope and size.                                 

Year 1 action items

• Commission market study to include benchmarking with Big Ten peers in P&S position levels. Raise staff salaries as appropriate.
• Review of student staff level positions and comparison study of off campus rates and similar roles on-campus.
• Compile benchmark data for Merit salaries.

Success measures and updates

• Market study complete. Staff salaries raised as appropriate.
• Review complete. Use Big Ten peers, Iowa State, as base line.
• Have completed list of merit salaries and comparable by institutional type.

Recommendation #2

Review and Revise Student Experience

As student needs and interests change, providing a robust residential experience for living and learning is essential. Residence Education will review the currently residential curriculum model (REM) to determine if the structure meets the needs of students and campus partners, as well as being simple for resident assistants to implement. Additionally, modifications to the Living-Learning Community program (LLCs) will be developed to increase communication and efficacy of the program.                               

Year 1 action items

• Implementation of a REM review committee to examine the current components and recommend changes.
• Analysis of resident assistant (RA) feedback on REM.
• Analysis of student participation and completion of various REM components.
• Develop new first year seminar (FYS) style courses for LLCs.
• Implement annual signature events for LLCs.

Success measures and updates

• Revision of REM standards and requirements for RA staff. Inclusion of campus partners.
• Data driven choices on what components remain.
• Modification of requirements based on student need and interest.
• Development of new LLC FYS courses with faculty instructors.
• Marketable LLC events and programs students can count on as part of the LLC experience.

Recommendation #3

Review and Improve Internal Communication Efforts

Enhance internal communications and coalition building to foster a cohesive, transparent, and innovative work environment. Review communication efforts related to decision-making and develop stronger teams across the department.                        

Year 1 action items

• Take initial steps to begin a formal strategic planning process, utilizing the external review results from UHD to shape a comprehensive plan.
• Focus groups with housing staff to better understand what types of information and communication they are seeking from leadership.
• Revamp UHD Operations meetings to better forecast, plan, and implement changes. 

Success measures and updates

• Facilitator identified, process started, documents gathered.
• Focus groups held by positional type.
• Reformatted meeting agendas and participation.

Recommendation #4

Revise External Communication Practices and Coalition Building

Break down silos and strengthen partnerships to more effectively understand campus partner needs and more reliably relay decision making and policy implementation rationale.                         

Year 1 action items

• Strengthen the partnership between UHD and Enrollment Management/Admissions to align housing capacity with student demand.
• Inventory key external (to UHD) partnerships and create intentional timelines for meetings, information relays, and information exchanges.
• Create a easy to consume and understand fact sheet or viewbook of key UHD annual accomplishments and statistics to share with partners internal and external.

Success measures and updates

• Information shared in more timely manner that allows for sufficient planning for anticipated class sizes.
• Campus partners report a better understanding of who to contact with specific questions in UHD.
• More campus partners report an understanding of the goals, initiatives, and successes of UHD operations.

Recommendation #5

Administrative Positional Review and Realignment

Conduct an administrative positional review and realignment to ensure our staffing structure effectively supports summer camps and other key administrative needs and initiatives.                          

Year 1 action items

• Complete review of summer conference operations to assess for potential growth and determine staffing needs.
• Move breaker resetting duties from facilities staff to Residence Education student staff.

Success measures and updates

• Information shared in more timely manner that allows for sufficient planning for anticipated class sizes.
• Campus partners report a better understanding of who to contact with specific questions in UHD.
• More campus partners report an understanding of the goals, initiatives, and successes of UHD operations.

Recommendation #6

Develop Long Term Facilities Plan

Develop a 5-10 year plan for the ongoing upkeep and renovation plan for University Housing facilities.                         

Year 1 action items

• Formalize Mayflower facility upgrades and budget.
• Develop publication outlining facility projects and priorities to share with campus partners.

Success measures and updates

• Data used to inform choices for key Mayflower upgrades for next 3-5 years.
• Publication sent out to campus stakeholders identifying key projects and renovations. 

Recommendation #7

Financial Health and Operational Efficiency

Conduct a review of financial obligations and make recommendations for changes to continue to support the ongoing growth and needs of the campus population.

Year 1 action items

• Benchmark UHD financial practices against Big Ten peers to identify best practices and gaps.

Success measures and updates

• Benchmark report complete.