Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Dean of Students

About Vice Chancellor Dr. Karen Whitney

• Profile
• Vitae
• Accomplishments 1999-2009
• Communication and Reputation
• Outcomes and Achievements
• Strengths, Weaknesses, and Effectiveness
• Futurefolio

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Profile

Karen Whitney is the Vice Chancellor for the Division of Student Life and Dean of Students and has been at IUPUI since 1999. She holds degrees in a variety of fields: a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Houston, a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Houston, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), the American College Personnel Association (ACPA), the Coalition of Metropolitan Universities, and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). She is engaged in serving several civic organizations, some include, the BOS-Community Development Corporation, Indiana Avenue Cultural District, the Spirit & Place Festival, and the Indianapolis Retirement Home Fund.

The Vice Chancellor of the Division of Student Life provides leadership to several administrative units and initiatives across academic, administrative, and support units to focus and enhance campus efforts regarding community and engagement. Karen researches, writes, and presents in the areas of higher education finance, administration, legal issues, student development, and student facilities.

How long have you been on campus and with Student Life?
Since 1999

Favorite thing about working for the Division of Student Life at IUPUI...
Working with students to make student life at IUPUI even better.

Favorite spot on campus...
The Campus Center

Favorite job responsibilities/duties...
Improving what we do for students; building new student housing and solving problems.

When I'm not at work I'm...
Usually at home with my dog Max and my partner Peggy.

Favorite campus/Student Life event...
Commencement

Strengths Quest Top Strengths...
Individualization
Activator
Responsibility
Strategic
Learner

• Download the Vice Chancellor of Division of Student Life's official position description

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Vitae

• Download Karen Whitney's vitae in PDF format

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Accomplishments 1999-2009

Engagement

• Leadership
  • Developed & Advanced Division: Mission/ Values/ Goals and Objectives
    1. View the Current Division Strategic Plan
    2. 2007-2008 SLD Annual Report
• Monitoring/Outcomes
  • The Division of Student Life & Diversity management team meets monthly to review and monitor progress of the Division Strategic Plan.

Community

Effectively representing the unit to persons outside the unit.

• Internationally
  • The Mexico Program, served as Program Director and Program Faculty
• Nationally
  • NASPA (National Association For Student Personal Administrators)
  • Faculty member for the Manicur Symposium
  • Mosby Institute: Served as Institute Faculty
  • National Association of State and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) Council on Student Affairs, Executive Committee (2009-2010)
  • Senior Student Affairs Officers Symposium of ACPA (American College Personnel Association), Chair
• Regionally
  • North Central Association, Evaluation Consultant
  • Indiana Student Affairs Association, President (2007-2008)
• Locally
  • BOS Community Development Corporation, Chair of the Board of Directors
  • Indianapolis Retirement Home Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, Fund Advisory Committee Chair
  • Spirit & Place Festival, Board Secretary
  • Human Society of Indianapolis, Board Member

Best Practices

• Teaching
  Teach at least one course in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Programs annually.
  
  Courses taught include:
  • Legal Issues In Higher Education
  • Introduction to Higher Education Administration
• Research
  "Metropolitan/Urban University Approach To Residential Learning Communities: Building Community One Building At A Time"
  Karen M. Whitney, Ph.D.
  
  Abstract:
  Naming 23 new campus houses provided an opportunity to remember and recognize our culturally rich history and heritage by celebrating our campus heroes, community leaders, and major donors. More than just names on buildings this approach involves the family and friends of the honorees. Naming of the houses is one example of our institutional efforts to increase the campus climate for diversity, increasing campus pride and strengthening our connection to the metropolitan area. Download the full article.

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Communication and Reputation

The Division is perceived by faculty and staff, IU, Indiana, nationally, and internationally as an exemplary student serving division and a campus educational partner.

Awards Received to Date

Departmental Awards
• Campus & Community Life received the Joseph Taylor Symposium Award in 2004
• Adaptive Education Services received the Easter Seals Award for Contributions to Higher Education for People with Disabilities in 2005
• Housing & Residence Life received a 2004 Monumental Affair Award for Excellence in Design, Development, Construction, and Engineering and Beautification of Indianapolis. They received first place for Downtown Development, and 2nd place for Construction.
• Housing & Residence Life's Campus Apartments on the River Walk received an Award of Merit in the Residential/Housing category from Midwest Construction Magazine in 2005.
• IUPUI Democracy Plaza was the 2007 Gold Award Winner of the NASPA Excellence Award, category of "Careers, Academic Support, Service Learning, Community Service and related."
• The Campus Center has won two national awards for its design:
  1. American Institute of Architects, Maryland State component, Honor Award for Excellence in Design
  2. American Institute for Architects, Northern Virginia, Award of Excellence for Institutional Architecture
• The Campus Center was featured in ACUI Bulletin (January 2009, p. 19)
Individual Awards
• Frank Ross, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life & Diversity, received NASPA's Promoting Practice Award for First Year in FLASH in 2005
• Frank Ross, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life & Diversity, received the NASPA Region IV-E Outstanding Mid-Level Student Affairs Professional Award in 2004
• Michelle Verduzco, Director of Campus & Community Life, received IUPUI's Glenn W. Irwin Jr. M.D. Experience Excellence Award in 2005
• Katie Busby, Director of Assessment and Evaluation, Division of Student Life & Diversity, won a NASPA research grant on behalf of the DART assessment group
• Julie Lash, Associate Director of Counseling and Psychological Services, received the IUPUI Outstanding Woman Full Time Staff Leader Award in 2004
• Nicole Oglesby was awarded the 2007 Advocate of the Dream award during the 38th Annual MLK Dinner
• Robert W. Aaron, Director of Assessment and Planning, was elected to the directorate of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Commission for Assessment and Evaluation (2008-2011)
• Karen M. Whitney, Vice Chancellor for Student Life, served as the 2007-2008 President of the Indiana Student Affairs Association
• Frank Ross, Assistant Vice Chancellor, was selected as a Chair for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) 2009 national conference, to be held in Seattle
• Karen M. Whitney, Vice Chancellor for Student Life, was appointed to the executive committee for the National Association of State and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) Council on Student Affairs (2009-2010)
• Tralicia Lewis, Director for the Office of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, was appointed state representative for Indiana with the Association for Student Conduct Administrators (ASCA) in 2008
• Michelle Verduzco, director of SL&GE received La Plaza's Hispanic American Service Award for Community Leadership in April 2009 at the Annual Night of the Americas
• Karen M. Whitney, Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Dean of Students, was appointed the chair of the Senior Student Affairs Officers Symposium of the American College Personnel Association in 2009

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Outcomes and Achievements

• 2001-2002 Highlights
• 2002-2003 Highlights
• 2003-2004 Highlights
• 2004-2005 Highlights
• Doubling the Numbers: Diversity Taskforce 2004
• Doubling Diversity Annual Report - 2005
• 2006-2007 Highlights
• 2007-2008 Annual Report
• 2007-2008 Highlights
• 2008-2009 Highlights

Other Documents

• 2004-2005 Affirmative Action Report
• Lessons Learned Regarding the Financing, Design, Construction and Operation of A New Housing Project at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Division of Student Life & Diversity, IUPUI: Highest Priorities 2004 – 2005

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Strengths, Weaknesses, and Effectiveness

Evidence

• Fall 2004 Division Review
• Response to the Fall 2004 Division Review
• Spring 2006 Administrative Review of Karen M. Whitney

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Futurefolio

Goals and Objectives for 2005 - 2010

Completed:

• Open the Campus Center - 2008
• Develop a next-generation division strategic plan by mid 2006
• Develop a global student cultural enrichment and leadership/civic engagement study abroad program by 2007

In progress:

• Complete Campus Center Fundraising Campaign – Target completion 2010
• Complete Ball Garden Campaign Fundraising – Target completion 2010
• Plan, design, construct and open the next 400 campus housing beds – Target completion, 2011
• Plan, design and raise funds for a student health, wellness, and recreation facility – Target completion 2014
• Continue To Advance The Campus Diversity Plan
• Continue to make increasing contributions to the IU School of Education Higher Education Student Affairs program
• Provide leadership and executive management as designated by the Chancellor

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