Two offices on campus are planned to be re-named in January.

The two offices are the office of New Student Programs and the Student Community Service offices in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

Dan Nadler, the vice president of student affairs, put a notice in the University Newsletter, saying the New Student Programs office will be changed to the Office of New Student and Family Programs and the Student Community Service office will be renamed to the Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteerism.

Kimberlie Moock, the director of New Student Programs, said she was told in November that Eastern President David Glassman approved the name change.

Moock said she submitted the name and request for change to Nadler and Glassman because she felt it was important for the name change with the switch of the responsibilities.

“When approached by Dr. Nadler to consider adding family programming and support to the department mission, I jumped at the chance,” Moock said. “The opportunity to expand services to this important segment of the EIU community is very exciting.”

Moock said that she felt the extension of the office responsibilities is natural and the office is capable of leading the new initiatives.

Nadler said he transferred the responsibility of Parent’s Club to the office as well as the coordination of Family Weekend.

“This office name better delineates the mission of the unit and is also consistent with a growing national trend in the Student Affairs profession,” Nadler said. “The office will serve as primary coordinator for Family Weekend with the participation in and assistance from many others.”

Moock said the staff members in the office are excited about the change that the overall (consensus) was that the office has always focused on working with new student families.

“The change will allow us to support all families, not just first-time and will bring additional awareness to our services,” Moock said.

Moock said the office will have the same duties, but they will be expanding their institutional responsibilities. The responsibilities, Moock said, are to serve as a home for families and offer support, resources and events to enhance the family member and student experience.

The office will also coordinate family weekend, parents club, and implement outreach strategies that focus on building connections between Eastern and families, focusing on information and guidance.

“The department will serve as the coordinator for Family Weekend ensuring that the institution communicates the event effectively and that we support the departments providing activities and services,” Moock said.

Moock said the office recognizes that families are vital members of campus and critical to their students success, and that she feels the change reflects Eastern’s commitment to communicate, educate and support its families and students.

In regards to the name change of the Student Community Service office, Nadler said the change better portrays the mission of the office. He also said it is consistent with the growing national trend in the Student Affairs Profession.

“As a one of 77 institutions in the Country selected by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, NASPA, – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education to provide outstanding co-curricular learning experiences, it is imperative that we remain on the cutting edge,” Nadler said.

Mackenzie Freund can be reached at 581-2812 or at mgfreund@eiu.edu