A new Residential Life Director may be identified as soon as next week, as the search committee has only one candidate left to interview. Out of approximately 45 initial responses to the nationally advertised vacancy, four candidates have been identified from various institutions and backgrounds. Once the committee has made a recommendation to the administration, the University will engage in negotiations to secure the applicant.
Associate Dean of Students Marisel Perez chairs the committee and said that the results so far had been excellent. "They all have experience in the living and learning environment," Perez said. "This is one of the most important aspects that we're looking for in a candidate."
According to Perez, the three out-of-state candidates are from Ohio, Alabama, and North Carolina. The other is from a "local, large university." All are at the Associate or Director level in their respective residential life programs, but only one is from a private institution.
Each of the four candidates has spent a day at Tufts with students, administrators, and residential life staff members. Many of the RAs and administrators will provide the search committee with feedback on their experiences. After processing that information, the committee will make a decision on a candidate and recommend him or her to Dean of Students Bruce Reitman and Dean of Academic Services Kristine Dillon.
Residential Life has been without a permanent director for a year and a half and, according to Perez, "needs leadership and support." The director - replaced on an interim basis by Lorraine Toppi - will be instrumental in implementing the pilot programs designed to make the residential life system stronger. These programs coincide with president Larry Bacow's larger plan to increase the "community feel" of the Medford campus; other aspects include new dorm designs and the Taskforce on Undergraduate Education.
Perez said that the prospective directors had been shown Daily articles about these initiatives in order to better acquaint them with the changes planned at Tufts.
"We presented our current situation and asked what strengths they will bring with them," Perez said. "They talked about how to get students to buy into this initiative and how will they go about strengthening residential life."
Perez said that the candidates are currently in "exciting positions" and come from "solid, comprehensive" residential-life systems.
"They seem to come up with very creative approaches," she said. "One thing that stuck in my mind is that they are reaching out to alumni who have a connection to a house or a dorm. They've gotten them to sponsor things, even things like lounges."
The committee screened the initial 45 candidates and narrowed the list to 10. It then reached a consensus and ranked the applications. After more discussion, the committee chose the top four candidates and invited them to campus.
After offering one person the position, Tufts will negotiate with the candidate. Though all of the candidates have expressed interest in Tufts, there are no guarantees that any one will accept the offer once it is given.
Perez said that salary was not the only item that might be discussed. The perspective director might want other concessions or guarantees should he or she accept the job, so expectations must be realistic. While the University will try to be accommodating, there is the chance that a candidate might ask for something impractical for the school.
"We can't wave a magic wand to provide everything they need," Perez said.
