Student Affairs Office

In 1921, a Dean of Men and a Dean of Women were appointed to handle student matters such as student housing, financial aid and counseling.  They became a part of Student Personnel Services in 1953.  Over the years, the services provided by the deans were assigned to special offices and, in 1972, the deans' positions were abolished with the creation of the Office of Student Assistance and Aid in the Student Affairs Division.  The Office of Student Assistance and Aid was itself abolished in 1974 when it merged with the University Counseling Center. Financial aid was first coordinated through the deans' offices.  They oversaw the administration of loans, scholarships, and student employment.  In 1961, this function was assumed by the Financial Aids Office.  Counseling for students had been available since 1948, again supervised through the deans' offices.  A separate University Counseling Center was established in the late 1950's.  In 1974 it was merged with the Office of Student Assistance and Information to form the Student Development Center which became the Counseling and Student Development Center.  The Office of Testing Services became a separate administrative unit in 1961, although it had been functioning since the late 1950's.  It administers the admission and placement tests given to prospective students.  When Student Affairs was reorganized in July 1972 Testing Services was placed in the Academic Affairs Division, under the Office of the Provost. Harry J. Canon, Vice President of The Student Affairs Division was instrumental in the reorganization which occurred in 1980.  Reporting directly to the Vice President were the offices of the University Health Service, Student Housing Services, Services for the Handicapped, Orientation and Student Assistance, Office of Campus Recreation, University Programming and Activities, Counseling & Student Development Center, Career Planning and Placement, and Student Financial Aids.  The Campus Child Care Center and the Judicial Office reported to his Administrative Associate. In 1993 the Student Affairs Division was comprised of the Campus Child Care Center, the Career Planning and Placement Center, the Office of Campus Recreation, Student Housing Services, the University Health Service, the University Judicial Office and University Programming and Activities.  On March 7, 1996 President John E. LaTourette announced the immediate merger of the Student Affairs Division with Academic Affairs under Executive Vice President and Provost Carroll Moody.  Gary Gresholdt served as the vice provost for Student Affairs from 1998 to 2004.  Dr. Brian Hemphill became the vice president for Student Affairs in August 2004. Hemphill left NIU to become President of West Virginia State University in July 2012.

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