After eight months of assessing and planning as the vice president of Student Affairs, Patricia Telles-Irvin has identified her goals for next year, prioritizing student housing, the Norris University Center and increased student engagement.
Telles-Irvin came to NU this year after 15 years working in student affairs at the University of Florida, eventually holding the position of vice president of student affairs. After settling in on campus, she said she was most surprised by the condition of some of the facilities. Telles-Irvin is in the process of making a master plan to renovate buildings in a way that creates more space for student interaction.
“We’re reforming,” she said. “I think it’s going to be really exciting and create a sense of community that we’re striving to achieve.”
Telles-Irvin said she is looking to create more residential communities and more communal lounge spaces in the residence hall renovations. Next on her list are Foster House and the College of Cultural and Community Studies, which she hopes to turn into a community for sustainability. Chapin Hall is also in line to receive minor repairs.
She was also behind the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity’s move from 562 Lincoln St. and is still in discussions to move Zeta Beta Tau and Theta Chi to newer buildings.
Besides housing concerns, Telles-Irvin said after meeting with more than 1,000 students, she wanted to address the inadequacies of Norris and has hired contractors to assess a possible relocation or renovation.
Telles-Irvin said Norris does not have enough meeting rooms or practice spaces for dance and music groups. Nor does it have a large enough auditorium. A final plan on the future of Norris should be finalized sometime next year, she said.
She also identified alcohol policies and diversity as other key issues on NU’s campus.
Telles-Irvin said she found it concerning that NU had almost 30 alcohol transports during Fall Quarter, especially since some of them were freshmen.
“I know drinking occurs,” she said. “I know underage drinking occurs, but the excessive drinking is always of concern to me.”
She hopes to develop new alcohol initiatives to reduce alcohol transports next year.
Telles-Irvin also attended the Caucus Against Racial Prejudice and said many of the stories were difficult to hear.
“It gave me a good sense of the frustration and some of the anger and disappointment,” she said of the forum. “I feel very optimistic that we’re going to figure out how to make the environment even better for all our students.”
In addition to defining her goals, Telles-Irvin has already started enacting changes she hopes will benefit students. She has created new positions in the Division of Student Affairs in an attempt to better address student concerns. She hired Julie Payne-Kirchmeier to be the assistant vice president of student auxiliary services and is looking to hire an assistant vice president for student engagement.
Telles-Irvin has also addressed other concerns this year by re-establishing the Police Advisory Board so Evanston students can effectively communicate their concerns with Evanston and University Police. She also developed an office to cater to students living in non-University housing and created a full-time position in the LGBT Resource Center.
One project she described as particularly gratifying was the renovation of the University Career Services’ recruitment center. Telles-Irvin said the building’s location in a former fraternity house did not to appeal to employers coming to meet with and potentially hire students.
“Her support was critical in the renovation of our recruiting center,” said Lonnie Dunlap, director of UCS. “The functionality and the aesthetics of the building are just so vastly improved.”
Associated Student Government Student Groups Vice President Lauren Masterson meets with Telles-Irvin biweekly to talk about campus issues. Masterson, a Weinberg junior, said she enjoys working with Telles-Irvin because Telles-Irvin is very receptive to students’ concerns.
“She has been great at being efficient on making progress,” Masterson said. “She’s really good at listening and acting on the opinions of students.”
Telles-Irvin said she spends much of her time meeting with students and hearing their concerns. She often stays late to attend student events and dinners.
“My day is not 9 to 5,” she said. “I can assure you that.”
She said she wants students to feel she is there to serve them.
“I certainly feel like I’ve reached out,” Telles-Irvin said. “I think students find me accessible. At least that’s what they tell me. I aim to continue that, to be present and to attend as many activities as possible.”
