Citing a growing importance and stature of Student Affairs at the University, officials are in the process of recruiting a new development officer specifically dedicated to the division.
The fundraising position, which Moneta outlined in his reorganization of Student Affairs, will likely be filled this semester and occupied by January. "It's an important near-final position in the reorganization," Moneta said.
The search has narrowed to five finalists, who will be interviewed over the next month. Caroline Nisbet, director of resource administration for student affairs, said the search committee is looking for an officer with a connection to student issues and at least five years of diversified fundraising experience with specific focus on major gifts.
"There's a lot of things changing in Student Affairs, and there are a lot of needs," said Nisbet, who is leading the search committee.
The new development officer will raise funds for events both specifically outlined in the capital campaign, like West Campus renovations and Moneta's "student village" concept, and longer-term initiatives, like a new career center.
"Arts and Sciences has a huge development goal and Student Affairs is a very small piece of that," Moneta said. "Because it's such a small piece, there is a sense that 'we'll get to it' and I was concerned it couldn't get attention."
Of Arts and Sciences' $400 million campaign goal, $6 million was originally targeted for student affairs--just 1.5 percent of the Arts and Sciences goal and only 0.3 percent of the entire $2 billion campaign. That goal has long been surpassed, with the total at $9.5 million, in large part due $5 million of a larger $35 million Gates Foundation gift last spring.
"That does not mean there are not additional needs," cautioned Colleen Fitzpatrick, Arts and Sciences associate dean for advancement. "Goals in campaigns can be misleading."
Moneta's Student Affairs capital goals also include space renovations, student leadership development funds and programming initiatives, like this fall's inaugural sophomore celebration.
"[The new development officer will] be a permanent member of the staff the day he is hired," Moneta said. "He's not just a campaign hire."
He added that many other universities have a development position specifically for their student affairs offices. The move is a logical extension, said Peter Vaughn, director of communications and donor relations.
"Every division would like someone to raise revenues for them," Vaughn said. "I don't think there is a problem��they just wanted someone representing them.... The more good people there are representing Duke, the better off Duke is."
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