Fonds 07 - Student Life Fonds

Student Life provides oversight for a wide range of services and resources available to students at TWU. Departmental staff work to strengthen and develop areas such as student leadership, university accountability, and student community. Services and programs offered by Student Life include, but are not limited to, the Career Centre, Chapel, commuter programs, counselling services, health services, international students services, recreational services, residence services, the Orientation Program, and Student Ministries. This department also provides some degree of direction and support for the University's Student Association (TWUSA) and student publications, including the student paper and the Pillar Yearbook.

In support of TWU's mission, Student Life seeks to "...develop unmistakable disciples of Jesus Christ, students with integrity, who are prepared to influence their world as servant leaders, ready to demonstrate commitment to the Scriptures, and eager to participate in lifelong learning."
Source: http://www.twu.ca/life/about.html accessed October, 2008

As of the Spring term, 2008, departments within this division were:

1. Centre for Life Calling and Career Development
2. Community Life
3. Dean of Students Office (incorporating First Year Experience, Orientation Week, University 101, and Parent Relations)
4. Student Ministries
5. Wellness Centre

Department Heads
Leland Asa was appointed the first Dean of Students in 1962 (Raw Edge of Faith, p. 78), and served in this capacity until 1965. He was succeeded by Benno Friesen, Dean Of Students from 1965 to 1973. The 1973/74 Pillar yearbook lists Marvin Giddings as Dean of Students.

By 1975, a department known as Student Services had been established.

According to the college calendar, Allan Kotanen was appointed Dean of Student Affairs in 1976. The 2012 Pillar Yearbook lists him as serving as Director of Student Services from 1974 to 1976, Director of Resident Services and Financial Aid from 1977 to 1983, and Director of Community Life from 1984 to 1993. In 1976 or 1977, Arvid Olson was appointed Dean of Student Development and Campus Pastor. He held the former position until 1986/87, although his title changed to Dean of Student Affairs, and later to Vice President for Student Affairs.

Tom Bulick served as Vice President of Student Affairs/Student Life from 1986/87 to the spring of 1998. Archival records indicate that Chip MacGregor was serving as Associate Vice President for Student Life in 1992-1993.

In 1996, the name of the department was changed to Student Life.

Ken Kush served as Associate Vice President for Career and Counselling Services from 1997 until 1998, when he took on the interim role of Acting Vice President for Student Life. Effective January 18, 1999, Dr. Kush was appointed TWU's Vice President for Student Life. According to university calendars, he held this position until 2007/2008.*

As of 2012, Allan Kotanen had served in this department for 38 years; he was listed as Assistant to the Vice President of Student Life from 1993; in April of 2003, he was appointed to serve as Associate Vice President for Student Life. (At the same time, Sheldon Loeppky was appointed to the position of Dean of Students and Director of Community Life.)
University calendars list Kotanen as Executive Administrator of Student Life from 2008 to 2010.
The 2012 Pillar Yearbook lists him as Director for Student Life from 2007 to 2012.

*According to a campus-wide email announcement, Ken Kush was appointed Senior Vice President for Policy, Planning, and Research in 2006

As of January 1, 2017, Sheldon Loeppky has accepted a position as Associate VP, Campus Initiatives, reporting to the Senior Vice Pres., Business Administration and CFO, Bob Nice. Also, as of January 3, 2017, Carson Pue, Special Assistant to the President and a member of ELT, will serve as an interim leader in Student Life, liaising with ELT and coordinating with Student Life Directors. It is anticipated that Carson will serve in this position for several months.
Source: email update from the President's Office
Loeppky resigned from his position in April, 2017.

The Executive Leadership Team are very pleased to announce that Richard Taylor [alumnus and co-founder of The Wellspring Foundation] has been appointed Vice President of Student Life, effective July 5, 2018.
Source: email update from the President's Office, December 19, 2017

Internal
According to an email announcement June 2, 2006 - the Parents Program moved from the Alumni Relations department to the Office of the Dean of Students in Student Life, "and will be physically located in the Centre for Life Calling and Career Development."

In 2008, the Centre for Life Calling and Career Development was renamed the Student Success Centre.

According to the University website, as of April 2012, Student Life included: Community Life, First Year Experience, Student Leadership, Student Ministries, Student Success Centre, and the Wellness Centre

According to the year-end reports, April 2016, departments within Student Life were:
Transitions Programs
Wellness Centre
Community Life
Student Ministries
Career Development