The University of South Carolina hired eight-year faculty member Ambra Hiott as the university’s new Associate Vice President (AVP) for Student Life.
Three candidates, Ambra Hiott, Carlos Pinkerton and Ryan Henne, ran for the position last spring. Each candidate presented their own vision for the role during a Q&A in April. Hiott was hired and began her new role in July.
The associate vice president for Student Life manages multiple aspects of the student experience, from Russell House to student organizations and Greek life. Hiott plans to make changes that improve the student experience and provide more opportunities for involvement.
Russell House
Several changes are already underway in Russell House. A new Center for Student Engagement is under construction, along with expansions to the Gamecock Entertainment area and renovations to the Event Management Offices, Hiott said. The Carolina Experience Department will also be moved into Russell House later this year.
The Center for Student Engagement aims to foster a community on USC's campus through programs and events, according to the center's site.
USC is known for having the best first-year experience, but it wants to be known for having the best holistic experience, Hiott said.
“Bringing (The Carolina Experience) into Russell House is going to help create more visibility and exposure for the opportunities available for continuing sophomore, junior, senior students, transfer students and beyond,” she said.
Hiott’s “dream” for Russell House is an expanded ballroom and more kitchen space to accommodate events, she said. She also wants to initiate renovations to other student meeting spaces beyond the Russell House to make them more conducive to student activities.
Student organizations
Hiott previously served as the Director of the Leadership and Service Center. In that role, Hiott introduced ideas from students and other campuses to remove barriers for student organizations, she said.
“We redefined and reclassified how student organizations operate here at the university, and as a result, we've doubled the number of organizations over my eight-year tenure,” Hiott said.
The Department of Student Life under Hiott introduced a new requirement for student organizations: leadership development. Student organization leaders must attend three training sessions, conferences or workshops during the academic year before applying for renewal, according to the university’s site.
Leadership development will equip student leaders with the resources they need, Hiott said.
“The goal is to make sure that students just have the resources, if that's being connected to the people in the department that have knowledge or to the actual resources that we have throughout the university,” Hiott said.
USC’s campus lacks the space needed for student organizations and needs to be improved, Hiott said.
“We're the furthest behind in our square footage per student in the SEC, which isn't something that we're proud of,” Hiott said.
This year, the student organization fair will also be moving to the Horseshoe for the first time, according to Hiott. Previous fairs have been held outside Russell House on Greene Street.
Hiott also wants to improve communication with students. Better communication of opportunities for students is needed to help students find ways to get involved, she said.
Sustainable staffing
Hiott highlighted the need for a “sustainable staffing structure” during the April Q&A . This requires building a professional staff that can continue to support student needs during times of change, she said.
“There needs to be shared knowledge, shared expertise across units and across student life as a whole, where we can jump in and support one another, mainly support the students, to make sure that those key functions continue,” Hiott said.
Almost half of the Department of Student Life’s staff is new, according to Hiott. The new staff is undergoing training to learn about USC’s Student Life and how to support students, she said.
Hiott’s sustainable staffing structure further includes student leaders, who will need to complete leadership training for their organizations. Student organizations need sustainable leadership systems to support learning and growth, Hiott said.
Hiott said her Department of Student Life is open to student perspectives and ideas.
“We're open ears, open minds, because any, almost anything, is possible, and most things don't require rocket science to make happen,” she said.