The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees on Thursday holds a special business session in the Scott L. Holman Executive Conference Room at the Northern Center on campus. The board OK’d a revised structure for the Academic Affairs Division. Seated at the table from left are trustee Tami Savoy, Chair Steve Young, interim President Kerri Schuiling (partially hidden), trustee Jason Morgan, trustee Gregory Seppanen and trustee Lisa Fittante. (Photo courtesy of NMU)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees at a special Thursday business session approved a revised structure for the Academic Affairs Division, effective July 1.

Extended Learning and Community Engagement, which includes the College of Technology and Occupational Sciences, will move under Academic Affairs rather than continue as a separate division.

As part of the shift, Steven VandenAvond will be appointed to associate provost for extended learning and community engagement as well as dean of the College of Technology and Occupational Sciences.

“The decision was made to bring this to the board after discussions among myself, Steve, (interim President) Kerri Schuiling, Extended Learning and academic departments,” said Dale Kapla, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, in a statement. “We are confident that this will help streamline some things and result in greater collaboration and understanding among all divisions and departments on campus, which is especially important as we search for a permanent president. No other structural or procedural changes are anticipated in the near future.”

Trustee Tami Seavoy commented on the revised structure at the meeting.

“With this move, Dr. VandenAvond goes from interim dean to a permanent dean for the College of Technology and Occupational Sciences,” she said. “His work at TOPS is very important, so I really appreciate the permanence of this for that reason.

“At the same time, Dr. VandenAvond moves from his role as vice president to associate provost, which moves him down a layer in the organizational chart.”

His job duties, which have included what Seavoy called some of NMU’s “most innovative, forward-thinking and exciting projects” — like artificial intelligence and virtual reality — won’t change.

“I don’t see the importance of his role changing, but moving him on the organizational chart aligns the academic programs under his care squarely within the welcome chain under the provost,” Seavoy said. “Without doubt, the variety and extent of programs under Dr. VandenAvond’s purview make this move awkward.

“That said, Steve has indicated that this change may improve interdisciplinary planning and academic programs, and he has graciously agreed to support that change, and I purport it for the board.”

Voting for the revised structure were Chair Steve Young, Seavoy and trustees Jason Morgan, Gregory Seppanen and Lisa Fittante.

Trustees Alexis Hart and Robert Mahaney were absent.

The restructuring was the only agenda item during the session. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the NMU Board of Trustees is set for April 28-29.