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Credit: Nick Romanenko
Gregory Blimling
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Gregory Blimling, vice president for student affairs, arrived at Rutgers in July
of 2004 just as a task force reviewing undergraduate education convened. The group’s findings will have a significant impact on the way Rutgers conducts
student affairs and administers student services. Blimling discussed some of those potential changes with Ashanti M. Alvarez, associate editor of Focus, and offered a glimpse into the busy life of a student affairs professional. He is the author of 12
books on student affairs and is a nationally recognized scholar in the field.
What were your first impressions of the Rutgers student body?
My first impression was that we have wonderful students, and my first impression was correct. They are bright, energetic and self-confident. The diverse student body at Rutgers is a significant asset to our educational environment. The diversity of our student body impressed me when I came here and it continues to be one of the things that I see as a real strength of Rutgers. I was also impressed by our student leaders. They are dynamic, thoughtful and well-informed. They take responsibility for getting things done, and they are articulate in representing the views of other students. We are a better university because of their hard work at creating programs and activities that enrich college life.
How much student contact do you actually have?
You can’t do student affairs work by sitting in your office. I learn more from my conversations with students than from any meeting I have about students. Every Wednesday night for dinner, I meet with a group of about 15 of our top student leaders. I enjoy this meeting more than any other meeting I attend. The student leaders with whom I meet are a great group. The conversations we have are wide ranging and have taught me much about student life here. I try to make myself as available as I can to meet with students. If a student has a problem, I will do my best to help her or him solve it. Students have been generous in inviting me to participate in meetings, activities and organizational functions. The student affairs professionals in the undergraduate colleges have included me in many of the programs and activities that they do with students. I try to attend as many of these functions as possible.
How many days a week do you find yourself working well into the evening?
During the academic year, I am on campus in the evening about four nights a week. Many vice presidents keep a similar schedule of meetings at Rutgers. The need for my involvement increases when students are here and engaged in the programs and activities that define student life. It decreases during times when students are away from the university. There is a rhythm to the academic calendar and there is a rhythm to student affairs work within that academic calendar. I’m accustomed to that pattern after working in student affairs for more than 30 years.
How will the changes proposed by the task force on undergraduate education affect student affairs?
Student affairs professionals at Rutgers University belong to the same community of student affairs professionals, speak the same language, read the same journals, belong to the same national associations and attend the same professional meetings. Our current organizational structure sometimes interferes with working cooperatively to advance the best interests of students and to improve the overall quality of student life at Rutgers. I believe we can accomplish more for students by working together than we can by working separately. The recommendations in the task force report would make that easier to accomplish.
You have a Ph.D. in educational policy and leadership in higher education student personnel work. Are you involved in the field academically at Rutgers?
Prior to coming to Rutgers, I was a tenured professor in the department of human development and psychological counseling and taught higher education and student affairs administration courses part time while I held an administrative position. Currently, I have an affiliated appointment as a professor in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers. Rutgers does not have a graduate program in higher education and student affairs administration. Dean Richard De Lisi of the Graduate School of Education and I have been discussing the possibility of creating a master’s degree program in this field, and that is an ongoing conversation. Last year I wrote a number of recommendation letters for students wishing to enter a master’s program in student affairs administration. I believe there is student demand for a program at this institution and we have many places in student affairs where we can offer these students practical work experience in the field.
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