Timeline & Progress

Supporting teams as they settle into the new Student Affairs structure while stabilizing operations and investing in training and professional development to strengthen collaboration and the student experience across the college.

January 2026: Building on our Knowledge and Collaboration

• Jan 2–15: Teams begin the new year focused on stabilizing operations within the realigned structure. Leaders and staff continue building cross-functional connections, clarifying team processes, and ensuring student-facing services remain consistent as the division transitions into its new model.

• Jan 16: Student Affairs hosts a Spring Development Day workshop, “Strengthening the ACC Student Experience,” bringing colleagues together to reflect on the new structure and explore how teams can collaborate to support students more effectively across the college.

• Jan 17–31: Training and development efforts continue as teams identify onboarding needs, share best practices, and strengthen coordination across functional areas. At the same time, remaining vacancies and reposted positions continue through the hiring process to ensure each area has the staffing needed to support students.

February 2026: Final Workspace Assignments & Transition to Operations

Completing the final phase of the Student Affairs organizational structure by closing the hiring process and supporting staff transitions into their new or reassigned workspaces across campuses.

• Feb 1–10:The hiring phase of the Student Affairs Realignment has concluded. Any remaining vacancies or reposted positions move forward under standard HR hiring protocols. 

• Feb 1–20: Following staff placements and hiring decisions, teams begin transitioning into new or reassigned workspace locations across campuses. These moves ensure teams are aligned by function and positioned to collaborate more effectively while maintaining strong student-facing services.

• Feb 10–27: Student Affairs Change Management Team works closely with campus managers, Facilities, and operations teams to coordinate office assignments, workspace adjustments, and logistical needs. This includes finalizing locations for staff impacted by the realignment and supporting teams as they settle into their spaces.

• Feb 28: With hiring, staff placements, and workspace assignments completed, Student Affairs transitions fully into steady-state operations within the new organizational model, strengthening collaboration and services that support student success.

Moving Forward Together

This fall marks a pivotal stage in the Student Affairs Realignment, as we shift from planning into practice. In September, we laid the foundation with structural changes, budget authority transitions, and the first wave of hiring while ensuring consistent student support. Together, these months highlight how we are moving forward as one Student Affairs team — centered on students, strengthened by staff, and ready for our new structure. 

September 2025: Foundations in Motion

• August 30:  Dr. Buchanan outlined the next phase of the Student Affairs Realignment, sharing updates in the spirit of transparency, clarity, and accountability. The focus: supporting students and staff while moving into the next stage. Staff were invited to the 4th Roundtables (Sept. 3–4), where change-management strategies for this phase will be discussed.

• September 1: Next Phase of Realignment Goes Live: 

• Transitions: Career Services, Student Life & Affinity Programs, Transfer, Testing, Outcomes, and Analytics aligned under new AVC/Dean leadership — with no office moves or service disruptions.

• Operations: Budget authority shifts to AVCs and Executive Deans, strengthening stewardship of resources, professional development, and admin support.

• Student Experience: With historic +10% enrollment growth, all SA Suites open M–F, 8–5. Hybrid work and vacation practices remain; Fridays rebalanced to serve both PD and student needs.

• September 3 - 4: Student Affairs Realignment Roundtables: Providing staff with clarity and transparency through a guided flow: sparking curiosity, reviewing progress, outlining next steps, addressing questions with actionable responses, and closing by busting rumors to ensure a shared and accurate understanding. Designed to engage staff openly and building confidence in the Student Affairs Realignment journey. 

• September 8 - 12: Executive Dean Open Houses: EDs create opportunities for staff, and partners to connect with the evolving structure.  

• September 19:  Regional and District Director job descriptions finalized. First postings go live Sept. 19 in waves, prioritizing leadership capacity and smooth onboarding.

• September 18 - 24: The Student Affairs Staff Development Office hosts interactive training on the STAR interview method, giving staff dedicated time to plan and practice interview strategies. A recorded tutorial is available for those unable to attend live sessions.

October 2025: Leadership Onboarding & Final Hiring

• Hiring waves moved forward to strengthen regional leadership, and teams began shaping into a balanced approach that honors both staff and student needs.

• October 1 – 14:  Functional Area Executive Deans conduct interviews for the next level of leadership roles — Regional and District Directors — following the finalization of job descriptions. These postings, which began going live on September 19 in prioritized waves, are designed to build leadership capacity and support a smooth onboarding process as part of the Student Affairs Realignment.

• Oct 21: Unassigned Staff Interest Form closes; data compiled for Council review

• Oct 24–27: HR validates remaining postings, ensuring all Wave 1–2A positions are aligned to correct hiring managers. Student Rights & Responsibilities (SRR) Level 3–4 position interviews conducted and hiring decisions finalized.

• Oct 28–30: First Regional and District Director Leadership Onboarding (3-Day Session): Focus Areas: Change Readiness, CliftonStrengths & Mattering, Realignment Overview, Functional Lanes (Strategy, Operations, Programming), and Communication Expectations. Outcomes: Shared understanding of structure, leadership expectations, and initial planning for team integration.

November 2025: Placement & Preparation

Finalize all new/reclassified positions, placements, process HR offers, and prepare for the December go-live. 

• Nov 1–8: Completing the final review of Wave 2A and Student Rights & Responsibilities (SRR) offers. Staff tracking sheet is updated and shared for full visibility with Student Affairs Council, helping everyone stay aligned on progress and remaining next steps.

• Nov 8–17: Daily HR stand-ups continue to serve as communication and issue resolution, ensuring any barriers are addressed quickly. At the same time, teams begin compiling onboarding and training needs by functional area, Operations, Programming, and Strategy, to ensure new leaders and teams have the clarity and support needed. 

• Nov 18–30: As the month progresses, attention turns to closing any remaining gaps. Teams will review and repost any unfilled Wave 3–5 positions, if needed, ensuring every opportunity is given. The month concludes with preparation for a major division-wide milestone—the “All Placements Confirmed” in December

December 2025: Final Placements & Leadership Activation

Complete staff placements, welcome new leaders into Non-Student Facing roles, and transition the division into the new Student Affairs structure.

• Dec 1–10:  Student Affairs officially closes the Realignment placement phase. Final assignment notifications are issued, marking an important milestone: 100% of employees previously listed as unassigned have now received their final placement. These decisions reflect careful consideration of employee experience, transferable skills, and collegewide student-centered needs.

• Dec 10–18: Additional colleagues step into their newly established Sr. Director roles, following the first wave of leadership selections in October. These leaders begin engaging and working with teams across the division, strengthening change management, staff development, process optimization and systems, cross-department collaboration, and helping bring the new Student Affairs structure to life.

• Dec 18- through the Holiday Break: As the year concludes, a small number of non–student-facing functional roles remain in progress, as priority was given to student-facing roles. Remaining non–student-facing positions and postings will continue into early Spring 2026 as part of final operational alignment.

ALIGNING TO THE THEORY OF CHANGE, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, & FUNCTIONAL ROADMAPS 

June through August marks a pivotal season of transformation, where planning turns into action, and ideas take shape through shared leadership. Guided by our Theory of Change and grounded in financial and functional planning, this phase brings together voices across Student Affairs and the college to co-create a student-ready structure built for long-term impact.

June 2025: Co-Creating the Future

• Throughout June: Financial Assessment continues to advance with Finance & Administration.
  
  

• June 2–23: Reimagining the Student Experience Workshops: Executive Deans and AVCs host in-person and virtual workshops to engage teams in imagining the future of services and the organizational structure needed to achieve that level of support. These interactive sessions ensure that voices are heard from every level, offering space for ideas, concerns, and creativity. Each workshop reinforces how feedback will be used and where staff fit in the evolving structure.
  
  

• June 6: Dr. Buchanan invites all Student Affairs staff to attend the third round of in-person Roundtable Discussions on June 30 or July 1 at Highland Campus. These sessions will offer updates directly from the Council and Executive Deans, a preview of the next phase of the organizational structure, and a look at how your feedback continues to drive change.
  
  

• June 12: Dr. Buchanan announces the "Coaches to Advisors" transition to all Student Affairs staff. This clarifying shift brings us closer to a more unified, student-ready structure focused on delivering consistent, clear, and personalized guidance for students. This shift also better positions us for our Theory of Change implementation of the "Required Advising" design.

• June 13: Job Postings -- Two key leadership position descriptions were posted. Interviews will soon follow.

  • 1. Associate Vice Chancellor, Advising & Planning

    2. Executive Dean of Student Life
       
       

• June 24  - June 25: Interviews will take place for the Executive Dean of Transfer and the Executive Dean of Admissions and Testing.
  
  

• June 27: Executive Deans Unveil Functional Areas and will provide a clearer overview of the new functional structures, highlight key insights from recent workshop feedback, and crosswalk how decisions were made. This virtual session will ready us for the June 30–July 1 Roundtable Conversations.
  
  

• June 30–July 1: Round 3 Roundtable Conversations — these sessions will cover the updated change management timeline, outline next steps, and share how Executive Deans will be equipped through ongoing professional development to lead and build their teams.
  
  

July 2025: Strengthening Leadership for What’s Ahead

• Through Mid-July: Financial Analysis and assessment is complete with Finance & Administration for implementation to proceed.
  
  

• July 11: Regional Director Job Descriptions Finalized - Regional Director job descriptions will be finalized and shared on this webpage as they are approved by HR. These roles are essential to the new structure, providing the connective tissue between campus-based work and collegewide strategy. These job postings will roll out in a phased approach and will be communicated ahead of time by calendar.
  
  

• July 14–17: Executive Dean Development Sprint - This multi-day onboarding experience is a critical step in preparing Executive Deans to lead through change with confidence and clarity. Rooted in change management principles, the sprint focuses on the 10 aspects of change—such as processes, systems, tools, job roles, and mindsets—alongside compliance requirements, budget needs, and peak operational calendars. Together, we’ll co-create a rollout plan that aims for a smooth, coordinated transition, knowing that perfection isn’t the goal—readiness and resilience are. Executive Deans and AVCs will engage in shared learning, strategy alignment, and hands-on planning to deepen understanding of their functional areas and lay the groundwork for consistent, student-centered leadership.

  • • Why It Matters:

      1. Supports Realignment Readiness – Equips leaders with the mindset, structure, and tools to lead through change with clarity and purpose.

      2. Builds Consistency Across Roles – Aligns leadership practices, clarifies expectations, and fosters a shared language for strategy, operations, and programming.

      3. Prepares for Long-Term Impact – Ensures Council members are ready not just to launch the new structure, but to lead it with sustainability, cultural awareness, and student-centered focus.

    • This will culminate in a final assignment with Virtual Open Houses offered by Executive Deans to give more information regarding timelines and more.

• July 18 - August 28: Completion of timelines for functional areas.

August 2025: Finalizing the Roadmap

• Throughout August: Alignment work with our HR, Finance & Administration colleagues and Theory of Change implementation continues.
  
  

• During Peak: This time will be about balance. We want your focus to be on supporting our students. This means we continue with business as usual with our current processes and procedures. Executive Deans and AVCs will be working to finalize implementation timelines to share with you by the start of the fall semester.  With much of the foundation laid, August will focus on refining the pieces needed to move from planning to action. 

FACILITATE DISCUSSION AND GATHER STAFF INPUT 

February 2025: Invitation to Engage

•  Student Affairs Realignment Roundtable Discussions Invitation:  Staff are invited to participate in SWIM-facilitated Roundtable Discussions—an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and shape the future of Student Affairs together. These conversations mark a shift from planning to collaboration, empowering voices across the division.

• At the same time, the Student Affairs Realignment Go-To Page goes live—offering a centralized space for updates, resources, and transparency as the transformation unfolds. LIVE: Go-To Internal Page for Student Affairs Realignment Updates

March 2025: Deepening the Dialogue

• On March 5–6: SWIM-facilitated roadshows bring the realignment process to life. These sessions offer an overview of the vision ahead, highlight how staff feedback has already shaped the journey, and provide a dedicated space for dialogue—where questions, concerns, and hopes are shared in community.
  
  

• Following the roadshows, a short feedback form invites staff to reflect on what resonated, name lingering concerns, and surface priorities moving forward—reaffirming that every voice matters in this process.
  
  

• On March 12: Dr. Buchanan provides a mid-month update, summarizing early themes from the roundtables and outlining next steps in the planning process.
  
  

• By March 27: a snapshot of all collected feedback is shared, offering a transparent look at what was heard and how it’s informing actions. It’s not just a check-in—it’s a sign of progress, trust, and shared ownership.

April 2025: Laying the Groundwork

• April 7:  A first look at the proposed functional structure is shared, helping staff understand the direction of the division’s redesign.
  
  

• April 14:  An update about Leadership Alignment: highlights recent collaboration with leadership and HR to align the Student Affairs redesign with ACC’s broader strategic goals. Staff are invited to upcoming roundtables to explore the structure, timelines, and opportunities ahead.
  
  

• April 15:  Staff and Theory of Change chairs are formally invited to participate in the next round of Roundtable Discussions. These sessions offer a closer look at the draft leadership structure and invite feedback that will guide the next phase.
  
  

• April 25:  Roundtable materials and follow-up opportunities are shared to ensure all staff remain informed and involved. Feedback sessions with AVCs create space for continued dialogue and shared ownership of the process.

May 2025: Laying the Groundwork

• May 2:  Dr. Buchanan announced the inaugural Executive Deans who will help shape the new Student Affairs Council. As they begin onboarding, vacant roles are posted with a focus on internal talent. Importantly, all staff are reassured—those not selected remain vital to our future and will retain their current salary, with support provided throughout the transition.
  
  

• May 7- 8: The newly formed Student Affairs Council meets with SWIM to define success, establish team expectations, and finalize the organizational chart framework. Together, they dive deep into core functional areas using themes surfaced through town halls, surveys, and campus conversations. Leadership roles begin to take shape with intentionality—focused not on legacy, but on purpose and student impact.
  
  

• May 16:  A mid-month message shares progress around the Council’s development and ongoing efforts to align structure with our vision of student success.
  
  

• May 17: Staff are invited to participate in SWIM-led focus groups to take a closer look at the student experience and how realignment can meet students where they are.
  
  

• May 19 - 20: Targeted Focus Groups Begin. Selected staff participate in role-specific, safe-space conversations facilitated by SWIM. These focus groups allow for deeper exploration of student needs, building on trending themes from past feedback sessions. More groups may follow as additional themes emerge.
  
  

• May 29: A reflective and forward-looking message from Dr. Buchanan celebrates the work in motion. Executive Deans are co-developing a leadership model centered on students, and vacant roles are soon to be posted. With a division-wide change management plan underway, roles are becoming clearer, systems are aligning, and communications are strengthening. Staff are encouraged to stay engaged and prepare for upcoming June roundtables.
  
  

• May 17 – June 10 – Executive Dean Postings Open & Close: Key internal postings go live: Executive Dean of Transfer and Executive Dean of Assessment & Admissions. These roles are central to advancing the student-first vision of our realignment.

  • Executive Dean of Transfer posted internally 

  • Executive Dean, Assessment & Admissions posted internally 

Laying the foundation for transparency, trust, and shared purpose.

• June 2024, a new chapter began for Student Affairs. The college initiated an organizational review to ensure our structure would align with ACC’s student-centered mission. An initial reorganization message was shared, laying the foundation for open communication, transparency, and shared understanding. This was more than just an announcement—it was a call to prepare for a thoughtful transformation built on clarity and care. 

• By December, an  update on the Student Affairs Realignment was shared with staff. This message signaled our commitment to keeping teams informed, engaged, and supported every step of the way. It marked the beginning of a collaborative journey—one where change would be guided by listening, inclusion, and a deep focus on student success.