By
Anastasia Ching
Arizona Daily Wildcat
A new name, a new mission statement and a new place to call home - the UA Center for Student Involvement and Leadership has started the spring semester with a fresh look.
Formerly the Office of Student Programs, the center began the semester with a name change that Brian Keintz, assistant director of the center, said is more reflective of their services.
"The old name is one that's been around for a while - it was developed and established when it, quite frankly, had a different purpose," he said. "We felt the title no longer represented what we collectively do."
The programs and services offered through the center include Greek Life, Commuter Student Affairs, University Activities Board, Sam's Place, Student Leadership, Union Galleries, and Clubs and Organizations.
Through a process of strategic planning that began in December of 1999, staffers selected each word of their new title to convey the core values of their mission statement, to bring cohesiveness to the different services and to show their commitment to students, Keintz said.
"The word 'involvement' emphasizes our encouragement of student involvement, 'leadership' points out each of our service areas' commitment to providing leadership training and opportunities, and 'center' insinuates that it's a place where students can go and find a niche for themselves," he said.
Keintz also said he hopes that the name change will encourage unity among the different services and programs.
"All areas will work together to describe themselves in terms of leadership and involvement," he said. "We will be more cohesive, more collaborative, more focused."
Destiny Mitchell, a student programs office assistant and economics junior, said that the name change will be useful in clarifying which services the center provides.
"I think it clears up confusion because we get people in here for the most random things," she said. "Now students will have a better idea of what the center offers."
As for the future of student involvement and leadership, Keintz predicts the University of Arizona will achieve national prominence.
"We see the future (to be) students looking for involvement in service activities, we see them demanding and wanting more structured leadership activities," he said. "Our new name and focus will help our center to be at the cutting edge nationally."
The center moves into its office on the fourth floor of the new student union in March.
