SCF Reorganizes to Manage Growth
Wedler-Johnson Named Provost of SCF Venice
(Venice, Fla. January 13, 2009) - Citing rapid enrollment growth and
proposed four-year degree programs, College of Florida (SCF) President
Dr. Lars A. Hafner has announced sweeping organizational changes. Some
changes have significant impact for the college’s campus in south Venice.
“We need to act now to ensure that SCF will reach the high points as a
multifaceted, mature and highly developed institution with the appropriate
infrastructure in place,” Hafner said.
College-wide, early enrollment figures indicate a new spring term record
of between 10,000 and 11,000 students. If the pace continues, an estimated
15,000 students could be enrolled at SCF in three to five years. The seven-
to 10 year-perspective is even more dramatic, pointing to a strong possibility
for SCF to increase by the same numbers in a single decade that it took
the first 50 years to achieve.
“We are moving quickly to place a provost at each campus to provide equal
and strong academic and community representation while renewing our ‘one
college’ commitment to work together advancing the SCF mission,” Hafner
said.
Provosts have responsibility and authority to implement both academic
and administrative campus-based decisions. A chief academician based at
the campus has been a priority for many faculty members who teach primarily
at SCF Venice where enrollment has almost tripled in the past decade.
Early indications indicate that SCF Venice could see a new all-time high
of around 3,000 students compared to 1,198 in spring 1999.
Hafner named Venice resident Darlene Wedler-Johnson provost for SCF Venice.
With SCF for 27 years, Wedler-Johnson presently holds the college-wide
position of dean of the division of arts and letters, and social and behavioral
sciences. She received a 2004 International Exemplary Leadership Award
from the Chair Academy in recognition of her ability to advance academic
and administrative leadership at SCF.
Wedler-Johnson has deep roots in Venice and surrounding communities. She
and her husband, Bob Johnson, Port Charlotte High School teacher and a
finalist for 2008 Florida Teacher of the Year, are well known in the area.
Before moving to her current position, Wedler-Johnson was the SCF Venice
division director where she helped develop the award-winning Project Renaissance.
She started her SCF career as an instructor of literature at the Brick
Yard Plaza before the present 100-acre campus in south Venice was built.
Wedler-Johnson said, “It is a great honor to be asked to serve as provost
for SCF Venice, the place where I began my SCF career. Now I’m eager to
focus in a more direct way on the needs and opportunities of this campus
and community.”
Hafner also announced that Ann Roggero, SCF Venice campus executive officer
(CEO) for two years, has accepted a position with the SCF Foundation
as director of development for SCF Venice.
Peg Lowery, executive director of the SCF Foundation, said, “Just
as the College is growing, the Foundation has continued to grow significantly.
To keep pace, it is essential that we have a proven leader like Ann Roggero
to take the helm of our friend-raising and fundraising initiatives for
SCF Venice.”
Roggero said, “I am dedicated to SCF and excited to be moving into a new
leadership role with the Foundation that allows me to remain an integral
part of our great college. I look forward to working with Peg Lowery and
the Foundation board to articulate the value and importance of SCF to
our community.”
SCF Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Harner joined Hafner in commending
Roggero and Wedler-Johnson for their enthusiastic representation of SCF.
“The campus and community have a double win with these talented women
in key positions,” Harner said.
Hafner said, “The college is fortunate to have Ann continuing in her role
as emissary carrying the SCF message to the community while Darlene will
provide the integrated academic and administrative oversight this growing
campus needs.”
The changes at SCF Venice will be effective Feb. 1.
Other organizational changes reflect input and suggestions from academic
and administrative leaders. The reorganization allows for 13 replacement
and new full-time faculty positions selected by academic leaders.
“Strengthening the full-time faculty is necessary to meet enrollment growth
and sustain quality,” Hafner said, adding, “New positions are possible
due to savings realized by reassignments, productivity measures and skilled
people taking on additional responsibilities.”
Many administrative changes are in title only and more accurately reflect
jobs that individuals are doing or will bring SCF personnel into parity
with other colleges. The reorganization actually represents a net decrease
in administrative positions due to past and concurrent reductions in administrative
posts, Hafner noted.
The first phase of reorganization includes following changes, some of
which are effective immediately and others that will be phased in during
coming months:
In addition to naming Wedler-Johnson provost at SCF Venice, Hafner named
Mike Mears provost at SCF Bradenton and Bonnie Hesselberg provost at SCF
Lakewood Ranch.
Mears also will serve in the newly created position of vice president
of baccalaureate programs to direct the college’s four-year degree initiative.
Six college-wide administrators will have the title of associate vice
president: MariLynn Lewy, student services; Helen Meyer, student development;
Karen Kester, finance; Traci Steen, facilities and planning; Brad Davis,
program evaluation and compliance; Daisy Vulovich, corporate and community
development.
The career and technical education program staff and director, Idelia
Phillips, will relocate to SCF Lakewood Ranch to coordinate credit and
noncredit workforce programs in one place.
Donald Bowman, vice president, student development and enrollment services,
will assume responsibility for the Academic Resource Center, and Carol
Probstfeld, vice president, business and administrative services, will
be more involved in governmental relations and strategic planning.
New full-time positions of adjunct faculty coordinator and volunteer coordinator
will be filled by Mary DiTaranto and Judy Wishart, respectively.
In the area of nursing, a 12-month program chair for nursing will be advertised,
and a consultant will be brought in to help develop the four-year bachelor
of science in nursing program.
Hafner said more changes can be expected in coming weeks and months as
the college continues to examine ways that SCF can be more productive
and effective while meeting coming budget constraints.
