As if students haven’t had enough to worry about just attending school, some major changes in administrative roles have recently been making curious students concerned about the future of OLLU.

With the upcoming departure of vice president of enrollment management, Dr. Cindy Skaruppa, and new duties, as well as a return to the title of chief planning officer in store for Executive Vice President Howard Benoist, many students are wondering what other changes are in store for the university.

Dr. Benoist understands that students may be questioning what is going on internally with OLLU, but he states that the transition that the university is going through is “fairly normal.”

As for his transition, Benoist will be “half time CPO and half time as a professor in English.”
           
For Skaruppa, she said she expects the change to be an emotional one.

“My departure is with a tremendously heavy heart,” Skaruppa said.

Skaruppa stated that she is not leaving because she is unsatisfied. Having been at OLLU for nearly three years, she is pleased with the improvements that have been made, such as overall improvements in academics, and new staff hires such as Vice President of Student Life Jack Hank.

“I’m sorry to lose her; it makes sense for her to do this,” Benoist said.
           
Skaruppa has a long-term goal of becoming a president of a college or university. She will be leaving OLLU to begin her position as vice president of student services at Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon, Ga. 

“I guess I can see this as a continuum,” Benoist said.
           
Benoist stated that the university, as well as Dr. Skaruppa, will continue on without skipping a beat.

“I think things are calmer,” Benoist said. “I would like to see that continue.”
The recent news of the faculty issuing a vote of no confidence in President Tessa Martinez Pollack still has not swayed the beliefs of Benoist on the future of the university.  

“My view of the future of the university has not changed. OLLU has been around for over 100 years with many presidents and will persevere and adapt,” Benoist said. “The overall teaching, learning, student activities, and other functions of the university continue as before.” 

With his new change of roles, Benoist will be focusing his attention on planning.

“I haven’t been able to give planning/evaluation the time it needs,” Benoist said.

Benoist states that the change of administration is “not (a) big shakeup; it’s fairly routine.”
           
As for Skaruppa, Benoist is confident she’ll do fine in the future. He credits her as being a “very professional” individual.