Office begins search for new employee
The St. Joe’s Center for International Programs (CIP) is down to two staff members and a part-time position until a candidate can be picked to fill the position of Manager of Study Tours and Summer Programs.
The permanent position has been posted internally, and the CIP expects to have it filled within two months.
“We have just hired a part-time temp to help out until the Manager of Study Tours/Summer Program position is filled,” said Tom Kesaris, director of the Center for International Programs in an email.
Ten years ago, seven staff worked in the CIP office, serving 164 students in semester-long study abroad programs and 239 students in study tour and summer programs.
In the 2017-2018 academic year, 195 students participated in semester-long programs with an estimated 150 students expected to participate in 2018 summer programs, according to Cary Anderson, Ed.D., vice president of student life and associate provost.
Staff in the CIP was reduced after the university evaluated finances and decided that three positions in the office would accommodate the needs of students who are going abroad, Anderson said.
“The decision was made to reduce staff in that area so that we would have enough coverage to make sure that the students are supported and still be able to have the logistics that need to be done at this end,” Anderson said. “We believe that three dedicated staff is lean but meets the needs of students seeking to study elsewhere.”
Anderson said two international student support positions were moved to the Office of Inclusion and Diversity when the CIP was reduced to a three-person staff.
“The remaining three full-time positions at the Center for International Programs are responsible for providing study abroad services to our students, faculty and staff,” Kesaris said.
Kelly Gregg, assistant director for Semester Abroad and Health & Safety, said while it is difficult for only two staff members to manage the office until the temporary position is filled, services are operating as normal.
“We are fully capable of handling everything,” Gregg said. “We may not get back to students as quickly as we normally would. Both of us have been here a long time, so we know what we are doing.”
