President John L. Lahey announces Cabinet reorganization

Members of our student organizations interviewed Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Mark Thompson on Nov. 26 about his changing responsibilities. Here, Sunny Nariyani ’13, general manager of Q30-Television, speaks with Thompson.

By President John L. Lahey

I am pleased to announce that effective July 1, 2013, Dr. Mark Thompson will be promoted to the newly-created position of Executive Vice President/Provost.

In this position he will serve as the university’s chief operating officer with broad authority and responsibility for internal operations, including academic affairs, student affairs, athletics, public safety, facilities and information technology.

I am announcing this change now to allow Mark sufficient time to search for his successor for the position of Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, with the hope of filling that position also effective July 1, 2013.

I congratulate Mark on this promotion which was approved and authorized by the Board of Trustees’ Personnel Committee in June.

It reflects both the board’s and my appreciation for his many previous accomplishments as Dean of the School of Business and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, and our confidence in his leadership abilities and what we expect will be even greater contributions to Quinnipiac University in the years ahead.

Rich Ferguson, our current Senior Vice President for Administration, indicated to me over two years ago that he plans to retire at the conclusion of this academic year. Rich has been a critical member of the senior management team and Cabinet for the past 14 years.

He served as Vice President/Chief Information and Technology Officer from 1998 to 2009 and developed our information technology area into an enormous Quinnipiac strength both for academics and administration.

In his role as Senior Vice President for Administration he led equally transformative changes for human resources, public safety and facilities. We will sorely miss Rich’s outstanding leadership, collegiality, and friendship, as well as his analytical, thoughtful and collaborative leadership and management style that has greatly advanced Quinnipiac University both strategically and operationally.

In conjunction with Rich’s retirement, we will be eliminating the position of Senior Vice President for Administration.

Ron Mason, Vice President for Human Resources, will report directly to me effective July 1, 2013, and he will continue to serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet. Rich’s other direct reports and their areas of responsibility will report to the Executive Vice President/Provost effect July 1, 2013.

Security to deploy new tool to protect university community

David Barger, chief of security and safety, stands with one of the three security vehicles purchased earlier this academic year and one of the three new mountain bikes purchased last month. (Photo by Jamie DeLoma, assistant director of public relations and social media.)

Security has armed itself with a powerful new tool to better protect the university and bring officers closer to the community.

The department has acquired three new black Cannondale mountain bikes to use primarily in residential areas at night on the Mount Carmel Campus.

The bicycles, which are now being painted and equipped with security and first aid equipment, will help three specially-trained officers reach areas of campus more quickly.

David Barger, chief of security and safety, said he hopes to eventually increase the number of bicycles and trained officers to patrol all three campuses.

“It’s been a dream of mine since I got here 12 years ago to get a bike patrol rolling,” Barger said. In addition to faster response times, Barger said the bicycles’ visibility will likely lead to greater trust and more relationships between students and security personnel.

The unique layout of the Mount Carmel Campus lends itself to bicycle patrols, he said.

Nelson Arabazua, an instructor with the International Police Mountain Bike Association, recently trained Officers Kevin Bulluck, Brian Craco and Tracey McLean how to effectively ride, maneuver and use the vehicles.

The officers also learned advanced self-defense skills and how to be in better physical shape. Arabazua previously trained the Connecticut State Police, federal officers in Washington D.C. and the New York Police Department.

“These bikes will enable us to interact more with students and staff,” McLean said. “They can come up to us any time they want. We’re there for them.”

Student Government Association to host fire-safety training on York Hill Campus March 24

Here, students learn how to operate fire extinguishers during residential life training last summer. (Photo by Jamie DeLoma, assistant director of public relations and social media.)

The Student Government Association’s Class of 2013 is hosting a fire-safety event on Saturday, March 24 in the Westview parking lot on the York Hill Campus.

• Click here to see photos of fire training conducted last summer.

Members of security, facilities and the Hamden Fire Department will give students one-on-one fire extinguisher training from 1 to 2:15 p.m. and demonstrate how quickly a simple residence hall fire could turn potentially fatal at 2:30 p.m.

The event is open to all students.

Move-in shuttle schedule announced

The university will begin its shuttle service for the new academic year on Aug. 24. The shuttle service will operate on a limited schedule until the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 29, when all shuttles will resume their normal hours. Shuttle schedules can be found here (Quinnipiac log-in credentials are required).

Aug. 24

•  1 Shuttle      Noon-11 p.m.  Westwoods, North Lot, Whitney Village, York Hill and Mount Carmel.

Aug. 25 and  Aug. 26

• 2 Shuttles 6:30 a.m.-8 a.m. York Hill to Mount Carmel

• 1 Shuttle 8 a.m.-11 p.m.   Mount Carmel to York Hill to Westwoods and back to Mount Carmel
• 1 Shuttle 8 a.m.-11 p.m.    North Lot, Whitney Village, Westwoods, York Hill and Mount Carmel

Sat., Aug 27 and Sun., Aug. 28

• 1 Shuttle                  Noon- 11 p.m.    North Lot, Whitney Village, Westwoods and Mount Carmel
• 1 Shuttle                  Noon-11 p.m.     York Hill to Mount Carmel