Student Services Staffing Updates
Hello ArcD students,
I hope that your semester is going well!
The school is working hard on some important improvements to the ways we support you throughout your time here. I’ve done my best to concisely outline these changes in this email. It’s critically important that we are on the same page about these changes, so please read this carefully when you have a few minutes this week.
Our school is welcoming three brilliant academic advisors: Addison Kingsbury (she/her), McKenzie Campbell (she/her), and Sara Anderson (she/her). Effective immediately, Addison is the primary academic advisor for most undergraduate students in the Department of Design. Likewise, McKenzie and Sara are the primary academic advisors for most undergraduate students in the Department of Architecture (including Interior Architecture).
Addison, McKenzie, and Sara are being cross trained on programs across our school. This will allow them to cover for each other as needed and react quickly to support students in need. They’ve been in training with Laura Leonard and me since August and will have our continued support as they step into their roles.
Effective immediately, Laura Leonard is the primary academic advisor for undergraduate Honors students in ArcD and a small population of other undergraduate students across ArcD. She’s a superb academic advisor with over a decade of experience supporting students. I have full confidence that she’ll provide you with high quality advising and support.
Addison, McKenzie, Sara, and Laura are available to students through regularly scheduled virtual drop-in hours and scheduled appointments. More information about their availability is outlined here: https://arcd.ku.edu/advising
Effective immediately, Beth Cramer (she/her) will provide advising and administrative support for 5th year MArch I students, MArch II students, and MArch III students. Beth is incredibly sharp and is training closely with Laura Leonard and me to learn the ins and outs. Those students can schedule appointments with Beth through JayhawkGPS.
Architecture MA and PhD students should continue to work closely with their faculty advisor for advising. Beth Cramer will provide administrative support for those students. Those students can also schedule appointments with Beth through JayhawkGPS.
Design MA students should continue to work closely with Dr. Michael Eckersley for advising. I’ll also continue to provide administrative support for those students. Those students can schedule appointments with me through JayhawkGPS.
I’m transitioning to a new administrative role serving ArcD which will allow our new academic advising team to focus their time and energy on the important work of directly supporting students. Among other behind-the-scenes duties, I’ll manage permission numbers, petition processes, and grievance procedures. I’m no longer the academic advisor for undergraduate Design students, though I will continue to collaborate with Laura Leonard to provide training and support for the undergraduate advising team. I’ll miss being the academic advisor for undergraduate Design students, but I won’t be far away. If we already have a meeting scheduled or I’ve offered to meet with you, rest assured that we can still meet as originally planned!
These changes massively increase the bandwidth of student services staff and will allow for strategic, proactive, individualized academic advising and other support across the school. It’s a crucial step toward equity and accessibility and we’re excited about the immediate and long-term impact on your educational experience.
Some growing pains are inevitable, so I have one big request: Please treat the school’s advising team with patience and kindness. We look forward to working with you.
Questions? Concerns? Ideas? Let me know. My inbox is open and I’m happy to meet.
Best,
Zac
Zac Shields
he/him/his
Director of Student Services & Success
School of Architecture & Design