The current head of Residential Housing will soon begin a newly created position aimed specifically at addressing the upkeep of Student Affairs buildings on campus.
Christine Sheets, the current executive director of Residential Housing, will serve as Ohio University’s new assistant vice president for capital and facilities planning for the Division of Student Affairs.
“I felt like we needed someone who woke up every day thinking about our facilities within Student Affairs and someone who could help us forge a plan for any repair and maintenance,” Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith said.
In her new position, Sheets will be responsible for overseeing the housing master plan, which involves renovating residence halls as well as building new ones on South Green.
Sheets will remain in her Residential Housing position until OU hires a replacement. Her salary of $108,896 will remain the same once she starts her new position.
Part of the money to fund the new position will come from Residential Housing, Smith said.
OU is searching for a new executive director of Residential Housing to take Sheets’ place. The goal is to have a new director in place by July 1, Smith said.
The director “provides leadership and oversight of the day-to-day functions and services within the central business office, residential education program and operation of 42 residence halls,” according to a job posting on higheredjobs.com.
OU is paying the Spelman & Johnson Group $17,000 to help with the search, Smith said.
Sheets said she is excited to start her new position.
“We’re trying to make sure we have everything in order and we’re doing the right thing for our current and future students,” she said.
Sheets, who has led the Residential Housing department since 2009, will primarily be focusing on the capital needs of students affairs, including the housing master plan and the facilities used by the department.
Sheets will aid the directors of these facilities — which include Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium, Galbreath Chapel, Walter Hall, Ping Center and Baker University Center — in creating plans and budgets for maintenance of the buildings.
Smith noted that, despite being open for five years, Baker Center does not yet have a budget for repairs or replacements. Also, Galbreath Chapel has been closed since December because of ceiling damage.
“She will force us to plan for facilities in a way that in recent memory we have not,” Smith said. “This is not only a background that she has, it’s a strong skill set that she has.”
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