STUDENT LIFE >>
DEVELOPING SERVICES Bob Minetti and Kathleen Yorkis were instrumental in building the professionalism of the Student Affairs division. Their work took Bentley from a “suitcase campus” to one that operates 24/7. Accordingly, the commitment to student life stretches across the organization. Collaborators have included faculty, according to Bob. “I’m hard-pressed to recall a time when I didn’t receive support. Faculty respected work we were doing, which was rather unique. They understood that what happened outside the classroom was important, too.” The support came from the top, Kathleen Yorkis recalls. “President Greg Adamian often said, ‘After we’ve taught you everything there is to know about money, we’ll teach you that money isn’t everything.’ To me, that was a powerful statement about student life, as a complement to academic accomplishment.” This approach extends to the services provided by University Police, where Kathleen believed relationships were key. “We did not just hire people who wanted to be officers. We hired people who wanted to subscribe to a community policing model in an educational setting.” In health care, we have progressed from one nurse hired on a contract basis to today’s Center for Health, Wellness and Counseling. While we hope someday to have a stand-alone wellness center, the staff work in concert to promote students’ physical and mental well-being. A VITAL PARTNERSHIP Working with students day in and day out as vice president for student affairs, I have plenty of experiences that speak to their active role in campus life. But there is a single story that demonstrates the spirit of partnership: the senior class trip to the Bahamas.
Commencement Week has been a long tradition — a time of fun but also practicality, by giving time to certify grades before Commencement. In the mid-1990s, it seemed like the sun and warm weather of May lasted only while students were taking finals. As soon as Commencement Week came, it would get cold and rainy. We tried to find events that would keep students entertained, for example, a field day at the Meadows in Connecticut or trips to Newport. Still, in the end, students came back to a wet, cold campus; the result was some bad behavior. Bentley could have chosen to simply eliminate the program. In fact, many peers did. But one of the events — an overnight cruise on the Scotia Prince — showed us how much students enjoyed being away with all their friends. Attempts to arrange a five-day cruise did not pan out, but we found a resort willing to host Bentley’s senior class in 1999. The Bahamas trip was born. Today’s trip looks very different from the early years. More than 600 students attend and activities include community service on the island. One highlight is the police escort from the Atlantis resort to the home of the island’s governor general, who welcomes Bentley students and thanks them for their commitment to service. To me, the story underlines a central tenet of student life at Bentley — a commitment to work with students and do so in a way like no other school.
J. Andrew Shepardson is vice president for student affairs and dean of students. The narrative draws on research by university historian Cliff Putney.
Bahamas, 2016
54 | CENTENNIAL ISSUE
PHOTO BY JASON COOPER/BAHAMAS VISUAL SERVICES