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Last modified: Tuesday, April 5, 2005

IU dean of students Richard McKaig presented with top award

Richard McKaig, IU vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Richard McKaig, vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students at Indiana University Bloomington, has been awarded the 2005 Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

The Goodnight award is given to a dean who has demonstrated sustained professional service in student affairs work, high-level competency in administrative skills, innovative response in meeting students' varied and emerging needs, effectiveness in developing junior staff members, and leadership in community and university affairs.

The award recipient also must have earned stature among and support of students, faculty and fellow administrators on his or her campus and made significant contributions to the field through publications or professional involvement.

"Dean McKaig is very deserving," said Kenneth R.R. Gros Louis, senior vice president for academic affairs at IU and chancellor of the Bloomington campus. "He strikes the perfect balance between student advocacy and institutional responsibility. For as long as I have known him, he has been a strong advocate for student issues, a wonderful leader and a caring colleague. Dick does an outstanding job handling all types of situations that can arise from our very active and diverse student body.

"He has always handled difficult situations very well. He remains calm and reasoned. The most remarkable thing is his ability to stay fresh. Meaning, he could get stale; each semester he may be asked the same question he has answered 30 times before, but he always give a thoughtful response," Gros Louis continued. "He knows that for each student it is the first time they have asked the question.

"The students are lucky to have him in their corner, and IU is even more fortunate to have him at our service."

McKaig, who came to IU in 1971, has served as vice chancellor, dean and associate professor of education since 1991. The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at IU oversees the Division of Student Affairs. It provides broad support to individual students, student groups, parents, alumni and other members of the Bloomington campus. Its involvement in campus life cuts across a wide range of issues, activities and services, even as it coordinates policy, budget and personnel matters for the student services area.

Quotes about McKaig from IU students:

From Sarah King, a former PanHellenic president: "Dean McKaig is an extraordinary student advocate. He is steadfast in his support for students, and he has proven himself to be a champion for student issues and concerns. He also is wholly committed to constant interaction with IU students. I cannot think of a time when he has declined an invitation to speak to or meet with a group of students. He is exceedingly deserving of any recognition that honors his commitment and service to students at Indiana University."

From Tyson Chastain, student body president: "This award shows the students of Indiana University how fortunate we are to have a dean of students that represents us in all capacities. Dean McKaig is well deserving of this honor because of his commitment to students academically, socially and emotionally. We, the students of Indiana University, congratulate our dean for this achievement and look forward to working with him in the years to come."