OU departments changing locations to become more student-friendly

Oakland University offices are moving out of, and into, North Foundation Hall in an effort to group more student-oriented services in one location.

Moving later this month from North Foundation Hall to Wilson Hall is University Human Resources (UHR) and the Office of Budget and Financial Planning. Moving in June into North Foundation Hall will be Career Services.

Currently, North Foundation Hall houses a number of student-oriented services such as Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, Cashier’s Office, Financial Aid, Advising Resource Center and the Center for Multicultural Initiatives.

“The main emphasis for these moves is to make North Foundation a kind of one-stop-shopping location for students,” said Mary Beth Snyder, vice president for Student Affairs. “It gets as many student services as possible in one place.” Snyder added that more student rooms would be available in West Vandenberg Hall when Career Services leaves its current location there.

Snyder said the relocation of Career Services has been discussed for years, but gained more traction about two years ago with urging from OU’s Student Congress. After funding for the move became available, the next step was to locate new space for UHR and the Budget Office.

The Office of Budget and Financial Planning is mainly responsible for developing the university's operating budget. UHR handles staff employee relations, labor relations, employment, salary administration, personnel records, staff development and benefits.

Career Services helps students and alumni to be successful as they make career decisions, develop job search strategies, pursue experiential opportunities and secure employment.