As part of a long-term plan to make Usdan a one-stop location for student services, the offices of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and Student Enrichment Services merged to become the Office of Academic Services, located on the second floor of Usdan.The two offices, formerly located in Kutz Hall, are now steps away from the Office of Residence Life, the Hiatt Career Center and Student Financial Services.

Kim Godsoe, who assumed the newly created role of Dean of Academic Services after a nationwide search, said it is "wonderful" that the office is so close to other services such as the Hiatt Career Center.

After a search that some faculty members felt was not transparent, a search committee headed by Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer chose Godsoe.

Godsoe's former position as head of Enrichment Services and the position of head of Academic Affairs, held by Michele Rosenthal, were eliminated in the merge.

Rosenthal and Godsoe were both candidates to become the new director of the merged office, and the position was eventually offered to the latter.

In a campuswide e-mail, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy wrote, "During her eight years at the University, Michele has been tireless in her advocacy for students and the programs that support them."

Eddy said Rosenthal is an academics consultant until the end of the academic year.

Dean for the Junior and Senior Classes Wendy Russman-Halperin, who previously served under Rosenthal, expressed pleasure with the merger: "The two offices are together, so it makes it much easier to confer with each other. It's much easier to work together with Student Enrichment."

Student Enrichment provided services for students who need additional support, such as study groups, free workshops, textbook vouchers and other programs now part of the new office.

Undergraduate Academic Affairs included the Roosevelt Fellows program, class-specific advising, study-abroad guidance and pre-professional advising.

Godsoe called the split between the two offices "unnatural."

"We're trying to make academic advising at Brandeis a lot easier to get to," Godsoe said. "My vision is really a space that students" find welcoming and comfortable, and that they can use as a resource.

According to Godsoe, one of the new features of the new department is drop-in hours between 1 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. "Every afternoon, you can come in . and there's somebody there to talk to you," even though they may not be your advisor, she said.

The Office is in the process of hiring a first-year advisor, Russman-Halperin said.

According to the job listing on the Human Resources site, that advisor would develop programs for first-year students and supervise "undergraduate peer advisors."

These duties were previously responsibilities of Rosenthal.

According to Godsoe, the number of student appointments for academic advising has increased significantly since the beginning of the semester.

"I think more people will take notice of [Academic Affairs] and they can do more activities which will bridge the two services," said Keren Stiebel '09, participant in the Student Support Services Program.