Peter Whiting

In today's rapidly changing educational environment, the importance of nurturing students' well-being and personal growth beyond academic success has never been more essential. A holistic approach to student affairs is essential in fostering well-rounded individuals ready to face the world's complexities.

Max Webber, Co-Host of The Interview, met with Peter Whiting, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs at Case Western Reserve University, to discuss everything from the pressing need to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students to the importance of fostering dialogue across difference.

Peter's Journey

Max: Can we start with a quick introduction to yourself and your institution?

I’m Peter Whiting, and I’m the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs at Case Western Reserve University. We’re a research university in Cleveland Ohio, with 6,000 undergraduates and 6,000 postgraduate students. I began my career here at Case as a STEM faculty member – teaching courses, publishing research, and leading a research team. My academic background is in Geology, and over time I was drawn into academic leadership, becoming an Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences before arriving in my current role.

Max: What motivated you to make the transition from academia to Student Affairs?

There is a degree of overlap between academia and student affairs; ultimately, both have the mission of supporting students and ensuring a positive student living and learning experience. When they come here, students are going through their most formative years – many of them are leaving home for the first time. So it’s not just about encouraging academic excellence, but also helping them grow as individuals.

Max: What’s your approach to fostering a safe and supportive campus climate?

Students thrive when they feel safe – both physically and psychologically. They need to feel like they belong, and that they sense a duty of care from the faculty and staff. We’re constantly looking for opportunities to find new ways of delivering support and identifying gaps in our current offerings. We need to move beyond preconceived notions of what a student should be and understand that we are a campus composed of diverse individuals. Then, we need to think about what our division needs to do to address the multitude of student needs. 

Max: Nationwide, 55% of students experience some form of hazing on campus. How can we address this issue?

Well, we have Greek organizations on campus, but they are far from the only places where hazing is an issue. It can be sports teams, musical groups, or any other kind of setting. So we need to stay attentive to what’s happening on campus. Students want to fit in, and to do that, sometimes they will go along with things they don’t really want to do. We need to work closely with the leadership of student organizations and let them know hazing isn’t something we will tolerate. A culture of hazing is antithetical to a safe and respectful environment. If students see it happening, we are encouraging them to call it out, and we’ve introduced a new mechanism that will allow them to report incidents anonymously.

Max: When it comes to codes of conduct, how do you make sure all students get the message?

You need to create an administrative structure that sets out clear expectations. For example, during orientation, we have structured programs for all incoming students that inform students about our community, our standards, and what being a Case Western student really means. It’s not just about rules; it’s about what students owe to themselves and their peers, and what they can reasonably expect from their community. You also need to utilize multiple avenues of communication to make sure you reach everybody on campus.

Max: How do you ensure that students of all backgrounds feel a sense of belonging on campus?

Belonging is a subjective feeling. Only you can say if you feel valued, appreciated, and recognized. You need to know that your community has your back and that the institution will support you and respect you. If you need support, you should be able to rely on your fellow students and University faculty and staff. Students need to feel safe, that their basic needs are met, and that they are part of a community that values them.

Max: There’s a fierce debate around free speech on college campuses. How do you encourage students to build bridges and create dialogue across difference?

University should be a place where you come to talk about ideas and in fact it’s part of the ethos and vision of institutions of higher learning. It’s crucial for students to learn how to communicate their ideas and how to build a better collective understanding through dialogue. But we also need to establish the appropriate time and place and manner for those conversations to happen. To build dialogue across differences, we need to remind participants that we are all members of the same community: there is more uniting us than dividing us.

Max: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in your career?

It might be controversial for some people, but it’s something that worked for me. When I was a graduate student, a faculty member wrote on one of my papers, “This is dumb. Are you stupid?” That’s never something I would say to anyone else, but it really reminded me to make sure I’ve done the work and take care of any endeavor I pursue. At least it was a question, not a statement!