University of Idaho Dean of Students and Vice Provost for Student Affairs Bruce Pitman has been serving the university since 1973. Pitman recently earned the Distinguished Service Award from the NASPA foundation for his work at the university.
There is one man on the University of Idaho campus who has seen tens of thousands of students, 10 UI presidents and more winning football seasons than most other Vandal fans can even imagine.
Bruce Pitman, dean of students and vice provost for Student Affairs, started his career at UI in 1973 and recently received the Distinguished Service Award from the NASPA Foundation for his work at the university.
“I felt honored and humbled … it is certainly a pleasure to receive recognition from your peers,” Pitman said.
The NASPA Foundation — also called the Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education — recognizes achievements, support research and honors professionals in higher education who dedicate themselves to their careers. Pitman was nominated by his UI co-workers in Region V and was granted the award on Nov. 9 during NASPA’s regional conference in Salt Lake City.
A member of Phi Gamma Delta, Pitman was working for his fraternity’s national organization before he was offered a chance to earn his post-graduate degree while working on campus as the Greek Adviser for UI.
“I was attracted to the beautiful campus, and I wanted to work with students in a residential setting,” Pitman said.
Pitman became the Dean of Students in 1981, later adding the title vice provost for Student Affairs. Pitman and his team are responsible for student services that include the Counseling and Testing Center, outdoor programs, Student Recreation Center, student activities through the Student Union Building, student health care and student health insurance programs. Pitman’s office is also involved in residential and Greek life on campus, and in social justice and diversity issues that arise within the university.
Pitman expressed great pride in the university, and said he thinks it’s one of the best places for young adults to come and find themselves.
“We offer so many opportunities to learn about oneself by many kinds of experimental learning,” Pitman said. “Whether it’s field trips, internships, service learning, alternative service learning breaks or learning leadership skills … I think the university does a particularly wonderful job at creating opportunities for students to learn how to become citizens of the world.”
Pitman said he believes communities on and off-campus make UI truly unique, and he puts extra care into those communities.
“I think we are a very good size university to foster that sense of community,” Pitman said. “We give students the opportunity to flourish, to bloom, to grow … I am very proud of how we do that.”
Pitman has experienced these communities first hand by joining students on trips and helping with events. He said some of his favorite memories would be the work he did with students on alternative service break trips.
“The work we’ve done had to be the most moving and rewarding trips I’ve ever taken,” Pitman said.
Pitman’s love for the university even brought his three children to UI.
“All three children of mine came to UI in spite of me,” Pitman said. “Can you imagine being the Dean of Students’ kid? We encouraged them to go somewhere else but they chose to come here … it was a particular joy having them here.”
Pitman said there was a 10-year span when he had at least one child at UI.
“My oldest son lived in the residence hall and was on the track team, my middle son was in a fraternity and my daughter was in a sorority,” Pitman said. “We had a bit of a code, I didn’t speak to them unless they spoke to me … I didn’t want to embarrass them.”
Pitman said even though he has an administrative role, he wants to have substantial contact with students. He said the real joy of his job is working with students.
Pitman’s current projects include the substance abuse task force, Greek life task force, hiring a Greek adviser and working to revise the student code of conduct.
Pitman, when asked about retirement, smiled and said he could have retired six years ago but decided to stay with the university.
“So you know when I get up every morning and put my keys in my ignition to get to work, it’s because I want to be here,” Pitman said.
Danielle Wiley can be reached at [email protected]