University officials have implemented a committee to work for the improvement of troubled areas on campus, such as records and registration, admissions, financial aid and fee collection services.
Eugene Dial, vice president of student affairs, coordinated the “refurbishment committee” in hopes of improving the areas of in which students expressed concern. The committee, which consists of Larry Howell, assistant vice president of assessment and institutional advancement; Lionel Naquin, vice president of business affairs; Mike Naquin, assistant vice president of business affairs; Courtney Cassard, assistant director of enrollment services; and Sharon Daigle, internal auditor, heard student concerns on Sept. 15 and 16 and tried to identify what students viewed as problems at the University regarding the four targeted areas.
The Student Government Association recommended student participants, and other student leaders were invited by committee members to participate in the process.
“The purpose of it (the committee) is to identify what we can do better and then go about doing it,” Dial said.
On Oct. 27, once all student feedback has been compiled, a “steering committee” for each area of concern will present a proposal for changes to the main committee for consideration. By Nov. 10 the ideas will be presented to the Cabinet of the University for approval. According to Dial, some proposed improvements are currently underway, with many projected to be in effect by spring 2004. Those changes that cannot be implemented in the spring will be fully effective by next fall.
“We are looking to be ready in January to open this new, student-centered University,” Dial said.
Once the areas of records and registration, admissions, financial aid and fee collection services have been helped, University officials hope to move on to improvements in other areas, including student parking and decals.
University President Stephen Hulbert said the four targeted areas should be focused on heavily since they are the essential aspects of the opening of school.
“The lines this fall were obscene,” Hulbert said. “They were unnecessary. They were a total inconvenience for the student body, and I find the situation to be unacceptable.”
According to Hulbert the committee exists for the simple reason that there are too many inconveniences for students. Hulbert cited that the clerical and support staffs are frustrated as well.
“I took the position that I was coming onto the campus, and I was what I call in ‘a joining mode.’ I was joining this University community, and I was going to listen and observe, and I did observe the opening of school. I walked past those long lines and I saw students in those lines for multiple hours,” Hulbert said. “As an administrator and as a chief executive officer of this University, I cannot tolerate that condition, either for the students or for the staff that was serving the students. I just believe that we can work smarter — not harder, but smarter — in a way that can better serve the students.”