University officials met this week to review proposals from several departments that are trying to improve aspects of the University that students are concerned about. The targeted areas are records and registration, admissions, financial aid and fee collections.
Each working committee, which consists of members from each department, compiled a list to present to the steering committee for review. The steering committee consists of Larry Howell, assistant vice president for academic affairs; Lionel Naquin, vice president of business affairs; Mike Naquin, assistant vice president of business affairs; Courtney Cassard, assistant director of enrollment services; Sharon Daigle, internal auditor; and Eugene Dial, vice president of student affairs. This committee listens to proposals and works together to form the best possible solutions.
The records and registration committee proposed several preliminary solutions to student concerns. Some issues include evaluations of transcripts, advising, class flushing, class scheduling, drop class refunds, name changes and availability of placement testing.
The department of admissions submitted ideas for improvement in all areas of the admissions process. Among the problems expressed were slow transfer transcripts, no transfer orientation, few user-friendly class schedule brochures, payment period office hours and payment of application and testing fees.
Becky Durocher, director of admissions, agreed that changes had to be made and that the admissions office was working to have an overall better admissions environment.
“As the state moves to selective admissions, it is imperative that we strive to be customer service champions,” Durocher said.
Financial aid has always been a strong issue for some people but after long lines during the fall fee payment period, students and staff expressed many complaints. The issues proposed for improvement are the verification process of forms, loans and fund transfers, length of time to process paperwork, long waiting lines, estimated financial aid and staffing concerns.
In dealing with long waiting lines, fee collection also had this problem during the fee payment period. The committee recommended certain solutions to targeted areas in all aspects of fee collection. This includes paying fees online using a credit or bank card, electronic loan and fund transfers, activation of schedules over the phone, activation of schedules online, increasing the late registration fee and online forms.
The fee collection committee felt that payment itself was an obvious problem. “The committee felt that this process should be made available ASAP but stopped short of setting a deadline date,” Naquin said.
Each working committee is working daily to implement changes as soon as possible to make all aspects of the University run in more smoothly for students and staff alike.