OPINION: Access the outlets established for students
As the Student Advocate vice president, I am here to represent the students. My main objective this year is to help students know, understand and internalize the fact that they have a voice, and can “Speak Up.” USU is unique in that the administration will listen to the students and make changes that will benefit students as a majority. Often students come to the Student Advocate with unresolved issues or suggestions for the university as a whole. These suggestions range across a broad spectrum of concerns with Administration, Student Services, auxiliary services or the university’s policies and procedures.
One of the duties of the Student Advocate is to maintain key relationships with faculty and administrators. The recent summer was spent interning with vital campus auxiliaries through USU Support Enterprises. I spent two weeks with the following departments on campus: Housing, The USU Bookstore, The Card Office, University Inn and Conference Center, Dining Services, Parking, the Taggart Student Center and with Associate Vice President for Business and Finance Dwight Davis. I learned the different positions and jobs in each department as well as what they do and their key function in keeping the university running. All of this was done in order to adequately serve student needs that would arise throughout the school year. I wanted to be able to not only know who can best assist to solve the issue when a student comes to me with a concern, but also know the best route in bringing about the desired effect.
Now, for those students who are too busy, feel as if their issue is too small or have no idea how to voice their concern, it is my responsibility to find out what you’re thinking, what you would like to see changed or what we can improve to better your experience. Because we understand students are constantly on the run, we created a program called “Stop, Start, Continue” that gives students the opportunity to stop for 30 seconds, grab a doughnut and write down their suggestions or issues. The Student Voice Committee is responsible for assisting me in carrying out this program,, along with many others. We do this as well as polling and surveying students. The committee consists of eight students who were appointed by each of the ASUSU senators. In addition to the eight in the committee, there are 10 more students who represent the student population and have been trained to resolve student concerns and issues.
In coming weeks we will start advertising and promoting the “Stop, Start, Continue” campaign in an attempt to collect as much student feedback as possible. You, as students, have had adequate time in the semester to find a few things you would like to change in the university, and this program is the perfect avenue to voice your concern. It only takes a few seconds to jot down your ideas. What should we “Stop” doing? What should we “Start” doing? And what should we “Continue” to do? This feedback, though simple, is vital to the ASUSU Executive Council. Using these suggestions, the SVC will compile a list of prominent student concerns and will set up an open forum program in the TSC called “Brutally Honest.” This forum is designed to let students ask ASUSU officers and student service administration point-blank questions. In this forum there will be discussion on those issues most commonly found that have possible resolutions. We will discuss the possible options and whether its something we could take action on.
I want you to understand you have a voice and have outlets through which your voice can be heard. USU’s leadership wants to know what they can do to better serve you as a student. We have outstanding administration members, who are committed to resolving student concerns by making sure the university focuses consistently on what is best for the student population as a whole. They will listen to you; this is your university. This is your education. Don’t settle — “Speak Up.”