MyVoice sees unprecedented response
The myVoice feature of the new myUSU website, my.usu.edu, lets student voice concerns and make suggestions without having to approach officers or administration in person, creators say.
The website was launched in beta form at the beginning of the school year, meaning it is a version that is not finalized or is subject to change. Student officers said they have received more than 70 responses in the last week alone through the virtual suggestion box.
Trevor Olsen, ASUSU administrative assistant, said when Doug Fiefia, ASUSU president, was running for office last spring, he realized many students had concerns but didn’t know how to go about getting them resolved.
“The system in the past has basically just been the open-door policy,” Fiefia said. “It’s so intimidating to walk into someone’s office without an appointment to give a suggestion.”
Olsen said he feels like the new system will empower students so they can help make their ideas a reality.
“Personally, myself, I’ve had concerns and things I wanted to change, and I feel like I haven’t been able to do something about it until I was on student government,” Olsen said. “You shouldn’t have to wait until you’re that involved to be able to make a change.”
Fiefia said now, instead of guessing what students care about, officers and staff members will be able to know their concerns and have a record of the improvements they want to see through the comments posted on myVoice.
Suggestions and concerns submitted through myVoice are received by the president’s cabinet and the ASUSU executive committee. They will communicate with staff members in the various departments to find solutions and answers, Fiefia said. The goal of ASUSU is to respond to each concern within two weeks.
“There might be a worry from students that their concerns will just get sent to us and nothing will get done,” Fiefia said. “I don’t make too many promises, but I promise that they will be looked into and that we will do our best to resolve their concerns and advocate for students.”
Daryn Frischknecht, ASUSU student advocate vice president, said the feature of myVoice will not only be a way to make changes
, but also to inform.
“Lots of students aren’t as informed about rules,” Frischknecht said. “There’s certainly things we’re going to be able to change, but where there’s a policy, we will be able to inform students about what that is and say, ‘This is why we can’t change it.'”
Though the system is still in its early stages, Olsen said it has received a positive response overall from administrators and staff members.
“Initially, I brought the idea up to James Morales, the vice president for student services,” Fiefia said. “He’s actually really excited about it and supports it. Instead of us having to come up with all the ideas, the student body collectively will be improving Utah State.”
Olsen said he wants to encourage students to get on the website, sign in and share their opinions with their officers and departments in order to “make Utah State even better than it already is.”
-m.noble@aggiemail.usu.edu