Trustees asked for input, advice
Members of Utah State University met with the Board of Trustees Friday and followed a new meeting format, which encouraged discussion on issues including financial matters and student concerns.
In his remarks, President Kermit L. Hall said, “We have an increase of 2,411 students over where we were last spring.”
He said this accounts for more than a 12 percent increase, and the university does not have any additional faculty or staff.
This, he said, adds to the strain on the budget, which took a 2.5 percent reduction. The cut translates into a $3.3 million cut.
After the legislative session, the budget might once again be cut.
“Every dollar we don’t spend now puts us in a better position for next year. The university is fully capable of handling this problem in a clever way,” President Hall said.
He also said the guiding principal for budget cuts will be “protect the academic program.”
Earlier this year, President Hall listened as members of the Associated Students of Utah State University presented student concerns. This was reenacted for the Board of Trustees.
Andy Haws, ASUSU academic vice president, spoke on the reputation of USU.
He sad, “I think students on campus feel [USU] lacks a bit of prestige. [People] have the attitude it’s easy to get in and be accepted.”
Jenn Putnam, ASUSU athletic vice president, said with 85 percent of students living away from home, students struggle to find employment and support themselves. She said many students feel there needs to be more scholarships and graduate students need more support.
Celestial Starr Bybee, ASUSU executive vice president, addressed the need for customer service.
“Students want more information on the outcome of their major,” she said.
And, the students are getting the run-around particularly in the Cashiers Office, Registrar’s Office and Housing and Food Services.
Bethany Allen, ASUSU HASS senator, addressed academics. She said although many programs have good reputations, others do not. She spoke of the need for an improvement in student-to-teacher ratios as well as crowded general education classes.
Andy Dilley, ASUSU activities vice president, focused on diversity, citing needs that included serving married students, scholarships for minorities and religion issues.
After the student presentations, Joyce Kinkead, vice provost, presented many things USU is doing to combat student concerns.
In reference to recruitment and retention, she said, “We don’t want to admit students to a failing experience.”
She said President Hall proposed adding another $1 million for scholarships for 2002 freshmen.
USU’s first-year retention rate is 66 percent and to aid this, Kinkead said USU is focusing on three points: More financial aid, “high-touch” personalized service and more “high tech.”
She presented many projects she said she hopes will combat USU’s retention problem.
Kinkead also presented new programs to help students graduate on time, receive prestigious scholarships and cut the red tape on campus.
Thomas Kent, dean of the school of graduate studies, said improvement would concentrate on service and support. Students want more fellowships, stipends, scholarships and health insurance.
“We lag behind our peer institutions. We are critically involved with the creation of new knowledge and we need strong graduate programs to reach our goals,” he said.
From there, the trustees were asked to give insight, advice and help. They decided they could help raise money by talking to people in the community and alumni, follow up on the university to see if they were on track with the concerns presented, and become more involved with the university and community.
President Hall invited them to the legislative session and after the meeting adjourned, many of the trustees helped pass out Aggie Bars to the Cashiers, Registrar’s and Advising Offices. The purpose was to say thank you for a job well done in the first week of the semester.