Task force solicits student involvement
Friendliness
Task Force reviews student suggestions, complaints
By Huma Khan
Daily Cougar Staff
Students who want to help make the University campus friendlier now
have their chance.
The Student Friendliness Task Force, established by UH President Arthur
K. Smith last semester, is busy reviewing suggestions and requests from
students before it submits its final recommendations to the president at
the end of February.
The group's purpose is to increase friendliness on campus and to provide
a forum where students can suggest how to improve the facilities and environment
at UH.
Elaine Charlson, associate vice president for academic affairs and chairwoman
of the task force, said that the feedback so far has been diverse.
Ann Richter/The Daily Cougar
Parking seems to be one of the biggest concerns con campus,
according to feedback the Student Friendliness Task Force is receiving
from UH students.
"There are concerns about various aspects of advising, access to computers
and concerns about course placement," she said.
Students' suggestions were compiled through class surveys, Web site
applications and forms available across campus.
Charlson added that the suggestions have been for the most part constructive.
"We have been receiving lots of suggestions and we have six committees
working in various areas," she said.
The six subcommittees focus on a variety of issues such as student recruitment,
career services, financial aid, academic advising, residential life and
housing, parking and transportation, and libraries, among others.
Each subcommittee will review the students' suggestions and then compile
a report, which will include their recommendations. These reports will
then be combined and submitted as one to the president for final approval.
The subcommittee's reports are due in the third week of February, said
Kamran Riaz, associate dean of students and chairman of the Libraries and
Computing Services subcommittee.
This eight-member subcommittee is comprised of faculty members as well
as undergraduate and graduate students.
"Most of the feedback as far as the library is concerned is positive,"
Riaz said. "The 24-hour library is very high on the request list."
The committee is looking into the effectiveness of keeping the library
open at all times, he said.
"There is a greater possibility of at least one floor (being open) versus
the whole library," he said. "But the final approval has to come from the
chancellor."
As far as computing services go, Riaz said that many students feel that
there should be more facilities for non-students.
He added that the committee not only looks at student suggestions, but
has also contacted library staff for their feedback.
"We did interview people from the library as well as from computing
services to find out how to make the area more user-friendly," he said.
Students also feel that more parking should be available closer to campus,
said W. Andrew Achenbaum, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social
Sciences and a member of the Police Services and Parking and Transportation
subcommittee.
"It is a huge issue," he said. "Even faculty complains about parking."
Achenbaum added that one of the alternatives regarding this problem
would be to add better shuttle services for students who park far away
from campus.
Associate Vice President for Technology Support Services Betty Roberts
serves as chairwoman of the Admissions, Registration, and Student Financial
Services subcommittee.
"We have student representatives on the committee and they have been
very helpful in giving some feedback about the concerns," she said.
Roberts added that some of the major concerns involve the issues of
accessibility and availability.
"Students want more automation in regards to the financial aid process,"
she said. "I think more and more people feel that a lot of the services
should be accessible to them technically."
Other key issues include improving customer service in offices and Web-based
payment options for students so they won't have to wait in long lines.
Roberts said that some of the subcommittee's recommendations may deal
with the need to provide a better communication process to keep students
informed with regards to financial aid and registration.
The committees are still accepting suggestions from students.
Forms are available at the University Center, the M.D. Anderson Memorial
Library, the Honors College, the Scholars' Community offices, the residence
halls, and online at www.uh.edu/provost/friendly.
