Group encourages more involvement

Jill Byerly

To anyone who does not know the faces of the regular meeting attendants of the Student Quality Advisory Committee, it may appear that next to no students attend.

LuWanda Higgins, program coordinator for the Adult Student Center, disagrees. She said students of every age attend the meetings. The first meeting of the spring semester took place Jan. 18, 2007, and about 15 people attended. From undergrad to graduate students, the committee hears its fair share of concerns, compliments and suggestions from every type of student who attends Kent State.

The Student Quality Advisory Committee originated from a quality committee for student affairs in March of 1994. The committee serves as a council for Pete Goldsmith, the vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. Both students and faculty currently hold positions on the committee and they join for different reasons.

“I joined because I thought the adult students needed a voice,” counseling graduate student Jay Weisburd said.

The committee’s mission is to serve as an advisory body to Goldsmith, with a focus on quality service to students and emphasizing the importance of quality management principles for the division.

In order to successfully fulfill the committee’s mission and goals, students and faculty need to participate by voicing their opinions and attending the meetings. Students have the opportunity to have their concerns heard by the people who can get results.

The committee meets every other week at 8 a.m. in the conference suite of the Student Center.

“It is not the easiest time frame, but it is best to reach all interested students because of class schedules,” Higgins said.

According to Higgins, student attendance ranges from around 12 to 25 students on average each meeting. She believes the attendance depends upon the needs of students.

Omar Tahboub, vice chair of the Student Quality Advisory Committee, said he believes the committee does a great job responding to student concerns and suggestions.

“We are blessed and lucky to have a committee of bright people representing the university administration and the student body as well,” Tahboub said. “I have never met better listeners than the members of the Student Quality Advisory Committee.”

The committee is currently trying to make itself more widely known throughout the Kent State community. They are developing a Web page, planning on advertising on FlashLine and e-mailing organizations on campus.

Tahboub believes handling immediate student issues, such as tuition, financial aid, jobs and university rules and regulations would attract more students to the meetings.

“We are currently transitioning to an opportunity to invite students and put ourselves out there in the university community,” Higgins said. “We open the door to any student with complaints and compliments. There is always an open invitation.”

Contact student affairs reporter Jill Byerly at [email protected].