AS PLANS for the new proposed student center continue to take shape, the question of what services and programs specifically should be included in the center is a top concern. Last January, Student Council conducted an Internet survey to gauge student sentiment regarding the center. Many who responded gave priority to new dining venues, meeting areas and a theatre as necessary installments.
Although the new student center should serve as a gathering place for students and provide opportunities for entertainment, other practical services need to be housed as well. Specifically, the center provides an ideal location for a satellite registrar and student financial services office. This service should be included on the feasibility proposal scheduled for release in mid-May.
Currently, both the University registrar's office and the Office of Student Financial Services are housed in Carruthers Hall. The offices moved to this Emmett Street location in the early 1980s after being taken out of their prime central Grounds location in Garrett Hall. Now situated across the street from Barracks Road shopping center, the offices are not easily accessible to some of the students who need them most.
Many students visit Carruthers Hall for fairly simple procedures: to pick up a transcript, pay a fee or meet with a financial aid advisor. Such services are just as necessary as many of the academic services offered in Garrett Hall or other buildings in the middle of Grounds. None of these operations requires much in the way of space or physical resources. For example, transcript requests require minimal paperwork, a cash register and a printer. Requiring students to go to Carruthers Hall for such a simple transaction makes little sense.
|
As Assistant Registrar Robert LeHeup explained, the registrar and Student Financial Services are not at the top of the totem pole in regard to future building projects. "When people donate money for new buildings, it usually goes toward new academic buildings or athletic facilities," LeHeup said. "People don't tend to give money for the registrar's office or financial services." LeHeup's philosophy holds true, and points to the reason why services such as the registrar and financial services deserve at least a satellite spot in the new student center. Since the offices most likely will not raise funds individually, they will receive attention if placed within a larger agenda.
Because there currently are no definite plans for moving any of the offices located in Carruthers Hall to a more central location, the offices have been looking to make their services more convenient for students. Last fall, to help streamline financial issues handled at Carruthers Hall, the bursar's office joined the financial aid office to create Student Financial Services.
Currently, students can make transcript requests either in person, by fax or through snail mail. For security reasons, students are unable to place requests via the telephone or the Internet. The registrar's office is hoping that in the very near future this situation will change. Once a few credit card security glitches are settled, students will be able to use the Web to order transcripts. According to LeHeup, this new system could be up and running as soon as this summer.
Despite positive past and future adjustments to the way the registrar and financial services conduct business, a satellite location in the new student center is a desirable solution to better meet students' needs. LeHeup said the offices gladly would work those planning the new student center to make this vision a reality. So far, however, such ideas still are at the proposal stage and the offices have not been approached directly with any definite plans.
Though LeHeup wants to make his office's services as accessible as possible, he is skeptical of separating the offices into smaller branches. He cites a division of manpower, a breakdown of communication and student confusion regarding each facility's services as being three primary concerns. True, any type of division will present a strain at first and will require reorganization and adjustment. But, as long as the move is carefully planned, students are informed of the changes and the offices encourage a flexible work environment, this fairly uncomplicated change could transpire without major incident.
The new student center is meant to serve students first and foremost. It is important for us as students to speak up regarding what we want included in it so that we can take ownership of the building that may become the center of student life on Grounds. Yes, a theatre will be fun -- but it'll be even more fun when students no longer have to hike out to Carruthers Hall for a transcript.
(Stephanie Batten's column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at sbatten@cavalierdaily.com.)
Read More
IYER: Sports stadiums should sport more benefit to Virginia residents
By Arjun Iyer | 12 hours agoPast stadiums in other states show that Virginia has the potential to succeed at such a construction project, provided that proper measures are undertaken.
KURTZWEIL: True financial aid must be transparent
By Paul Kurtzweil | 4 days agoThe implications and revelations of the lawsuit should inspire greater transparency at the University in order to ensure that financial aid is properly and equitably distributed.
SULLIVAN: Ramp up physical accessibility on Grounds
By Scarlett Sullivan | 6 days agoThe University must take responsibility for the inaccessibility of Grounds and work to promote accessibility for all students despite misguided laws.
