Open Student Forum Compilation

Spring 2008

As compiled by: Adam Judy,

Student Government Association Outreach Director












Contents of Topics



Forum One

Night Safety

Relations with the City of Morgantown

Code Enforcement

Academic Advising


Forum Two

Transportation

Freshmen Experience

Campus Safety

Additional Thoughts


Forum Three

Student Fitness

Dining Options


Forum Four

Positive and Negative Student Experiences

Means of Improvement

Transportation


Forum Five

Club Sports



The statements and comments made herein are a direct expression of the students of West Virginia University. This report represents experiences, perceived deficiencies, positive practices, and methods of improvement as conveyed by the Students of West Virginia University.

Forum One

The Eleventh of April 2008

Mountainlair


Issue: Night Safety


Many students voiced their opinion that the immediate campus at West Virginia University is safe; however, the gray area where the University and City jurisdiction or patrols juxtapose is often the least conducive to safety. Students believe that University law enforcement officers assume City law enforcement officers patrol these said areas and often there is no protective presence. These areas include, but are not limited to, the Dairy Mart on Willey Street and surrounding sideways and roadways near the Arnold Dormitory Complex.

Students agreed that the presence of patrols would be the first prerogative of safety followed closely by increased lighting of the streets at night.

Additionally, there are many residential areas outside of University jurisdiction where large populations of students are living. Some students noted that they have seen “house watchers” in the past observing homes for the times of day and week the residents are not home so they may burglarize the house. Students believed that the City of Morgantown should consider re-focusing the direction of law enforcement patrols to include a more substantial presence in these areas to deter theft and mischief. A particular area of interest to students at the forum concerning off-campus security was the South Park Community.


Issue: Relations with the City of Morgantown


Students believe that while zoning regulations limit the ability of the University to regulate off-campus activity, some sort of partnership between the City of Morgantown and West Virginia University would be very beneficial. Not only would the immediate effects of tackling safety issues be procured, but this would provide a peace of mind for family members of students who often worrying about the safety of their sons or daughters.

Due to a strangulated city budget, students felt that the University should play a larger role in funding safety issues off-campus because those city residents who are students look first to the University for protection and support. An overwhelming consensus agreed that the Student Government Association or affiliated West Virginia University official should be appointed to serve as a direct liaison between the University and City of Morgantown.


Issue: City of Morgantown Code Enforcement


Many participating students agreed that the Code Enforcement Agency has been delinquent in serving to protect the rights of student tenants city-wide. When students live in the dormitories their freshman year, they are required to fill out a checklist prior to and following their stay in the dormitories. These checklists help facilitate repairs made by University personnel with the aid of students who have been currently living in the housing and know what is broken and what does not function properly.

On the same hand, students believe that a similar checklist can be mailed to tenants all across the City of Morgantown several weeks in advance of the Code Enforcement officers’ inspection. The students will have the opportunity to review the list of items that Code Enforcement is supposed to review, and then make their own assessment as to whether these fixtures are operating accordingly. When the officer arrives to inspect the establishment, the list will be presented to the presiding officer and he or she can inspect the things that the student has deemed to be of most concern. In this manner, the Code Enforcement officers do not have to spend time inspecting areas that are working efficiently and can focus on those that are deficient.


Issue: Academic Advising


The largest majority of students present communicated an unpleasant experience with their academic advisor. As freshmen, they felt that they had little guidance not only in establishing who their advisor was, but even as to where they could find him or her. Once they finally met with their advisor, most had a graduate student who was in a completely opposite field of study and was seemingly unconcerned as to the welfare of their advisee. Eventually, most felt like advising was simply a waste of time and only attended their advising appointments to acquire a PIN number.

Students suggested that first and foremost, freshmen students should be provided with adequate information as to who their advisor is and how they may contact them. Additionally, students concluded that there is no one single best way to set up academic advising. It is the opinion of the students that each college should have the freedom to set up an advising strategy that is the most conducive for assistance and support for their students.

Students in the Honors College felt that their overall experience with an academic advisor has been pleasant and helpful. The Honors 199 and Engineering 101 classes were also deemed to be extremely helpful with advising and scheduling criteria, albeit some students felt there was an increasingly large gap between these classes and the University 101 classes. Students felt that the University 101 classes could be used to implement advising and scheduling classes instead of the minute details about the University that former students deemed was “unnecessary”.

While advising was a subject most students berated the University, these same individuals believe that there is a certain level of responsibility and accountability that comes along with students. Students expressed that many expect the advisor to do all of their scheduling and lay out the course curriculum for them. However, it was strongly suggested that is the students who need to be not only prepared with a list of course upon entering the advising meetings, but also respect their appointment time and be punctual.

Other suggestions and opinions involved the use of a major untapped resource of seniors and upper-classmen within areas of study that could be used as advisors in place of the generic graduate students. Students wanted a personal relationship with an advisor and the opportunity to a quick, efficient advising appointment when need be. One student commented that the best thing an advisor could do was to provide a list of courses and curriculum that are required to graduate. In this way, the student can research and lay out their schedule as they see fit and then meet with his or her advisor to restructure the schedule if need be.

Forum Two

The Fourteenth of April 2008

Towers Dormitory Blue Room


Issue: Transportation


For the one Tower’s resident, his main mode of transportation was the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT). His suggestions for freshmen transportation from the Towers Complexes to various parts of campus involved the implementation of continuous terminal destinations instead of only stopping at a specified platform. It was frustrating for the student to wait in a large mass of others who needed to go to the same destination only to realize the PRT car that had just opened was only transporting one student to a less desirable location at the time.

In reference to the PRT system as a whole, students would like to have some type of readily visible early warning system to alert Towers’ residents that the PRT is out of service. This would save them from walking to the platform and back to wait for a bus. Students also believed that an emphasis should be placed on making what is currently the PRT system more efficient. Perhaps the addition of a time counter to make students aware of the next upcoming PRT would help ease the wait and mystery of when the next PRT car will arrive.

One student expressed that pain of waiting for the PRT was often in part to the elements of the weather. His suggestion was to further implore upon structural changes at the platforms that would ease the elements of the cold and ominous winter weather. Items such as more efficient wind barricades to shelter the stations or the additions of heaters to warm the awaiting riders would be a much welcomed supplement.

The PRT is viewed as a miserable, pain-staking experience that most students attempt to avoid when at all possible. Some students suggested adding televisions that would show CNN, ESPN, etc. at the stations to make the experience more pleasurable and inviting to the student population.

While the PRT was of large concern, students felt that the Mountain Line bus transit from the Towers Complex to various locations was a great asset to campus transportation. Students would like to see more routes added to the bus system leaving from Towers in the winter to help off-set the times in which the PRT was not functioning correctly. The current ability to swipe the student ID and ride to a destination on the bus was highly praised by attending students who employed this method of transportation.


Issue: Freshman Experience


Students expressed a mixed interest and array of feelings concerning their resident assistants and experience through the duration of their freshman year. One student said the most disheartening experience was the overall disrespect concerning bathroom usage amongst fellow students.

A controversial topic that was touched on was that of the meal plan. Students who have classes around noon do not have the ability to eat lunch until late in the afternoon. However, due to the nature of the meal plan, a student can only consume one meal within a specified time period and therefore cannot eat a late lunch and have dinner if the two meals coincide in the same time period. Students believed the time restriction should be lifted and stated that, “If you pay for fifteen meals, you should get 15 meals no matter the time of day or period in which you eat.”

Many preferred an alternative method for a meal plan that would replace the preset number of meals and time slots with a “debit card” similar to that of Mounty Bounty. This debit style card would allow students to enter a dining area and purchase food items that have a preset price and pay for the items much like one would at any other business establishment. For those days that students do not want to eat the full spectrum of food that is offered, they would have the option to select what they want and have it debited from an account that is specifically for dormitory food.

The information presented to students at orientation was often perceived as too in-depth and overwhelming to retain at once. A different alternative to assisting new students would be via “Welcome Week” or the first week at WVU where students could have various information presented to them over the course of a week in place of just a few hours.

Resident assistant and resident faculty leaders play are the forerunners in a successful transition into college. If there is not a successful, unimpeded relationship between residents and these individuals, students will not approach these leaders for assistance. Some students expressed that it is critical that resident assistants and resident faculty leaders establish good rapport in the beginning of the year.


Issue: Campus Safety


Students expressed that they have never felt unsafe on campus and feel that the University is currently doing a good job at safety. However, there was a substantial concern for off-campus security and lighting in areas such as Sunny Side. Students walking between Evansdale and the Downtown Campus feel somewhat insecure during the night hours because of the lack of lighting and law enforcement presence in the Sunny Side and greater University Avenue sidewalk area.


Additional thoughts:


Create a cookout on the green, possibly before Fall Fest, to allow students to mingle and have their questions answered pertaining to campus life. If not before Fall Fest, perhaps some other time during the first week of school that would endow students with the necessary knowledge to make a seamless transition into college.


Forum Three

The Seventeenth of April 2008

Student Recreation Center


Issue: Student Fitness


Students who have enrolled and participated in classes offered at the recreation center were very pleased with their experience. Among the most popular classes were zumba and programs to prepare students’ bodies for spring break. People who visit the recreation center are aware of the classes, but reaching out to the remaining student population is more difficult. These students believe that there needs to be a larger emphasis on marketing and exposing the student population to the availability of the classes.

For students who do not frequent the recreation center or prefer other areas to exercise, the offerings of fitness and exercise classes at Stansbury Hall and on the Mountainlair Green were popular ideas. In addition to reaching out to a more diversified populace, offering exercise programs at varying locations will alleviate some stress from the recreation center. With a campus of more than 26,000 students, not everyone can exercise at the recreation center at the same time. Even the addition of basketball courts and a few exercise machines elsewhere around campus would be beneficial.

Several dormitories offer a fitness center within their confines; however, these fitness centers are very limited in terms of equipment and time. Students would like to see the fitness centers within the dormitories open for longer periods of time and the equipment updated to add convenience and make exercise more appealing.

For those individuals who implement the Rail Trail as part of their exercise regimen, the clearing of over growth and brush would increase the sense of safety while using the trail. Additionally, lighting would be beneficial for times near dawn and dusk where visibility is limited and there is a heightened sense of insecurity.

Issue: Dining Options


As it is currently operated, many students view the “Healthy U Program” as largely unsuccessful and not helpful. With an over-abundance of fried foods, students have tried the alternative “Healthy U Program” food, but were repulsed due to the bland, undesirable flavor. Students would like to see less fried food and more options like those offered at the Health Sciences Campus dining facility with a variety of nutritional foods and their corresponding ingredient details. When students desired something at night to eat, many dormitories offered only the standard chicken, pizza, or fries and would prefer to have a healthier alternative such as sandwiches.

For Mountainlair dining options, students readily agreed that they liked the selection and quality of foods in Hatfields, but would like to see it implemented into the meal plan and open for dinner in the evenings. Jacks convenience store was also mentioned as part of student concerns. Students requested that the store increase the variety of food offerings available.


Additional Thoughts:


During first month of school, give a presentation of wellness in dorms that is mandatory and covers areas of mental health, exercise, and proper dietary choices. Health and fitness class awareness may be additionally increased via e-mails that enable students to sign up electronically for available classes over the internet. Students strongly believed that they should not have to endure additional costs for fitness classes offered through the recreation center.

Forum Four

The Twenty-First of April 2008

Off-Campus Housing Forum

Vandalia Room


Issue: Positive and Negative Off-Campus Housing Experiences


One of the universal cons that many students felt when approaching off-campus housing was the pressure to sign a lease early. Students claimed that they felt pressured by the landlord and others to sign the lease in November and December. Consequently, they settled for items and features that were not necessarily in their best interest.

A student noted that one of the positive steps he took in renting an apartment came when he sent his parents the lease before signing. He had his parents scrutinize the contract and was able to ask questions to the landlord based on his parents advice.

Still, other students were unaware of some of the finer details of the leases they were signing. Many thought cable, utilities, internet, etc were included and did not take the time to discuss these aspects with the landlord. As a result, they soon learned they were not included and endured an unplanned expense. Others were often caught by fine print on various items that included the tenants to have the carpet professionally cleaned prior to the completion of their tenancy.

While some landlords only provide students with minimal information, some students have had positive interactions with their landlords. One student noted that the landlord spoke directly to him and his roommates to explain the terms of the lease, thoroughly answer questions, and provide a home phone number where he could be reached.


Issue: How Can Off-Campus Housing Be Improved?


Suggestions for further improvement upon off-campus housing took aim on enabling an internet program that would allow parents to view the lease electronically before their students sign leases. While there is currently an internet site to assist students in the search for available housing, many students, as well as their parents, were unaware of this resource. An emphasis should be placed on increasing the awareness of this helpful utility.

A student who had completed Honors 199 found that the information on off-campus housing presented in the course was useful, albeit it was presented too early in the semester to be utilized to its fullest potential. The student felt it should be presented later in the semester during the times at which students are most likely to begin their pursuit of off-campus housing.

When asked what resources they would want from an off-campus housing website, several thoughts were expressed. A general timeline of when to start looking for housing and signing a lease would help keep students more accurately on task. A checklist of items that students should be wary of and can present questions to landlords was suggested. Additionally, an area that would cover the fine print material such as parking, utilities, etc so students can present these questions to their landlords and not be surprised upon signing the lease. A link that would allow parents to visit the website and outline what they can do to expedite and make the off-campus housing search the most successful for their students was also highly praised.

As for the presence of the University in off-campus housing, students felt that if such a large majority of the student population was living off-campus, that this alone was enough justification for the employment of more than simply one off-campus housing official to assist students from WVU. Students who were aware of the off-campus housing website expressed that the website and affiliated processes were difficult to use and consequently avoided them. A strong opinion that the University needs to reach out to focus on student life and make its resources more user-friendly was a capstone of the discussion as many felt that the University did not provide any amount of great assistance when transitioning from the dormitories to off-campus living.

A question was posed as to what the scenario would be if the University was to begin offering off-campus housing. The following were ideas and thoughts expressed by participants:


As one of the best small towns in America, students perceived the technology of the City of Morgantown to be lagging far behind many other communities. Concerning the Code Enforcement Agency, students expressed the need to a means of e-mailing the office with complaints or questions. From the current inspections that Code Enforcement currently conducts, students claim that they feel no safer living in their housing after the inspections due to the rushed, dilatory nature of the inspections.

The current process to make a complaint with Code Enforcement on sub-standard housing is fraught with complexity and inconvenience. As a result, many students do not file complaints and some continue to live under dangerous housing conditions. Safety should be the number one priority of the Code Enforcement Agency, and these individuals should be held accountable for the negligence of their actions when appropriate.


Issue: Transportation


As the highway system of Morgantown becomes increasingly bogged with high volumes of traffic, many students living off-campus took an interest in the idea of a park and ride system. If a dependable bus route was established between park and ride sites to campus locations, students implied they would be more than willing to utilize the privilege.

Other students conveyed that the local roads and highways must be well maintained particularly during the hazardous winter months. Aside from the roads immediately near the University campuses, students found roads treacherous and discouraging to attend classes because of the danger they present. Efforts between the county, city, and state should be collaborated to ensure that all the roads and highways are properly taken care of, just not the main routes. This was a very important topic to the students present at the forum and most were strongly in favor of a more efficient system to remove winter accumulation from the roadway


Forum Five

The Twenty-Eighth of April 2008

Club Sports Forum

Mountainlair Ballroom


(Writer’s Note: The proceeding paragraphs herein are a general overview of the consistent thoughts and opinions expressed by the various club sports teams. Please refer to the notes of the forum to view the individual opinions expressed by members of different organizations.)


Issue: Experience with Club Sports and Suggestions for Improvement


A universal message that transcends each club sport is that the sports are more than just a means for exercise, but an avenue to a social environment and experience that cannot be gained from any amount of classroom experience. Many of these athletes view their fellow teammates not only as player on the field, but as brothers and sisters in everyday life. These are not merely teams of athletes, but families bonded in common interest. Unfortunately, these families have endured a history fraught with hardship in order to stay together.

Whether it is women’s soccer, paintball, crew, rugby, or any other sport, all individuals present agreed that a lack of funding has strained their ability to participate. Even when granted the opportunity to participate for a national championship, the men’s rugby team had to seek financial assistance from its alumni in order to afford the costs of travel. Players from all sports equally expressed that while they attend events representing West Virginia University, they must pay for the rights to wear the flying WV logo. On an already strained budget, these additional costs are things that end up getting cut in order to cover traveling and equipment expenditures. Athletes suggested a reduced cost or free access to the flying WV logo as they do represent and essentially “recruit” for the University as they participate.

Many individuals who are well-established team leaders noted that they have been contacted by high school seniors who are interested in playing a club sport at West Virginia University. However, these team leaders mentioned that many of these prospective students are often deterred to other colleges because of the lack of proper facilities and funding for club sports at West Virginia University.

One of the biggest and foremost concerns of the club sports athletes were that of proper facilities and fields. Individuals noted that injuries have been increasing on their given teams due to poor field maintenance and the effects of the weather on already insufficient terrain. A large push for an Astroturf field of sorts that could be utilized during all seasons by various groups would not only provide enumerable opportunities for current athletes and potential students, but also other students who wish to have an area for outdoor recreation.

A large push to maintain and secure the land that is available is an important concern for students. These individuals are worried that development or University driven programs may take precedence over that of green space and the current land available for recreation will simply by reduced to a foothold of more building projects.

In addition to outdoor capabilities, students would like the opportunity to access indoor facilities when inclement weather prevails. Areas such as the Shell Building were of particular interest to the athletes.

To these students, club sports are a way of life. From the University perspective as one student noted, “Winning brings in money just like football and basketball. (For the crew team) Better oars may increase our chance of winning and put the West Virginia University name out there more and show pride in the University.”

A suggestion to raise funds for club sports came from a rugby coach involving the remaining student football tickets to the game over Thanksgiving Recess. His suggestion involved selling the tickets to the public with all or a portion of the proceeds being donated to club sports.

All in all, students are relayed that they are acquiring accountability to show up for something they are passionate about in life. Despite hardships, their desires and persistence to pursue these passions are providing them with life-long lessons of perseverance and morals that are not rooted in monetary gain, but rather the gratification of securing happiness.