Student Life Review

Since the 2002 accreditation review and the 2004 visit, Student Life at Central Oregon Community College has undergone a significant and meaningful transition in the areas of staffing, programming and student services.  Initiated by Richard L. Thompson, former Dean of Student and Enrollment Services, the Student Life Review Initiative (SLRI) was a result of the accreditation report recommendations. Authored by Peter M. Magolda, Professor of Educational Leadership at Miami University, the SLRI provides seven recommendations that were immediately put into action upon the completion of the March 9, 2002 report.

The SLRI has been the primary guiding document for the Student Life Office since its inception four years ago. Despite the significant turn over in staff and budget cuts since that time, these recommendations continue to provide direction for the office and student services division.

Recommendations:

1. Reorganize the departments and programs within the student services division.
2. Reprioritize the mission statement to focus on community engagement best practices.
3. Reprioritize the mission to focus on partnerships with Academic Affairs and faculty.
4. Reprioritize the mission to focus on partnerships with the neighborhood.
5. Reprioritize the mission to focus on key aspects of the co-curriculum.
6. Reprioritize the mission to focus on developing a more responsive student government.
7. Reprioritize the mission to focus on on-going assessment of students.

Findings:

1) Student Concerns
a) Perceived loss of community except in classroom setting
b) Co-curricular programs favor full-time and residential students
c) Identify, assess and respond to the needs of the underserved students
d) Need a center of gravity – new student center

2) Consultant Concerns
a) Reaffirm distinctions: student-faculty interactions, setting, residence life, study abroad
b) Technology underutilized
c) Co-curricular offerings do not meet traditional and non-traditional student needs
d) Stronger community partnerships
e) Orientation program needed
f) Develop and use assessment tools and results

3) Reorganize Departments: Administrative, Campus Life, Student Advocacy

4) Community Engagement: community of difference, sense of community, model colleges

5) Partnerships with Instruction
a) Partnerships with faculty
b) Partnerships between student services staff and academic affairs
c) Dean of Student and Enrollment Services must communicate value of partnerships
d) Establish benchmarks
e) Develop grants, award ceremonies and internships

6) Partnerships with Community

7) Orientation Programs
a) Welcome center staff include student ambassadors
b) Portal and publications for first point of contact
c) Virtual Campus Tour
d) Mechanisms for sustained interactions
e) Redesign orientation
f) On-going orientation programs for new students
g) Convocation
h) Evening chat line

8) ASCOCC
a) Restructure for broader representation
b) Use technology to communicate with constituents
c) Expand programming to include faculty
d) Enhance multicultural programming
e) Optimize use of natural resource