A better turnout of students came to hear Provost Kathy Krendl and members of the Presidential Task Force discuss Ohio University's strategic planning process and vision last night on the second day of open discussions about the topic.
Last night's forum was for undergraduates, while Monday's was presented for graduate students. A range of students from freshmen to seniors attended, Krendl said.
OU sophomore Keith Dodge came to see the provost's new plan and what changes she plans to make. He also came to see if the new visions of the university coincided with his.
Though sophomore Tricia Wisneski attended to get extra credit for a marketing class and did not know what to expect from the presentation, she too was interested to see what is happening with OU.
Krendl first showed a PowerPoint presentation about the vision, mission statements and guiding principles of OU and then opened the floor up to discussion. When she had to leave to fulfill another commitment, representatives from the Task Force took over.
Some questions students asked concerned about the plan's direction for Residence Life, addressed spending concerns in the university and asked how OU encourages students to present their concerns and questions to faculty and staff.
Krendl said the plan will emphasize first-year residential experiences both in and out of the classroom. It will focus on the quality of the experience and assure students feel they are getting a valuable education at OU.
There must be a basis of trust between students and the university in terms of how money is allocated, and it is OU's responsibility to talk with students about spending, Krendl said.
For example, one student asked why first lady Deborah McDavis is paid a $24,000 salary to entertain. Krendl clarified that while McDavis does appear around campus, she is paid for working with student groups, representing OU on different boards and for serving Athens.
Krendl said students can send an e-mail to OU President Roderick McDavis and herself with questions or concerns. They can also send an e-mail to Dean of Students Terry Hogan to help find the correct person to contact for specific questions.
