Category | News

Chancellor Davis, Papp address tuition and manadatory advisement

Published on November 11, 2008 by The Sentinel

    University System of Georgia Chancellor, Erroll B. Davis, addressed student concerns during his annual visit to KSU.

 
    Davis’ day-long visit included a tour of the campus, and an hour-long meeting with 20 student leaders standing in for registered student organizations, plus the Student Government Association, the Student Advisory and Budget Activities Council and Athletic organizations.

        Students’ questions revolved around many concerns: the cost of tuition for international students, a lack of diversity among faculty, restrictions on P-card use by student organizations, mandatory advisement, and the shutdown of students’ access to the inter-library loan system.

    Davis answered student concerns by explaining the basis of establishing lower tuition for in-state students whose families pay state taxes, and the need to keep enforcing sensible controls on the use of P-cards when abuse is reported.  Davis also explained the system can put in place “incentives” for “opportunistic hires”, but ultimately at campus level “faculty hire faculty.”

    Mandatory advisement is a concern raised by both faculty and students. “What we have done is address the concern students have expressed about the quality of advisement and tried to make it better and more consistent,” said Davis. “We’re making sure faculty have a clear understanding that quality advisement is expected.”

    Davis emphasized the importance of student responsibility in keeping track of classes and requirements‚ using tools like the new two−year calendar and peer advisement groups.

    The KSU Student Government Association was thankful for all the students present. “SGA would really like to express their gratitude for the opportunity to have Chancellor Davis spend the day at KSU and take the opportunity to meet with student groups to hear concerns and feedback about the University. We appreciate all students who came out to show support for KSU.”

     President Dan Papp also addressed student concerns in a follow-up interview. Papp said any tuition change for international students would have to come from the Board of Regents, and has not heard anything yet.   

    Papp supports mandatory advisement, and said that the University had plans to move rapidly in that direction this year before the budget cuts. “The budget cuts have meant that we will move more slowly in this direction, hopefully to have an expanded from of mandatory advising implanted in Fall semester 2009.” 

    Other progress in mandatory advisement include establishing a First Year advising center in early 2009 and an online advising system called “Degree Works,” hiring new full-time advisors and developing an early alert and intervention system for students in academic trouble.