The annual Student Town Hall Meeting will be held on Oct. 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Arena Club Room on the second floor of the Don Taft University Center.
President George Hanbury will hold a question and answer session with students to gain insight and address student concerns.
Barbara Packer-Muti, executive director of the Office of Institutional and Community Engagement, said, “This is a chance of a lifetime to sit and talk with the president of the university about things the students love and things they would like to see improved.”
The event, which is open to all NSU students, faculty and staff, is the first of three Town Hall Meetings for main campus students, in addition to regional campus meetings and 13 Town Hall meetings for employees that will be held on the main campus throughout January, February and March.
Packer-Muti said, “These meetings are specifically geared for student concerns and questions and the president is very committed to them. He is very approachable and people should come out to meet him.”
Past Town Hall Meetings have addressed a wide range of topics, including safety issues, parking problems, student employment and printing costs. Students have also asked why certain programs are not offered on campus, requested that buildings be open later and suggested new campus activities.
Sabrina Charles, senior biology major, said that the president’s interaction with students makes them feel better.
“It’s nice that the president actually takes the time to talk with the students about the concerns we have,” Charles said.
Issues brought to Hanbury’s attention during past Town Hall Meetings have resulted in concrete changes.
For example, students have expressed concern over cars speeding on campus and Hanbury soon had speed bumps installed, along with lit crosswalks. And when regional campus students complained about being charged to have textbooks shipped to them from the main campus book store, Hanbury changed the policy so that shipping costs are now waived.
Town Hall Meetings have also resulted in improvements to Blackboard, among other technology advancements. Within the past two years, the university has invested $9 million in technology upgrades.
“[Technology] was one of the biggest concerns. So the investment was a huge change. If you have been here for the last two years, you can really notice the difference,” said Packer-Muti.
The second main campus Town Hall Meeting for students will be on Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. in the Performing and Visual Arts Theater in the Don Taft University Center and the third will be in the Terry Building’s Steele Auditorium. Hanbury will also host three Town Hall Meetings — two for students and one for employees — at each regional campus throughout the winter semester. Online students will be able to participate in the meetings via webinar.
If you cannot attend any of the Town Hall Meetings, but would like to ask Hanbury a question, email askthepresident@nova.edu. Read the Oct. 29 issue of The Current for a recap of the Oct. 22 Town Hall Meeting.
