Last Wednesday, nearly 200 students gathered in the Don Taft University Center pit for the second annual Student Town Hall Meeting with Chancellor Ray Ferrero Jr.
Students were allowed to ask the chancellor panel questions about concerns with the university. Ferrero said the purpose of the meeting was to open the channels of communication between students and the administration, which was something students asked for when they filled out the Gallup survey.
“This is what makes up a great university — this kind of dialogue directly with the students,” he said.
Students asked about campus parking, food options in the UC for people with dietary concerns and ways to increase Shark pride.
At the beginning of the meeting, the chancellor spoke about the university’s progress during his time as president and what he hopes to see in the future. After that, students voiced their questions.
“I think it is really good to have an open forum like this,” said Liz Estes, second-year doctoral student in the Conflict Analysis and Resolution (DCAR) program.
However, Estes was upset when the chancellor answered her question about communication with faculty in the DCAR program. She heard him say he did not remember that particular program.
Estes said, “I would have liked acknowledgement that my concerns were legitimate and he didn’t acknowledge that. More than likely, because he doesn’t know about the program.”
However, Ferrero said she misunderstood him. He said he was familiar with the program and he spoke to faculty in the program. He said he meant he wasn’t familiar with the concern she raised.
During his initial speech, Ferrero said the university plans to double the undergraduate population within seven years. This raised concerns from many students who asked how the increase would affect living in the resident halls, parking and class size.
Ferrero said there were no plans to build new resident halls or to add parking spaces, but that they would be added as needed. He also said that even when the undergraduate population increases, class sizes would remain under 20 students per class. He said this could be done by hiring more faculty.
“We want to keep that interaction between students and faculty,” said Ferrero.
Ferrero drew applause from the audience when he said he was working with executives at Blackboard to fix the problems students had with the program.
However, Elizabeth Hurley, senior exercise science major, who asked when Blackboard would be fixed, said, “I don’t see how that’s going to help my problem. I’m having trouble taking quizzes and learning the material and I’m afraid it is going to affect my grade this semester. This will help in the future, but not now.”
Robert Diaz, senior business and legal studies major, asked how NSU would compete with community colleges becoming four-year colleges. Ferrero said NSU had resources and programs they do not.
“Calling yourself a college and offering only three or four programs, doesn’t make you a college. At NSU, we have over 100 undergraduate degrees,” he said.
The chancellor will host another Student Town Hall Meeting in the Steele Auditorium on Nov. 11 for students in the Health Professions Division. The Student Educational Centers will participate in two Student Town Hall Meetings through video conferencing on Nov. 16.
The chancellor said there will be a town hall meeting next year but it will be hosted by President George L. Hanbury II.
