Students and deans can now interact individually at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The Dean’s Forum, sponsored by the Student Government Association, was held on March 4, during which deans or representatives from each college explained accomplishments and new initiatives that have or will be implemented into their colleges in the future.
In the past when students wanted to ask a question or voice an issue they would have to stand up in front of the audience and talk, but SGA has changed this arrangement. Now the deans are introduced, shed insight on their colleges and disperse to separate tables to speak with students individually.
“The purpose of the Dean’s Forum is to allow students to hear about the efforts being made within their colleges directly from their dean, and the dean’s forum is also a platform for students to address their comments, questions and concerns regarding their colleges,” Alexandra Elizondo, academic and student affair committee chair for SGA, said.
Accomplishments mentioned included new degrees, accreditations, growth rate, recently added departments, upgraded equipment and classrooms, clubs and organizations, graduate rate and prospective student percentages.
“When we’ve had events like this in the past and concerns have come up, the deans have taken those back to the colleges and have resolved situations that they weren’t aware of or they have taken new ideas back to their faculty and their departments, Kristen Compary, assistant vice president of student affairs and dean of students, said.
Some students are lucky enough to have met the administrators from their colleges but many have never met their dean, assistant dean or any administrative assistants. There are usually not many platforms or events at which students and deans can interact and discuss important aspects, but the Dean’s Forum now gives them an opportunity for direct dialogue.
“I knew my dean’s name but before today I had never met her. I feel like that’s normal for most students, but now I have a face to put to the name and I feel like if they are able to talk to you one-on-one then they will really listen to everything you have to say. I came here today so that proves I want to be heard and I feel like the deans now understand that,” Sarah Guerra, an accounting major, said.