We are more than halfway through the Fall semester and it truly has been unlike any other in modern time. Our students are resilient, and Student Affairs staff have been diligent in finding ways to help them succeed and engage during the pandemic.
Chartwells, our dining partners on campus, have been working hard through the pandemic to ensure the safety of everyone involved in campus dining. All staff members have had specific COVID related training, seating capacity guidelines are in place, high traffic areas are being cleaned every 30 minutes, and students in isolation and quarantine are getting fresh meals delivered.
University Housing has stepped up to take care of students who have been exposed to COVID-19 by providing them isolation and quarantine spaces, helping with laundry and other services students need, and working with Chartwells to deliver meals to those students. They even organized a get-well card drive from professors to students.
The Center for Educational Access assists students who qualify for special accommodations that help level the playing field so they can receive the same educational experience. The staff continued to work with students and faculty when the pandemic hit and classes went remote last Spring. Students with disabilities have had struggles compounded by COVID-19 and CEA is doing their part to help students work through those issues.
Our Q&As in this issue are also from the Center for Educational Access. Michael Madakasira has been with Student Affairs for 6 years. As an access coordinator Michael oversees the conversion of classroom documents into formats that are accessible. Mattie Acuff is an education major from Fayetteville, studying to be an upper elementary STEM teacher. She helps her fellow students to make sure their academic experience is inclusive and accepting of their situation.
And last, but certainly not least, we have a story about our Associated Student Government and Volunteer Action Center coming together to provide fun kits for those students who have had to quarantine or isolate in University Housing because of COVID-19 exposure.
Thanks for reading. We hope you enjoy this November issue of the Student Affairs Bulletin. We look forward to sharing in December the ways Student Affairs rose to the challenge of providing co-curricular engagement opportunities for students this semester. If you have ideas for stories or would like more information please email Scott Flanagin, executive director of communications at sflanagi@uark.edu.