We are a few weeks into the Fall 2023 semester and campus is buzzing with the energy and promise of a new school year. In Student Affairs staff spent the summer strategically planning for the 2023-2024 academic year, hosting conference and camp participants, and engaging summer enrolled students.
A group of staff from across the Division worked with the McMillon Innovation Studio to participate in a Human-Centered Design Workshop that helped set priorities for the coming year, creating solutions to help students succeed. During this process, Student Affairs staff identified six priority areas: student belonging, wellbeing, collaboration/communication, financial assistance, student employment, and affordable housing. These priorities complement the goals and objectives drafted for the university’s 150 Forward Strategic Plan.
The Division is also working with Huron Consulting Group to revise/update our mission, strategic vision, and organizational structure. Our goal with this process is to strategically serve our students in more effective and efficient means.
Our Q&As this issue come from our University Recreation staff. Lindsay Smith is the assistant director of marketing & public relations for UREC. She holds two degrees from the University of Arkansas and loves being creative in her job. UREC moved under Student Affairs in 2020 and Smith says this has been a wonderful experience. Darbi Walker is a student staff member and is the social media manager for UREC. Walker is a senior in Fulbright College majoring in advertisement and public relations with a minor in event management.
Thank you for checking out the September 2023 issue of Student Affairs Bulletin. If you would like more information on anything you read here, please email Scott Flanagin, executive director of communications at sflanagi@uark.edu.