Site Team Report

5. Student Life

The Office of Student Affairs has responsibility for academic standards, discipline, Greek life, student organizations, freshman orientation, and the Counseling Service. The Dean of Students has recently been given the added title of Vice Provost. The professional staff are highly competent, dedicated, teacher/administrators. Student Affairs, however, seems to lack cohesion and coordination with other student services units. It lacks the financial and staff resources to initiate and coordinate student programming that is coordinated with admissions, residence halls, and the student union.

The quality of student life could be significantly enhanced by increasing the size and scope of the Michigan Tech Union. The physical plant is inadequate and auxiliary services are hampered. [Concern 4] By contrast, the Student Development Complex is an outstanding facility that enhances the quality of student life and community participation. The Residence Halls are of high quality, financially sound, and well-managed by knowledgeable educators and sound financial planners.

The Union, the Student Development Complex, and Residential Services share organizational characteristics that create opportunities for creative financial planning for the benefit of students. For example, net revenues from Residential Services could cover at least part of the cost of renovating the Union. A linked administrative structure would facilitate such arrangements.

Michigan Tech recognizes the need to expand the Union and plans to request a $20 million project to add 55,000 gross square feet. The project is planned to be completed in 2003. The funding mechanism for this project has not solidified, and the use of fees from housing and other student auxiliary areas needs to be carefully analyzed. [Suggestions 5, 6]

The Undergraduate Student Government is led by an excellent group of elected student representatives. It takes initiative to become informed about campus policy issues, and addresses them through committees such as the Student Issues Committee, a Ways and Means Committee, Elections and Personnel Committee, and the Business and Judicial Committee. The students are bright, energetic, and reasonable in their discussion of issues affecting the quality of student life on campus. There is considerable concern among student elected leaders, however, that there is no formal mechanism for student input on policy issues on a regular basis with a senior administrator of the University or with the Board of Control. There is also student concern that the timing of Board of Control meetings often precludes their attendance, but this issue could go away with the switch to the semester system. [Suggestion 4] Shared governance could be strengthened by building better communication between the senior administration and the student government. Student concerns seem to focus on communication and access to senior administrators.[Commendation 5], [Suggestion 8]

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