Spectrum - Volume 20 Issue 13 November 20, 1997 - Student Affairs Committee meets

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Student Affairs Committee meets

By Matthew Winston

Spectrum Volume 20 Issue 13 - November 20, 1997

The Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Visitors met on Monday, Nov. 10, before the general meeting of the board. Landrum Cross, vice president for student affairs, presented to the board the division's 1996-97 annual report which outlined and reviewed accomplishments of the entire division and specifics pertaining to its three units--the Office of the Dean of Students, Residential and Dining Programs, and University Unions and Student Activities.
The committee then received a briefing from Cathryn Goree, dean of students, on the comprehensive review of the Summer Orientation program. The Office of Institutional Research assisted in conducting and evaluating student and parent responses about summer orientation. Although receiving sufficient information was ranked lowest in the assessment, almost all questions received positive responses of 98 percent or higher. Goree then announced that the Hokie Handbook distributed during orientation to all students and parents received the National Orientation Directors Association Outstanding Handbook Award for 1997.
Edward Spencer, director of Residential and Dining Programs, gave the committee an overview of activities and programs in the unit, including those activities associated with the opening weekend of fall semester.
Spencer also gave an overview of two new programs in selected residence halls: The W.E.L.L. (Wellness Environment for Living and Learning) which is a residence hall dedicated to students desiring a "more healthy" lifestyle; and The Wing, an residentially based first year experience program which is designed to acclimate students to the university environment and help provide opportunities for academic and social success.
Within The Wing are student residents trained and charged with assisting other students with any hardware and/or software problems they may encounter.
Spencer then outlined plans for dining-facility renovations and new residence-hall construction both on the Prairie Quad and Special Purpose Housing. There are also plans for a special housing program known as The WORLD, which will cater to people who want to enjoy an international environment. He then announced that Ethernet connections will be available in every residence-hall room beginning in fall semester of 1998.
Both Chris Bunin, president of the Graduate Student Assembly, and Cross respectively reported on the processes of selecting both the graduate and undergraduate student representatives to the Board of Visitors. Bunin reported on the revisions to the graduate application and the revisions were approved by the committee. Cross reported on the timeline of the selection process. The applications for student representatives will be available early in the spring semester and the student representatives will be announced at the April Board of Visitors meeting pending their approval.