Chancellor Kent Syverud met last night with student leaders from THE General Body to listen to their concerns and discuss a process for continued dialogue to address the issues detailed in a 43-page document issued by the student group on Monday. The meeting was facilitated by University College Dean Bea González, who the Chancellor has asked to serve as a liaison to the students throughout this process.
About 80 students representing THE General Body attended the meeting, with even more students gathered outside due to fire codes.
“Chancellor Syverud and I both believe that working together with the students we can develop a sustainable process that allows us to work through the grievances and achieve our mutual goal of making our University the best place it can be,” González said.
Chancellor Syverud meets with students in Crouse-Hinds Hall.
Chancellor Syverud addressed the group by saying, “I’m here to listen and I am also eager to move to action and get clarity on what actions can be taken and by what process,” he said. “There is a history here and it is a history of students speaking out and expressing concern about the University in various ways under every chancellor. So this event is very serious and very important.”
Among the points discussed last night were the University’s draft vision and mission statements, the status of the Advocacy Center, a request for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator on staff and the students’ desire to engage with the University’s Board of Trustees.
Chancellor Syverud acknowledged the work the students have done in preparing their position statement and committed to working with the students to schedule regular conversations with the appropriate members of his Executive Team and other University staff as early as next week.
Dean González will continue conversations today with the student representatives to establish a process for moving forward.
