The deans of Student Life are creating a public relations (PR) campaign on campus to make students more aware of their accessibility. While the attempt to connect students to administration is nothing new, this is the first time the deans have branded the attempt and are bringing it to the attention of the student body.
Assistant Vice President for Student Life Zach Neal said the idea to start a PR campaign came from years of hearing students express the need for more ways to communicate with administration.
“Through the years we have said our doors are always open, and while that is true, not as many students take advantage of it like they could,” Neal said. “So we thought, ‘Is there a way for us to at least present ourselves in a way that is approachable?’ There wasn’t a moment that we said, ‘Okay, we are going to start a PR campaign’ — it was organic.”
According to Neal, sophomore Student Association (SA) representative Monica Giles and the SA student life committee are the driving forces behind the “Dine with the Deans” idea. Neal said the grassroots foundation came from a synergy between the Student Association (SA) and all the deans.
“We’re hoping that (“Dine with the Deans”)can be a monthly thing where we do a drawing so students can go off campus and have real food instead of the caf,” Giles said. “(The deans) wanted to get the picture out there that they’re approachable and that they can be our friends as well as mentors. They are disciplinarians, but they’re more than that.”
Giles said the purpose of the campaign is to show the student body that the deans are real people with distinct personalities. Ranan Hester, assistant dean of students, said she loves the PR campaign because she thinks being available to students is an important aspect of being a dean.
“I think dean PR is great,” Hester said. “It provides one more opportunity to meet and get to know some really great students on campus and hear different ways of looking at things. I hope students will embrace the genuine desire I personally have to hear their thoughts and concerns. I am always open to new ideas and welcome students to come by for a visit.”
According to Neal, “The Deanery,” as he affectionately calls their Student Life Office, has been brainstorming different ways to be active on campus, besides the “normal presence in the cafeteria at noon on Wednesdays.”
“In a more natural way we are trying to be a face on campus,” Neal said. “While walking on the sidewalk or in the student center or interacting with students at extracurricular events — supporting students any way that we can with the goal that communication will always be open.”
