Communication between university officials and students is a consistent problem at OCU. Whether it involves staff and faculty transitions, events for students on campus or financial changes within the school, students need to be made aware of things that are happening around them.
When G.O. OKCU, a half-day leadership conference for students, was rescheduled, a general notification was sent out on OrgSync, but not through email. Some students were confused about the rescheduling and felt they did not receive enough notice. Often, students feel student engagement events are advertised too late.
Some students also feel uncomfortable when they are unaware of officials leaving or joining the school. Many of these faculty members are professors who students have become familiar and comfortable with, making it a shock when they suddenly aren’t there anymore. University officials should take action to be proactive, timely and transparent with these issues.
OCU is a busy school. Students feel their time should be respected, and officials should give reasonable notice of events happening or transitions within the school.
But sometimes too much information can be overwhelming. Developing a streamlined method of communication would help students filter information. If students could select what activity emails they receive, they could better determine which events they wish to attend. If a student is more concerned with specific changes in the school, they should have the option to receive information concerning that topic or, alternatively, the option not to receive those emails.
Communication is reliant on the efforts of both parties. Students should check their email often to ensure they don’t miss important meetings or events they might be interested in. Stay up to date with OCU’s Facebook page and the social media accounts in individual schools. Keep a calendar handy to remind yourself of upcoming events and activities. Speak to professors or university officials if you continue to have concerns about communication on campus.
University officials must continue to provide transparency and readily-available information to the campus community.
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