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UB Advocates provide "student voice"
By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor
University administrators looking for the "student perspective" on campus issues are turning to UB Advocates, a program run by the Office of Institutional Analysis and the Division of Student Affairs.
UB Advocates are student volunteers recruited to serve as campus "experts" in focus groups designed to gather input on university issues, said Carol VanZile-Tamsen, a research analyst in the Office of Institutional Analysis. The program, now in its second year, provides a forum through which students can participate in university decision-making by sharing their opinions on current issues, she added.
While the program began with only freshmen providing the "student voice," it has expanded this semester to include students at all points in their academic careers, she said. Students were recruited this semester via a My Opinion survey posted on MyUB.
"It is hoped that student volunteers will continue to participate throughout their UB careers," she said.
The program's first focus group of the academic year met last month to discuss how UB communicates with its students.
"With the growth of text messaging and online communities like Facebook and My Space, administrators were curious about the continued utility of traditional forms of communication," VanZile-Tamsen said. "UB Advocates explored the usefulness of UB's email system, MyUB, the university's official Web site (www.buffalo.edu) and printed forms of communication, such as mass mailings and campus publications."
Students in the focus group "overwhelmingly suggested that university email is still a primary means of communication," she said. Most of the students also reported that they check MyUB every day, often using it as the gateway to access university email, she added.
VanZile-Tamsen noted that the UB Advocates offer some tips for campus offices and organizations trying to reach out to students:
Students only have time for the headlines, so important dates and events should be noted on MyUB with enough information in the main heading that students do not need to read additional text for more details, unless they want to.
Students receive a lot of spam, so when university email is used, the sender should be clearly recognizable as someone associated with the university and the subject line should clearly state the content of the message.
Campus units and organizations sending bulk emails to students should do their best to ensure that email lists are updated and contain appropriate recipients, so that students do not get information from departments and/or clubs with whom they are not associated.
Students do pay attention to banners in the Student Union and bulletin boards, but these can be difficult to sort through due to overcrowding. Bulletin boards would be easier to use if they were divided into sections by topic area or type of activity.
Snail mail can be a good way to communicate with off-campus students, but on-campus students say they rarely check their mailboxes.
The UB Advocates program plans to hold several focus groups during the spring semester, including one devoted to student expectations related to university growth, VanZile-Tamsen says. Any students interested in participating can email their contact information, including person number, to ublistens@buffalo.edu, with UB Advocates in the subject line.
Faculty and staff members may suggest future focus-group topics by sending an email to the ublistens address.
The UB Advocates program eventually may be expanded to include focus groups with faculty and staff members as well, she adds.