Chancellor Kent Syverud answered student questions for nearly 40 minutes on a wide range of topics relating to communication, student life and academics during Student Association’s assembly meeting Monday night.

Syverud, who was attending his first SA meeting since he became chancellor in January, spoke for about 10 minutes before opening the floor to questions from assembly members. Since coming to Syracuse University, Syverud said he has met with students, faculty and staff to learn about the university and get advice.

“I guess I’ve learned that what keeps this place going is not so much the work of the guy at the top but the people in every part of the university, if they cheerfully and consistently remember the mission of this place,” he said.

The university currently faces three main challenges, Syverud said. First, SU needs to develop a strategic plan that clearly outlines what its priorities are and how they can be achieved. Second, the university has many areas currently in transition including athletics, the College of Arts and Sciences and fundraising. Finally, communication among administrators, students and staff needs to be improved, Syverud said.

The theme of communication is a topic that Syverud came back to again and again during both his initial speech and the question-and-answer session. Syverud stressed the need to connect with the campus community through many different modes of communication in order to get feedback. He pledged to increase transparency and be honest with people about why decisions are made.

“There are more committees here than any place I’ve ever been. So, in theory, there should be more meetings here than in any place I’ve ever been and so there should be more opportunities to talk in person to people at those meetings,” he said. “Nevertheless, it feels like people are still surprised a lot by decisions.”

Raising tuition is one decision that many students have asked Syverud about since he became chancellor, he said. He noted that sometimes there can be tension between the goals of providing students with a broad, liberal arts education and preparing students to have successful careers upon graduation. Tuition needs to cover both these goals, he added.

It’s important that the university use data to keep track of how students are doing and evaluate whether an SU education is worth the cost of tuition, Syverud said.

Syverud also discussed the issue of acceptance rates and student diversity. Applications to SU have grown substantially in recent years and the university’s acceptance rate is high compared to peer institutions in some programs, he said. But Syverud said SU has more ways to apply than any other university he’s studied, making the admissions picture even more complicated.

“So I cannot give a single answer to all those questions,” he said. “But I do think that if we’re doing things right here, many more people will want to come here and by definition that means the acceptance rate will go down.”

Following the question-and-answer session, Syverud returned to his seat and stayed for the rest of the SA meeting before walking back to the chancellor’s house on Comstock Avenue.

Other business discussed:
• Vice President Daniela Lopez gave a presentation about BandVersity, a website that helps create a community for college students to discuss their interests and college life. Lopez said the website could be a good way for SA to connect informally with students and listen to their concerns. SU would be the pilot school for this website, she added.
• Allie Curtis presented a resolution supporting Elect Her, a program that encourages and trains college women to run for student government and future political office. The resolution passed unanimously. Elect Her will take place this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Student Life Committee Chair Aysha Seedat gave a presentation on the committee’s initiative to allow transfer students to rush during their first semester on campus. The petition the committee is circulating currently has more than 500 signatures, she said.

Published on April 1, 2014 at 1:53 am

Contact Jessica: jliannet@syr.edu | @JessicaIannetta