Aaron Berkowitz – General Assignment Reporter
Discussion about the plan for CSCU Transform 20/20 has been going on at SCSU, but students still have questions.
Alicia DiVito, senior business management major and President of Student Government, said she thought the discussion was informational but not what she expected.
“The roundtable discussion didn’t make me feel like the students were included in any of the decisions that are being made in this plan,” said DiVito. “From the meetings that I have been to so far it feels like they are more defensive of the plan than trying to understand the concerns of the students.”
DiVito said she realizes the effort being made by the university in trying to improve their quality education, but would have liked to see a more clear and concise plan presented at the meeting.
“I asked myself ‘why are they doing this? Do they just need more backing from the state?’,” said DiVito.
Mike Kozlowski, Director of Public Affairs and Marketing for CSCU, said there’s a reason for the 15-roundtable discussions that have been held around the other universities around the state.
“We haven’t done a good enough job getting the students’ perspective on the plan,” said Kozlowski.
Meredith Peterson, senior anthropology major and Vice President of student government, said it was her duty as a student to attend the meeting.
“It’s our responsibility as students to be informed about what’s going on around campus,” said Peterson. “We weren’t really included in a lot of the initial discussions so my concern coming into the meeting is that I wouldn’t understand anything. After leaving I think the goals described in the plan may be over-simplified.”
Kozlowski said the CSCU needs its students’ help in order to make their plan a reality and also that students are their number one priority.
He also said the $125 million that has already dispersed to the university has been used to get a head start on a few of their 36 initiatives, implementing smart classrooms.
“By spring of next year we will have 12 smart classrooms deployed about the system on a pilot basis, said Kozlowski. “One of the goals of these classrooms is to take a lecture from a professor and broadcast it online throughout the state or around the world.”
CSCU’s website said one of their goals of the plan is to unite the 17 universities across the state to create one solid interdependent system.
This raised some concern for Peterson.
“The plan will look really good nationally because he said the plan will make it easier for students attending community colleges to transfer to 4-year institution and the graduation rate will improve,” said Peterson.
“Which will all contribute to creating a more unified system. Ideally this would be great if we were starting from scratch,” said Peterson, “but I think the detriment comes in when you have already established state schools. What’s going to happen is as we form this system we are really stripping the identity’s of these schools.”
Kazlowski said the progress of the plan is a process and will require more time and effort of the students to see its full effects.
“If you have questions about any of the initiatives listed under the plan then please email one of the executive sponsors,” said Kazlowski. “All of these things are still capable of being changed. “
The effort required of students Kazlowski talked about doesn’t end with sending emails to the sponsors; he also said the planning of a “Student Day” is in the works. It will involve as many students as possible going to visit the legislature to convince them that the university needs more resources in order to accomplish the goals that are set, according to Kazlowski.
Photo Credit: Derek Torrellas
