Colleen Grahek

Staff Writer

ESU’s University Senate met on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and discussed campus-wide DEI programs as well as the student retention rate.

The first meeting of the spring semester was started by an opening statement from ESU President Kenneth Long, which was followed by a presentation on the Gardner Report by Dr. Kizzy Morris, associate provost of student success. Main issues included DEI’s possible impact on financial aid and a lengthy debate on how student retention can improve with the current resources available to students. 

In Long’s opening statement, he added on to what he had previously said in an introductory email that was sent out to the campus community at the start of the semester. 

“Over the last week and a half, there’s been a whirlwind of action in the community as a result of the administration change,” said Long. “We value to be a community where everyone is valued. Everyone is important. Everyone is a member of this community. We will continue to be the university that you come to either work or get an education at. Our values will not change.” 

Long then expressed that freedom of expression and equal treatment is important and that even if we cannot control what happens outside of ESU’s walls, what everyone can control is how they interact with one another. 

He also addressed the growing concerns of students and faculty relating to DEI programs and the impact it may have on financial aid. He stated that grants, loans and any other federal aid have not been affected or changed. 

“Can they change? Yes. But it has always been changing,” Long said. “I really encourage everyone, really, just take a breath. We will be okay. I have faith it will be for the good. If you’re a faculty member, teach. If you’re a student, learn. Administrators, keep the university running on the values we believe in.” 

In other news, Dr. Kizzy Morris presented her current data on the Gardner Report, a project that focused on gathering data on the involuntary and voluntary reasons for the decrease in student retention. Data results were gathered by Morris and her team of academic success coaches.  

“There is an average loss of 75 students in a four-year degree program,” Morris said. “Our main goal is to figure out how to help keep students. How to identify factors that impede student success and deploy a support strategy.” 

Morris added that the Gardner Report and its goals are still a work in progress and another meeting between herself and the academic success coaches will take place during the current semester to discuss further action. Possible solutions such as frequent follow-up meetings between the students and success coaches, support plan developments and an increase in year-round programming were suggested. 

Members of the Student Government Association expressed concerns about students not knowing about resources that are available to them. A suggestion was brought up about bringing back the First Year Experience course, sparking an engaging commentary between Provost Dr. Margaret Ball, faculty members and the students in terms of what the college’s budget would allow and how students and professors can work together to communicate how the students can be helped with what resources the college currently offers. 

“How do we know that FYE worked?” Ball said. “There is no data to show that it made a difference. Everyone has great ideas for progress. The question is, how do we do that with our budget?” 

 Jan Hoffman, a student success coach, stated that resources for students are available, but there seems to be a gap between the services and the students’ knowledge of the resources. 

“What can we do to make our role better known to the students?” Hoffman asked. “How can we do better to help or make students be more aware of us?” 

Hoffman also requested that the results from the Gardner Report be shared to the faculty and staff for reflection and commenting. 

Senate President, Dr. Susan Dillmuth-Miller, put forward a vote and a recommendation to President Long for consideration. 

Dillmuth-Miller stated in an email correspondence, “We are a recommending body to the president. We deliberate and make recommendations. President Long has the final say if the recommendations are implemented.”