Hastings College

Student Life

Strategy A: 

Improve and expand residential living experiences for students.

Action 1:  Hire a part-time director of Housing.
Progress:  Hired part-time director July 2005; extended contract to 12 months June 2006.

Action 2:  Explore “theme” housing options for apartment and suite-style living for junior and senior students.
Progress:  Developed a working Bronco Village Board of apartment residents to oversee  ongoing community development efforts at the apartments.  Designated an alcohol-free apartment building for those choosing this environment and/or not of legal drinking age.  Initiated a Bronco Village newsletter to promote community activities and foster regular communication about matters at the apartments.  Based on information from the 2006 Student Focus Groups and the 2006 Student Satisfaction Inventory, have initiated plans to conduct a comprehensive quality of life survey for all residential life students by spring 2007.

Action 3:  Improve student dining experiences by enhancing the atmosphere, flow of traffic, and offerings in the dining hall at Hazelrigg Student Union.
Progress:  Presently considering two proposals from Sodexho for improved signage, lighting, and serving equipment in the dining hall.  Continue to convene the food service committee, which makes suggestions and reviews student concerns about all aspects of food service at the college.  Based on information from the 2006 Student Focus Groups and the 2006 Student Satisfaction Inventory have convened a Hazelrigg Improvement Committee to discuss a variety of improvements in the dining area and other areas of Hazelrigg.

Action 4:  Develop more assertive, well-trained resident assistants.
Progress:  Completed the first expanded resident assistant training in August 2006; training was doubled in duration and included peer education certification.  Continue to conduct monthly resident assistant in-service trainings on topics related to residential living.

Strategy B: 

Establish a campus-wide Diversity Program that emphasizes the contributions and historical significance of various groups.

Action 1:  Develop an orientation program for new minority students.
Progress:  No new progress.

Action 2:  Provide funds for Cultural awareness programs.
Progress:  Team Against Bias (TAB) has been convened and divided into three sub-categories for planning purposes, two of which entail long-term and short-term diversity program planning respectively.  Planning continues under this umbrella group to centralize funding from several existing budgets for cultural awareness programs.

Action 3:  Investigate the possibility of a minority student activity on campus.
Progress:  Active planning is under way for several minority student events/activities on campus during Black History month – January 2007, to be coordinated by the minority student counselor/advisor and multi-cultural student union.

Strategy C: 

Evaluate and improve student activity areas and buildings.

Action 1:  Redesign the Kiewit Gymnasium pool by adding a sliding glass door and patio.
Progress:  Pool heating equipment was replaced and pool repainted in spring of 2006; no progress on glass door and patio.

Action 2:  Explore the feasibility of a snack bar at Hazelrigg Student Union.
Progress:  Discussion under way in student focus groups regarding a snack bar in the student union; additional planning ongoing regarding overall enhancement of the student union, redesign of the game room, and increased hours of operation of the student union weeknights and weekends.  The student association is active in this planning.

Action 3:  Relocate the Frisbee golf course and add a campus walking course with signage.
Progress:  No progress to date.

Strategy D: 

Improve and expand the campus security system.

Action 1:  Conduct a campus-wide evaluation of the Security Department.
Progress:  Public Safety director completed a comprehensive annual activity report in May 2006; staff evaluations completed May 2006.

Action 2:  Hire an additional security person.
Progress:  Replaced director in August 2005; hired additional full-time officer in October 2005; hired part-time weekend officer with focus on college apartments in November 2005; hired fourth full-time officer to start July 2006.  Renamed department to public safety department, purchased new uniforms and relocated to Kiewit for greater accessibility and visibility.

Strategy E: 

Improve and expand health and career counseling services for students.

Action 1:  Hire a full-time female counselor who may have additional duties in Peer Education.
Progress:  Hired a part-time (.20FTE) female counselor October 2005; continue to contract part-time (.20FTE) with independent private practice female counselor.  Have consolidated these commitments for 2007-2007 by contracting with a Hastings private therapist with Ph.D.  Using results of ACHA Health Risk Assessment completed May 2006 to guide decision regarding need for supplemental counseling services – type and quantity.

Action 2:  Form an Alcohol Task Force.
Progress:  Alcohol Task Force formed November 2005; work proceeds to address alcohol-related problems on campus.  The Task Force will be revamped and expanded to include community representation in 2006-2007.  First meeting of fall 2006 semester scheduled for December 7; will discuss alcohol at honors houses, Good Samaritan policy, general updates on alcohol-related incidents on campus.  Joan McCarthy and Judy Sandeen attended an alcohol task force training sponsored by the Nebraska Collegiate Consortium to Reduce High Risk Drinking on September 12 & 13, 2006.  Using results of ACHA Health Risk Assessment completed May 2006 to guide programs and planning with regard to alcohol and other drug education and prevention; Ad Club developing tobacco use education and prevention program based on results of same survey.

Action 3:  Hire a nurse practitioner upon retirement of the Health Center Director.
Progress:  Health Center Director retirement planned for May 2007; discussions are ongoing regarding Health Center/Counseling center staffing, including discussion with Mary Lanning Hospital executives regarding provision of part-time NP presence on campus.  Using results of ACHA Health Risk Assessment completed May 2006 to guide decisions regarding Health Center staffing going forward – including medical/clinical services, mental health services, and peer education advisement.

Action 4:  Develop additional partnerships to connect students with employers.
Progress:  Hosted first general fall career fair in October 2005 – 100 students attended, 26 employers and 3 graduate schools participated; joined MonsterTRAK Power , an online job posting and search website; member of 11-college Nebraska Interview Consortium.

Strategy F: 

Ensure that the Student Judicial System continues to provide a fair and equitable process.

Action:  Conduct a complete review and evaluation of the Student Judicial system.
Progress:  Student Judicial system review completed, resulting in the addition of an administrative hearing option complimentary to existing judicial procedures, a refinement and update of administrative sanction options (monetary fines and educational service hours), and the development of a progressive discipline process for alcohol/drug policy violations.  Planning will continue regarding the eventual replacement of financial fine sanctions with educational service hours.