Artifact 1 - Governance Memo - Elkins
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Running head: GOVERNANCE MEMO
1
Governance Memo Shelby Elkins Loyola University Chicago
GOVERNANCE MEMO
2 Memorandum
TO: Dr. David Rudd, University of Memphis President FROM: Shelby Elkins, Higher Education Consultant DATE: February 10, 2018 SUBJECT: Acquisition of Neighboring Private Properties
Dear President Rudd, After the University of Memphis’(UofM) governing board’s recent steps to move forward with the acquisition of nearby off-campus housing, I am writing you to address steps that can be taken to create a smoother transition and a more positive student experience (Corbet, 2019). Multiple universities have taken such steps, and there have been hostile environments created for students (Schultz, 2018). My hope for you would be to implement important steps to incorporate students’ thoughts, develop an off-campus housing culture, improve safety around campus, and to amend policies that may be viewed as restrictive to the student experience. These recommendations are from other universities’ missteps that have shown what can and most likely will not work (Schultz, 2018). In an age of fast media and swift action, it is vital for the university to consider all of their options to avoid crises before they happen. As current UofM student Drew Gilmore stated, “My concern is for students who are there right now, and how that transition will work going from independent housing to university housing” (Corbet, 2019). Action Plan to Create a New Community “Off-Campus” •
Conduct assessment of impacted students
GOVERNANCE MEMO
3
o By assessing all students’ thoughts on the housing acquisition and the potential residence life community, you can foresee what issues might arise and how you can address them. When the University of Delaware acquired off-campus housing and were planning to convert it to university housing, grave student concerns plagued the acquisition and created a negative impression of the purchase (Schultz, 2018). By gauging these thoughts ahead of any acquisition, there is an opportunity for you to avoid such situations. o The following topics should be assessed to help any team address them proactively: §
How would off-campus housing costs impact students’ decision to stay in university housing?
•
§
Are Resident Assistants pertinent/necessary for off-campus housing?
§
Do on-campus policies apply to off-campus housing?
§
What amenities to university housing are the most valued?
Amend policies for off-campus housing o Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) also acquired off-campus properties and had to amend their policies to adapt to their new housing system (Barker, 2016). Off-campus housing is typically for older students, so policies tend to be more relaxed to give students a higher rate of autonomy and opportunity for growth (Schultz, 2018). By amending policies and allowing more autonomy, students might feel more comfortable remaining in university housing.
GOVERNANCE MEMO
4
o You should request the following policies be reviewed for off-campus housing:
•
§
Quiet hours
§
Guest visitation limits
§
Alcohol policies for students over 21 years of age
§
Electrical equipment restrictions
§
Time periods of contractual commitment
Create an off-campus residential environment o Although off-campus housing can seem detached from on-campus housing, the opportunity to create a learning community still exists and can bare heavy fruits for students. By creating a community, students can feel more welcomed and build lasting relationships through growth and self-authoring (Patton, Renn, Guido, & Quaye, 2016). o I would recommend that the following off-campus housing environmental aspects be addressed before any facilities open under the direction of the university: §
§
Residential curriculum •
Programming
•
Learning objectives
Access to on-campus resources •
Mental health crisis
•
Campus Safety presence
•
Information Technology support
GOVERNANCE MEMO
5 •
•
Resident Assistant presence
Improve safety o My last recommendation for off-campus housing integration would be to fully and highly incorporate Campus Safety’s presence with any new facilities acquired. With off-campus housing, there tends to be a distance and divide that can lead to safety concerns. These are still safety concerns that belong to the university and the community they support. o These safety upgrades can assist the university in its endeavor to improve safety for off-campus housing: §
Install “blue light poles”
§
Include Campus Safety patrol
§
Improve card access technology
§
Add night security presence (if front desks exist) Limitations
It is hard to always know what issues will arise, but you can try to be proactive. By showing you are trying to involve students’ thoughts, you can attempt to avoid a public relations nightmare. This will of course take money and require committees that work together to achieve their joint goals. This will require planning, a lot of time, and the agreement of campus partners. Since policies typically exist for a reason, risk management must be considered when amending policies to avoid increased incidents. Although there are limitations, these steps must be taken for the betterment of your campus environment and vision for the university. Article link: https://www.dailymemphian.com/article/2731/University-of-Memphistrustees-approve-apartment-acquisition
GOVERNANCE MEMO
6 References
Barker, R. (2016, March 25). “Getting 'creative': EKU looking to public-private partnerships for priority projects.” Retrieved February 10, 2019, from https://www.richmondregister.com/news/getting-creative-eku-looking-to-public-privatepartnerships-for-priority/article_d4f7eebc-f2c6-11e5-be2c-b3f558240c91.html Corbet, M. (2019, January 30). “University of Memphis trustees approve apartment acquisition.” Retrieved February 10, 2019, from https://www.dailymemphian.com/article/2731/University-of-Memphis-trustees-approveapartment-acquisition Patton, L. D., Renn, K. A., Guido, F. M., & Quaye, S. (2016). Student Development in College: Theory, Research, and Practice, 3rd Edition. John Wiley & Sons. Schultz, B. (2018, October 05). “UD's acquisition of University Courtyard leaves some students upset.” Retrieved February 10, 2019, from https://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/uds-acquisition-of-university-courtyard-leaves-some-students-upset/article_1ca97ca8-89af513f-ae3e-32532a79b0c2.html
1
Governance Memo Shelby Elkins Loyola University Chicago
GOVERNANCE MEMO
2 Memorandum
TO: Dr. David Rudd, University of Memphis President FROM: Shelby Elkins, Higher Education Consultant DATE: February 10, 2018 SUBJECT: Acquisition of Neighboring Private Properties
Dear President Rudd, After the University of Memphis’(UofM) governing board’s recent steps to move forward with the acquisition of nearby off-campus housing, I am writing you to address steps that can be taken to create a smoother transition and a more positive student experience (Corbet, 2019). Multiple universities have taken such steps, and there have been hostile environments created for students (Schultz, 2018). My hope for you would be to implement important steps to incorporate students’ thoughts, develop an off-campus housing culture, improve safety around campus, and to amend policies that may be viewed as restrictive to the student experience. These recommendations are from other universities’ missteps that have shown what can and most likely will not work (Schultz, 2018). In an age of fast media and swift action, it is vital for the university to consider all of their options to avoid crises before they happen. As current UofM student Drew Gilmore stated, “My concern is for students who are there right now, and how that transition will work going from independent housing to university housing” (Corbet, 2019). Action Plan to Create a New Community “Off-Campus” •
Conduct assessment of impacted students
GOVERNANCE MEMO
3
o By assessing all students’ thoughts on the housing acquisition and the potential residence life community, you can foresee what issues might arise and how you can address them. When the University of Delaware acquired off-campus housing and were planning to convert it to university housing, grave student concerns plagued the acquisition and created a negative impression of the purchase (Schultz, 2018). By gauging these thoughts ahead of any acquisition, there is an opportunity for you to avoid such situations. o The following topics should be assessed to help any team address them proactively: §
How would off-campus housing costs impact students’ decision to stay in university housing?
•
§
Are Resident Assistants pertinent/necessary for off-campus housing?
§
Do on-campus policies apply to off-campus housing?
§
What amenities to university housing are the most valued?
Amend policies for off-campus housing o Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) also acquired off-campus properties and had to amend their policies to adapt to their new housing system (Barker, 2016). Off-campus housing is typically for older students, so policies tend to be more relaxed to give students a higher rate of autonomy and opportunity for growth (Schultz, 2018). By amending policies and allowing more autonomy, students might feel more comfortable remaining in university housing.
GOVERNANCE MEMO
4
o You should request the following policies be reviewed for off-campus housing:
•
§
Quiet hours
§
Guest visitation limits
§
Alcohol policies for students over 21 years of age
§
Electrical equipment restrictions
§
Time periods of contractual commitment
Create an off-campus residential environment o Although off-campus housing can seem detached from on-campus housing, the opportunity to create a learning community still exists and can bare heavy fruits for students. By creating a community, students can feel more welcomed and build lasting relationships through growth and self-authoring (Patton, Renn, Guido, & Quaye, 2016). o I would recommend that the following off-campus housing environmental aspects be addressed before any facilities open under the direction of the university: §
§
Residential curriculum •
Programming
•
Learning objectives
Access to on-campus resources •
Mental health crisis
•
Campus Safety presence
•
Information Technology support
GOVERNANCE MEMO
5 •
•
Resident Assistant presence
Improve safety o My last recommendation for off-campus housing integration would be to fully and highly incorporate Campus Safety’s presence with any new facilities acquired. With off-campus housing, there tends to be a distance and divide that can lead to safety concerns. These are still safety concerns that belong to the university and the community they support. o These safety upgrades can assist the university in its endeavor to improve safety for off-campus housing: §
Install “blue light poles”
§
Include Campus Safety patrol
§
Improve card access technology
§
Add night security presence (if front desks exist) Limitations
It is hard to always know what issues will arise, but you can try to be proactive. By showing you are trying to involve students’ thoughts, you can attempt to avoid a public relations nightmare. This will of course take money and require committees that work together to achieve their joint goals. This will require planning, a lot of time, and the agreement of campus partners. Since policies typically exist for a reason, risk management must be considered when amending policies to avoid increased incidents. Although there are limitations, these steps must be taken for the betterment of your campus environment and vision for the university. Article link: https://www.dailymemphian.com/article/2731/University-of-Memphistrustees-approve-apartment-acquisition
GOVERNANCE MEMO
6 References
Barker, R. (2016, March 25). “Getting 'creative': EKU looking to public-private partnerships for priority projects.” Retrieved February 10, 2019, from https://www.richmondregister.com/news/getting-creative-eku-looking-to-public-privatepartnerships-for-priority/article_d4f7eebc-f2c6-11e5-be2c-b3f558240c91.html Corbet, M. (2019, January 30). “University of Memphis trustees approve apartment acquisition.” Retrieved February 10, 2019, from https://www.dailymemphian.com/article/2731/University-of-Memphis-trustees-approveapartment-acquisition Patton, L. D., Renn, K. A., Guido, F. M., & Quaye, S. (2016). Student Development in College: Theory, Research, and Practice, 3rd Edition. John Wiley & Sons. Schultz, B. (2018, October 05). “UD's acquisition of University Courtyard leaves some students upset.” Retrieved February 10, 2019, from https://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/uds-acquisition-of-university-courtyard-leaves-some-students-upset/article_1ca97ca8-89af513f-ae3e-32532a79b0c2.html
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