Are you confused about which person to talk to regarding scheduling, tuition, housing or other campus issues?
With the intent to help students navigate resources on campus, Miami University has recently created the Student Advocacy Network, a new resource intended to help students find information and answers to problems involving all offices and resource centers at Miami.
The network was established after Richard Nault, vice president of student affairs, and John Skillings, vice provost, did a study on how students understand and use university offices and personnel.
Dean of Students Susan Mosely-Howard, who is also an advocate, said the committee was then asked to develop a plan to help students use the resources.
"Sometimes it can be hard navigating the various offices," Mosely-Howard said, after reviewing the study done by Nault and Skillings. She said students are often confused by the different offices and are unsure where to direct questions about student life and academics.
The team eventually proposed the Student Advocacy Network, which employs nine advocates from various university departments in Oxford, Hamilton and Middletown to help students on all campuses. These faculty members receive e-mail, phone and in-person questions based on their area of expertise and respond to the student within 72 hours.
Director of Health Education Karen Murray, an advocate, handles questions submitted to the network regarding health programming.
"It's not really what I anticipated," she said, referring to the questions she has received. "The ones that I've responded to aren't necessarily health service questions ... it's people looking for information for classes, or for planning their programming."
Mosley-Howard said the students receive direct answers, referrals and help with other inquiries depending on their needs or concerns. Students are directed to pertinent offices or administrators who can help with everything from academic issues to conduct and living concerns.
"I thought (the Student Advocacy Network) would be the best way to have a personal touch that is still convenient for students," Mosley-Howard said.
Murray said the advocacy network is a more direct and timely means for students to use on-campus resources and she hopes that her work as an advocate will coincide with the development of the Campus Assistance Program.
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"The intention is for (the network) to be a one stop place," Mosely-Howard said. "They're supposed to cut through some of the red tape for you."
Staff has posted information on the network in residence halls and the program has had several inquires since it began eight weeks ago, said Mosley-Howard. She hopes that the convenience of e-mail responses will encourage students to seek out faculty help for all academic and non-academic discrepancies.
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