How can Western enhance
Canada's Best Student Experience?

"Providing an assignment calculator on the Western library web site to help students plan for school projects" This is just one of the many ways identified by faculty and staff to ensure Western continues to provide the best student experience. A wide range of ideas and some of the challenges were brought forth at the May 12 Leaders' Forum.
(Complete listing of key issues identified by participants- pdf)

The discussion at the forum focused on the following key areas:

1. Stories or examples of what campus community members are currently doing in their areas to enrich the student experience. e.g.
   • Hospitality Services completed a major overhaul of menu selections and developed the "Lifestyles" program to accommodate the healthier choices being requested by students
• Campus police and other partners continue to work on ensuring a safe campus
  
2. Challenges Western faces in delivering an exemplary student experience. e.g.
   • Personalizing the student experience in such a large and diverse campus
   • Keeping up with the changing modes of student communication styles
     
3. Suggestions: what Western can do to ensure an excellent student experience. e.g.
   • Increase counselling to help students transition through their programs, or to grad school, or into the workplace
   • Focus on supporting exchange students who will be studying in other universities as well as those who are coming here on exchange
   • Support, train and recognize staff to assist them as they work to improve on the little things that can have a major impact on student experience

Increasing Graduate Student Enrolment - where we are and where we are going:

Three presenters provided an overview of Western’s goal of increasing our graduate student enrolment by 2010.

• Dr. Marty Kreiswirth – Dean of Graduate Studies
• Clare Tattersal, Coordinator of Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention
• Nanda Dimitrov, Coordinator of Teaching Assistant Programs in the Teaching Support Centre
  
  To read the complete power point presentation. (Launch presentation as Flash or download as Power Point)

1. Identifying issues relating to increasing our graduate student numbers and maintaining our reputation for the best student experience. e.g.
   • Support cultural diversity, all faculty and staff can accommodate language and cultural differences
   • Increase lab, office, and living space
   • Increase grad student career mentoring

What happens with these suggestions and comments?

First and foremost you are invited to continue the discussion with other staff and faculty to gain shared understanding of the ways your area contributes to and what you can do to continue to meet the challenge of enhancing the best student experience at Western.

In addition, Western's Organizational and Leadership Development Team will use the comments and suggestions provided to identify further ways to support faculty and staff in their efforts to ensure exemplary student experience.