University Star

President Denise Trauth has decided to host more outreach sessions than usual this spring in an effort to connect with students.

Two Open Door sessions, one at the J.C. Kellam building Feb. 6 and another at the LBJ Student Center March 4, will be held this spring, along with a March 5 Associated Student Government Round Table. In addition, an invitation-only event called Cat Chat will be held April 10.

The Open Door sessions are an opportunity for students to express concerns, opinions and ideas on university affairs to the institution’s highest ranking administrator and can be attended by anyone interested. The meetings at JCK have been long standing, but the second session in the Student Center was added because of the building’s accessibility.

“LBJ is a more convenient location for students who might not be in that part of campus or even know where the president’s office (at JCK) is,” said Candy Risien, an administrative assistant in the president’s office.

Risien said the additional Open Door session will be conducted exactly like previous sessions. The meetings will consist of a 15-minute session with each individual student, allowing expression beyond the restraint of a set agenda.

Mary Ann Mendoza, executive assistant to the president, said the ASG Round Table event would follow a similar pattern of conduct to the Open Door sessions. Any student can attend the event in the North Campus Housing Complex in the Traditions Room. Key campus administrators will be in attendance, along with ASG members.

Danielle Bonanno, ASG senator at-large, said her meetings with Trauth are always positive.
“It’s an intimate setting with open communication where she could truly get to know us,” Bonanno said.

The final session of the semester, Cat Chat, is an invitation-only event for students to enjoy an open dialogue with Trauth and other campus administrators over coffee.

Students wishing to get a more exclusive talk with the president can attend the Cat Chat session. Students must register online with the Division of Student Affairs, and a select few will be chosen at random from the pool of applicants for the private meeting.

Mendoza said while the number of Open Door sessions has increased, these events are not anything new.

“Cat Chat, ASG Round Table and the Open Door meetings are always done by Dr. Trauth,” Mendoza said. “She definitely believes in engaging students.”