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| Student Affairs Matters :: Fall 2007 | ||||||
Message from Vice Chancellor Fred Wood continuedStudent RecruitmentWe're part of an institution that exists to serve the public, and one aspect of this role entails recruiting students from underrepresented groups to ensure the UC Davis student population reflects the great diversity of the state of California. These students add much to the campus community, and as part of the public we serve, they need to have access to the university. Continuing to focus on enhancing our academic preparation programs and admissions processes will greatly aid us in our recruitment efforts. Another important piece of student recruitment is transfer students. As costs increase, transferring to UC Davis may become an increasingly important pathway. Also, in some cultures living close to home is important, so students may prefer to engage with a local community college first. Student LifeWhen students arrive, we have some ongoing challenges. As painful as it is to admit for those of us who work hard to make the campus as welcoming as possible, not all students feel completely welcome here. I think this is particularly true for some groups of underrepresented students. Focusing academic support resources on these groups of students will facilitate their success—helping them register for classes, providing support if they run into a rough patch, and helping them find their path and establish their goals, both academic and professional. Addressing the physical and mental health of students has become increasingly important. We know that locally we have increasing demand for mental health services, and I'm very proud UC has worked as a system to provide additional mental health resources by increasing registration fees. The physical health of our students is also a priority. The recreation programs on campus are exceptional, and we want to make sure students are engaged with those. In addition, the Cowell Student Health Center does a great job of providing services and programs that keep students healthy. AccessibilityAffordability will always be a challenge. As tuition fees increase, we need to think carefully about every dollar the students spend. I'm so impressed with how hard the folks in the Memorial Union, UC Davis Bookstore and Student Housing work to keep costs down. Also, the Financial Aid staff is incredibly creative in thinking about ways to help students. Read more about Vice Chancellor Fred Wood
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