A Student-Centered Campus

One of the dominant features of the present plan is the continued emphasis on being a student-centered campus.

For many years, the philosophy of being student centered in all aspects of university life, activities and programs has been discussed, developed, implemented and practiced at Sul Ross State University. As part of our strategic planning process, it is important to redefine and discuss student centered as it applies to the community that is Sul Ross State University.

Student centered means that Sul Ross State University in its entirety is committed to helping students succeed in their academic, co-curricular, social, moral and civic endeavors while they are participants in our programs and throughout the remainder of their lives. Success is defined as achieving the goals students set for themselves and the goals outlined in our mission statement that we as an institution help them develop to maintain a rich and rewarding life of learning and service.

Every decision or change made by institutional staff is to be made in the context of how the outcomes will have affect student success as it relates to the entire student community. Occasionally such decisions may adversely impact individuals or small groups of students. Thus decisions on a student-centered campus ultimately are made in the interest of the greater student population.

Some campus offices may not generally have direct contact with students. Their commitment to student success is then in service to other university community members whose responsibility is more directly related to helping students succeed.

Whether we are addressing learning, scholarship or community service, everything we do as a community of scholars must have a goal of positively affecting student success.

There are conditions that are not part of being a student-centered campus. Relaxing or reducing standards or expectations in the classroom or in student performance whether on the athletic field, the theater stage or other areas of student endeavor is not being student centered.

Likewise, failure to consistently and fairly apply policies for all students in enforcing university rules and regulations does not contribute to student success. Expectations and goals are an important part of student success and must be encouraged at the highest level.

A lack of understanding of student centered occurs when the interests of a single student or group are implicitly represented to outweigh the interests of the student community as a whole.

Student centered will continue to be the imperative in our planning and our evaluation in addressing our mission in west Texas. Our goal will remain to provide educational opportunity and student success in the context of being student centered for all who seek to participate in programs and services at Sul Ross State University.