Universities showcase many different aspects of students’ lives. Upon this journey, key factors that hold students and the administration together need to be present and respected in order to enable a smooth and solid relationship. As a result, students will be able to thrive within an institution whose willing to invest more time and resources in accommodating most of their needs and wants. The trust which is the key factor discussed in this article is only vague and meaningless without the drivers that affect it; namely commitment and lack of motivation.
Commitment- Dr. Cherif Belefkheih’s take
I want to see engaged purposeful students who want to work diligently towards their goal
Dr. Cherif Bel Fekih, Educational Director for Institutional Research & Effectiveness
In fact, Dr. Cherif Bel Fekih expresses his words as a wish due to constant deceiving behaviors from students who never show commitment in services deemed to be essential for them. “We sent out the Student Opinion Survey (SOS) that consisted of 75 questions. Out of 2222 students, only 426 students gave us their feedbacks about each service in the institution.”, he states. The SOS is a medium for students to voice their concerns regarding the quality services of the departments at the University namely business, athletics, health departments, and so on.
Unfortunately, the feedback from students was of low quality and the responses did not reflect every student’s concern in AUI. The engagement of students expressed by Dr. Belefkheih fell by the wayside even when the Q&A forum made for students did not succeed in being the main attention grabber for the students to come and state their complaints. “Do you know how many students came to the forum? 10 in total and for only one sector, academics”, claims Dr. Cherif Bel Fekih. Accordingly, these numbers reflect the imagery that the administration has of its students; one of irresponsibility, and illogical responses. The SOS along with the Q&A forum was one of the many opportunities that knocked on each and every students’ door. Regrettably, only some decided to take it and express their concerns. The panels of discussions made FOR students needed to be canceled multiple times. It was in this instance that the student-administration relationship witnessed its first slit.
Commitment- Ms. Stubanas’s take
It is important to note that counseling workshops benefit many students, especially those on probation, to reconnect with university life. Yet, only 2 to 5 people attend the workshops. Ms. Stubanas ponders about this point stating, “I want to know why students feel like they are obliged, enforced, pushed to accomplish something. It is demotivating even for us to see such little interest.”. It seems like students reinforce the idea of lack of commitment that the administration feels towards students and trust issues only continue to escalate.
We had to open these counseling services for all AUI students to get more audience, but the result is mostly deceiving
Katy Stubanas, Counselor AUI and ASI
Lack of Motivation from the Students’ Side
Concerns never include one party only, for students have reasons as to why they lose commitment in events that could have been highly outstanding. Simply the answer is recurrent loops. By that, students refer to the endless trips of being sent out from one department to another and the students feel trapped in this vicious loop. These processes are both time-consuming and brain-draining for students who feel like departments pin responsibility on other departments. As a result, collateral damages develop from the unclear communication between various departments.
I had to go see three different departments to simply approve an online course. At my last stop, I was told that one person needed to approve my course. The solution resided in only one department, the other two were unnecessary
Sophomore Student
Additionally, the hierarchical system sometimes goes astray when the students receive a confirmation from a higher power while the opposite is said by the powers below the executive ones. The latter creates frustration for students who are initially demotivated to pursue any activity they initially chose to be creative in. One could say that the administration creates some obstacles for the students and the students directly give up.
I think some of us are victims of pre-conceived ideas. How can I give my 100% potential when I am faced with an administration that resists change?
Sophomore Student
The question raised remains in whether commitment and lack of motivation ever intersect somewhere to explain these feelings expressed by both the administration and the students. Both parties were deceived from various actions and both are not willing to give the benefit of the doubt knowing that deception will result. Lao Tzu explained trust in the best way; for “he who does not trust- will not be trusted.” This quote is a step that both parties should make.
How will the trust be established? That is if clarity and quality service made for the students is enhanced which will invite students to become more engaged and give their undivided attention to activities. To every action, there is a reaction, and trust is earned that way.
