Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

Likins tells ASUA advising, retention need work

Karen Tully Arizona Daily Wildcat UA President Peter Likins speaks at an ASUA meeting yesterday evening in the Senior Ballroom at the Memorial Student Union. Likins answered questions from ASUA senators on issues ranging from advising to residence halls.

In his first meeting with the ASUA Senate, UA President Peter Likins last night acknowledged that student advising and retention are in need of improvement.

Among other student issues, Associated Students members asked the president t=o comment on how poor advising leads to diminishing retention.

Likins acknowledged that the University of Arizona needs to improve in the area of student advising, especially for freshman and sophomore students. He said that faculty members have handled too much of the undergraduate advising duties.

Likins said this has had a negative effect on the university's attempt to improve student retention.

"Retention of students at this university is, to my way of thinking, the most difficult challenge," he said. "We do know that retention here is bad."

Likins explained that while he has not heard many complaints about upper-division advising, he does understand the difficulties for younger students who have not yet chosen their majors.

"We need to cater to the younger students' needs," he said.

The president said the new advances in campus technology - such as the Integrated Learning Center and the renovated Memorial Student Union - will help give UA students a greater sense of community, which should help the retention rate.

"The learning that you get from this place is not just in calculus and English class, but it is (found in) the people as well," he said.

ASUA President Cisco Aguilar agreed these issues need to be addressed, and praised Likins' concern after the meeting.

"He knows that these are issues. He not only hears it from students but alumni as well," Aguilar said. "I think he makes a great effort to improve the lives of students and I applaud those efforts."

Among other topics of discussion was the continuous construction on the Student Union and the building of the ILC. ASUA members raised concerns about the effect it will have on the student body.

"We are very concerned about student safety as they walk around campus, especially for the freshmen," Likins said. He added that when construction is complete "the university will be a better place."

The ASUA Senate also questioned Likins about possible increases in tuition and future student enrollment.

Likins said tuition will increase by no more than $100 in the next year. He added that while increases have occurred, for in-state students the UA continues to be one of the least expensive universities in the country.

"When you live in Arizona, you fail to appreciate how low our in-state and out of state tuition actually is," Likins said.

Later, the president said that potential increases in student enrollment will cause more problems for the university, especially in the residence halls. He added that 700 more beds will be ready for students by 2001.

In addition, he explained that the UA is continuing its attempts to lease apartments for off-campus students. He said that it is difficult to balance the needs of students with the desires of the neighboring community.