Student Service Center goes holistic

As a young university, MU is continuously developing. As a small university, MU is in the rare position of being able to adapt quickly to meet the evolving needs of its student community.

The university also holds the concept of the "education of the whole person"  - supporting the development of the student in mind, body and spirit - as a key pillar of its educational philosophy.  Playing a key role in the student out-of-classroom experience, the Student Service Center was given the green light by MU management to expand and update its role to bring it all together - and hasn't looked back since. 

The first project to reflect this renewed holistic approach was the launching of Orientation Week Fall 2010. A full week of activities, info workshops and excursions prepared the students for their academic program,  encouraged new friendships and bridged cultural boundaries. Building on that first success, each following semester the program has been fine-tuned and more student volunteers integrated into planning and delivery, so that now some 20 students help welcome their new study mates to Vienna.

[img_assist|nid=4064|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=450|height=300]Orientation Week Welcome BBQ

Closer support for students also meant strengthening the ongoing engagement with students throughout the year. The SSC's opening hours were extended not only to improve service but to increase face time, which allowed the students to better get to know the staff.

Other communication methods were also enhanced: staff worked with students and the IT department to sync MU's

online system with smartphones, and developed a Facebook Community to allow real-time service, efficient promotion of uni events, and to allow students to link up together independently.

Giving students a more active voice in what services they received was another key piece of the puzzle. In addition to feedback surveys, regular meetings with the elected Student Representatives proved a valuable source of feedback and suggestions - and volunteers, of whom there have been more and more for all sorts of events. Students are now invloved in planning committees for major uni events such as International Day and leading their own sustainability workshops during Orientation Week. Not only do new students love meeting and learning from their peers, student volunteers gain leadership experience themselves!

[img_assist|nid=4062|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=450|height=300]

International Day  

Events and activities were also given increased prominence to cater to students' needs and to make them feel like they have a place in the community even when class is out: sports tournaments, recreational activities (even a friendly paintball tournament against crosstown rival Webster U), and perhaps most significantly various charity initiatives within the MU Cares community involvement program (charity runs, charity cooking, etc).

Not that academics have been left out of the picture. The MU Learning Program was also added to the SSC service pack this past semester. Student-tutors are now part of the university service team, offering academic help to peers in need. Success in and out of the classroom are both a must!

Staff and, most importantly, students have been pleased thus far at the result of their combined efforts. The sense of community and belonging has never been stronger on campus, and student initiatives for sport or charity events are a regular feature of campus life, online and off. It'll be exciting to see where we go from here - summer semester 2012 is shaping up to the busiest yet!

[img_assist|nid=4063|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=450|height=224]MU vs. Webster Paintball Tournament