StudentSuggestionsfor

ImprovementonWebster
UniversityThailandCampus
WrittenBy
AndreaEickelmann
WUTStudentCouncilPresident
20102011

Wethestudentbodyrepresentativeshaveidentifiedthefollowingareasofconcernon
campususingthemethodsofsurveyandopenforum.Theseconcernsarelistedinorderof
importancetothestudentbody.Followingeachidentifiedareaofconcern,therearepotential
solutionsfortheproblem.Themajorareasofconcernareasfollows:
Fearofretributionforstudentsvoicingconcernswithcurrentadministration:
ThereisdistinctlackofstudentvoiceontheWUTduetofearsofretributionby
professorsand/ortheadministration.

Studentscommonlybelievethatiftheyexpressviewscontrarytothatof
professorsandadministrators,theywillsufferaloweringoftheirgrades,a
reductionorretractionoftheirfinancialaid,orthatclassesnecessarytotheir
majorrequirementsmaybedeniedwhentheyareneeded.

PossibleSolution:
Thereisnoeasysolutiontothisproblem.Theonlyrealsolutionavailableisthe
encouragementofstudentstovoicetheiropinionsandconcernsregardingthe
campus.Throughthisaction,studentsmayseetheirpeersvoicingconcernsand
notsufferingrepercussions,andinturntheentirestudentbodycanfeel
comfortablespeakingoutaboutWUT.
Midsemesterbudgetcuts:
Thissemester,theFallof2010,therehavebeencutstoservicessuchas:
Transportation

Teacherprojectspending,whichincludesfieldtripsandguestspeakers

Solution:
Ifitis,infact,necessarytocutbudgetsmidsemester,thereneedstobea
campusmeetingbetweenadministration,faculty,students,andstafftoexplain
whatcutsaretakingplaceandwhytheyhaveoccurredmidsemester.

Thiswillalsoprovidetheopportunitytoallowthedifferentpopulationsof
WUTtosuggestareasinwhichcutswouldbeleastdisruptive.

Alternatively,theplanforcutsshouldbeannounced,andatimeframeshould
begiventoallowforinputontheproposedcutsviawrittensuggestions.

Transparency
Studentsfeelthereisacompletelackoftransparencyandinformationabouthowmoneyis
usedandothercampuspolicies.
Theawardingofscholarshipsandthecriteriarequiredtoreceivescholarshipsis
unclearandleavesmanystudentsfeelingthatthedecisionissubjectiveasto
whethertheyarelikedbythefinancialaidcommittee/administration.

Whenregistering,paying,ortryingtoundertakedifferenttasksatWUT,students
aregivenreasonsfordecisionsbasedonpoliciesthattheyhavenoevidenceof
existingoraretoldofdifferentpolicies,ortoldthatWUTfollowsSt.Louiss
policywhichifrequestedtobeshownisnotprovided.

WhenmakingpaymentstoWUTfortuitionsandfeestheprovidedreceiptisnot
itemizedandstudentsarenotalertedtotheduedatesofpayments.

Studentsroutinelyreceivedifferentexplanations/justificationsforthesameaction,
fromthesamememberofthestaff/admin.

Solution
Financialaidandscholarshipcriterianeedstoclearlydefined,includingall
requiredsupportingdocumentation,andshouldbeavailableontheboththeWUT
websiteandinthefinanceand/orregistrarsoffice.
AllWUTPoliciesneedtobeavailableonrequesttobeshowntostudents,posted
totheWUTwebsiteshouldastudentwishtolookthemup,andbeprovidedin
hardcopyformattoeveryWUTstudentuponstartingtheirstudies.Thiswill
allowfortransparentreferencingofpoliciesandlessconfusion.
Whenstudentsaregivenexplanations/justificationsfordifferentactionsthey
shouldreservetherighttoseethepolicyassociatedwiththeactionandtheWUT
staff/facultymembershouldberequiredtoshowittothem.
Paymentreceiptsneedtobeitemizedandinformationaboutpaymentduedates
mustbesentouttobesurethatstudentsandparentsareawareofthedealines.
RegulartrainingforstaffregardingWUTandWebsterSt.Louis,especially
regardingfinancial,policiesandprocedurestoensurecontinuityandclarity.
Lackofcommunication:
OntheWUTcampus,itisacommonoccurrencethatstudentsare:
Notinformedofopportunities,suchasthevolunteeropportunitiestohelpatthe
WTOmeetingheldinHuaHinthispastSeptember2010.

Subjecttomiscommunication.Forexample,thealertingofthestudentcouncilto
avisitbytherectorthefollowingweek,whichneveractuallyoccurred.

Informedtoolatetobeabletoutilizewhattheyhavebeentold,suchaswhen
professors,areabsentandpapernotesareattachedtothedoortoalertstudentsto
saidprofessorsabsences,whichresultinstudentshavingalreadytraveledtoWUT
beforeseeingtheprofessorisnotthere,causingfrustrationamongstthestudents
forlosttraveltime.

Notalertedtotherestructuringoffinancialaidmidsemester,andthestudentbody
wasnotmadeawareofthefactthattheyneededtoapplyforaid/scholarshipsthat
wouldspanthespring2011andfall2011semesters.

Subjecttoalackofcommunicationbetweenstaff,faculty,students,and
administrationwhichcausesconfusionforallpartiesinvolvedthatresultsin
frustrationandanger.

Solutions:
Thefollowingcommunicationchannelsmustbeutilizedproperly:
Email:WebsterThailandstudentemailsarenotbeingusedasatoolfor
communicationoncampus.

TheWUTemailsystemhasnotbeenusedasatoolforcommunicationthis
semester.
o
Therefirstneedstobeanotheremailactivationdriveinwhichstudents
aregiventheopportunitytoreloginandactivatetheiraccountssothey
mayreceiveemails.
o
Afterthis,thereneedstobeanadministrativepushtellingstaffand
facultythatcommunicationsforthestudentbodymustoccurviaemail
toensureeveryonereceivesthem,especiallyregardingpolicychanges
suchasfinancialaid.

Telecommunications.Everysemestertheremustbeanupdatingofthestudent
phonebooksothatthestaffmayusethenumberstotextupdatestostudents
aboutsuchthingsasprofessorsbeingabsent,busesarrivinglate,orevenlast
minuteeventinformation.Thiswouldbeoneofthemostefficientwaysto
communicatewithstudents,aseverystudenthasacellphone.

Forcommunicationbetweenadministrationandstudentsthereneedstobe:
Threemeetingsthatwilloccuronprescheduleddatespersemester.Oneinthe
beginningofthesemester,oneinthemiddleofthesemester,andoneattheend
ofthesemester.

Iftheadministrationwishestomeetwithstudentrepresentationoutsideofthese
settimes,itisimperativethatpriornoticebegivenasspontaneousmeetingsare
notconducivetoproperdisseminationofinformationanddonotallowfor
studentrepresentativestoproperlyprepare.

ForcommunicationbetweenallWUTpopulations,faculty,staff,students,and
administration.
Thereneedstobemoreopencommunicationbetweenallpartiesthatcanbe
facilitatedbycampusmeetings,forums,increasedusageofemail,andalsothe
creationofacommitteetodealdirectlywithmiscommunicationsbetween
differentparties.

Lackofclassesofferedtofulfilldegreerequirements:
StudentshavebeenforcedtostaylongerthanneededatWUTbecausedegree
requiredcoursesarenotoffered.
Solution:
Independentstudiesmustbeutilizedfordegreerequiredcourses.Weunderstand
thatthisisanextracosttoWUTbutfindthatitisinappropriatetoforcestudents
tostayanothersemesteroryearforoneortwocourses.
Lackofadequateinternetoncampus:
TheinternetontheWUTcampuscurrentlylackstheabilitytosupportstudent
needs.Duringlunchorothercommonfreeperiodsoftheday,theinternetisso
slowthatevencheckingemailissometimesimpossible.

Thismeansthatconductingonlineresearch,whichistheonlyresearchstudentsat
WUTcandobecausethelibraryislackingincurrentacademicmaterials,is
almostimpossible.

ThisdirectlyclasheswiththeWUTGreenPolicywhichpushesfacultytouse
internetbasedresourcesoverthatofprintedmaterials,whichmeansstudentshave
tousetheinternettoaccessitemssuchastextbooks,readings,orotherclass
materials.

Solution:
Investmentinestablishingafasterinternetnetworkmustbeundertaken.Thisis
aninternationaluniversity,andtobelackinginthemostbasicofeducational
resources,theinternet,isunacceptable.
StudentHousing
Studentshavevoicedthefollowingconcernsaboutstudenthousing:
Unclearprocessforpayinghousingbill.Studentshavereportedreceiving
differentinstructionsonhowtopaytheirhousingwhentheyinquireatthe
financeofficeandsomestudentshavebeenpayingWUTstudenthousingcosts
directlytostudenthousingentity.

Overchargingforrent.WUTstudentspaymoreforroomsthroughWUT
housingthaniftheyweretorentdirectlyfromthehousingentity.AsWUTis
providingalargegroupofcustomerstothehousingentity,WUTstudents
shouldbereceivingadiscountbutthestudentpriceshouldneverbemorethan
thedirectrate.

Depositsnotreturnedorerroneouschargesdeducted.Studentshavehad
difficultyreceivingtheirdepositsbackandevenafterbeingclearedasnot
havinganydamagetotheroomsfindchargesforroomdamagedeductedfrom
thedeposit.ConcernsspecificallyVIPandPremierHouse.

Conditionofthehousing.Thereisalargedisparityinthehousingconditionsof
theWUTstudenthousings.Thedifferenceinqualityisnotreflectedinthe
pricingofthehousing,forexamplearoomatVIPisofmuchlowerqualitythan
thatofSalabuttheroomsforfulltimestudentsatbothlocationswouldbe
7,500.00+bahtamonth.StudentsthuslyrequestaccommodationsattheSala
locationbutaredeniedbasedonavailabilityandstillhavetopaythesameprice
foraroomthatisseverelylowerinquality.

Location.AllthehousinglocationsarequitefarfromHuaHintowncenter.
HuaHinbeingatouristtownlackspublictransitandtaxipricesareinflatedso
thatgettingaroundtownoutsideofthelimitedWUTtransithoursisexpensive.
Thehousingisalsofarfromthecampussostudentsareleftstrandedbetween
townandcampuswithlittlemethodoroptionoftransportationtobasic
necessitiessuchasfood,markets,ormedicalattention.Thisisalsoasafety
issueaslatenighttaxis,carandmotorbike,presentahigherrisktostudents
returningtohousing,especiallystudentsreturningalone.

Nohelpforstudentslookingforoutsidehousing.WUToffersnoaidto
studentslookingforoutsidehousingatallandactuallydiscouragesstudents
findingtheirownhousing.Inthepasttherewasamentionabouthowtofind
yourownhousingonthewebsitebutthatisnowgone.Withtheincreasing
studentpopulationandthehighcostofstudenthousingstudentsexpressinterest
inlivingoutsidestudenthousingbutlacktheknowledgeofhowtogoabout
findingsuchhousing.

PestproblemspresenthealthhazardsatPremierHouse.HousingatPremier
Houselacksinsectscreensandtheareaisheavilyinfestedwithvariousinsects,
themostproblematicbeingmosquitoes.Unlessthestudentwantstorunupa
veryexpensiveenergybillbyusingonlyairconditioning(electricityis15baht
aunit)theyhavetoopendoorsorwindowstohelpcoolthehousebutthis
resultsinaswarmingofmosquitoes.Thailandmosquitoescarrybothmalaria
anddenguefeverandwithoutthebasicprotectionofinsectscreensstudentsare
putatmuchhigherriskforcontractingthesediseases.Thereisalsoaconcern
forsnakes,centipedes,andotherpoisonouscreaturesthatinhabitThailand.

Solution
TheprocedureforpayingtheStudentHousingbillforstudentslivinginWUT
studenthousingshouldbemadeavailableonlineunderafrequentlyasked
questionssectionontheWUTwebsite.
WUTmustmakemoreofanefforttofindhousingforstudentsandensurethe
costsareminimalbecausemostoftheWUTpopulationisnotThaiand
trustingtheuniversitytofindthemappropriateandeconomicalhousing.
Theprocedureforreimbursingstudenthousingdepositsneedstobepublished
alongsidethepaymentprocedureandareasonabletimelinegivensostudents
canproperlyplanforhowtoreceivethereimbursements.Therealsoneedsto

beamethodofrecourseputinplaceforwhenstudentsarechargedfor
damagesthatwerenotofthestudentsdoing.
Whileitisunderstoodthathousingislimitedinthemostdesirableofhousing
locationsifastudentisdeniedaspottheyshouldbegivenadiscountedrate
forhavingtoliveatotherlocationslikeVIPtocompensatefortheadded
difficultyofthelocation.Thelastingsolutiontothisproblemisthathousing
ofequalqualitymustbefoundandprovidedtostudents.
AgainWUTmustbemakingaconstantefforttofindhousingthatwouldbe
moreconvenienttostudentsintermsoflocationinrelationtorestaurants,
markets,andshoppingsothatthereneednotbearelianceontaxisorWUT
transit.ThiswouldsavemoneyforallpartiesbecauseWUTwouldnotneed
toprovideasmuchintowntransitifstudentslivedintownandstudentswould
nothavetousetaxistocommuteoutsideofWUTtransithours.
Thereshouldbeapageonthewebsitethatisupdatedwithinformationabout
differenthousingwithinHuaHinthatwouldbeavailabletostudentswishing
tomoveoutofstudenthousing.Thiswouldincludeapartmentcomplexes,
housesforrent,andotheroptions.Thiswouldalsoincludeasection
explainingthebasicsofsecuringlodginginThailand,suchascontracts,
furniture,deposits,commonpricing,placesbillscanbepaid,andwhereto
contractcertainservicessuchasinternet,phone,cable,etc.Withthe
increasingstudentpopulationandlimitationsofWUTstudenthousingthisis
imperativethatWUTstartencouragingfulltimestofindtheirownhousing.It
alsowilladdtotheircollegeexperienceandincreasetheirindependence.
WUTshouldbeensuringthatalltheirhousinghasthebasicprotectionof
insectscreenstoensurethehealthandsafetyoftheirstudents.
Lackofinternetconnectivityinstudenthousing:
StudentsintheVIPandPremierHousestudenthousinghavebeenexperiencing
prolongedinternetaccessibilityproblems.

StudentschoosethePremierHouseoptionpartlyforitsadvertisedinternet
access.

Thelargerissueherebeingthatinternetisanecessarylearningresourcethat
shouldbeavailabletostudentsatallhousings.Thisisevenmoreimperative
nowthatWUThasenactedaGreenPolicywhichpushesfortheuseof
internetresourcesoverthatofprintedmaterials.

Solution:
WUTneedstoadvocateonbehalfofitsstudentsforinternetaccessathousing
locations.

Wherethatdoesnotwork,itshouldfacilitatethecreationofWUTinternet
networksthatstudentscansubscribetoforamonthlyfee.

Poorconditionsandlackofproperfacilities:
WUTsfacilitiesaredistinctlylackinginseveralmainareas.
Library
o Thelibraryiscurrentlyovercrowdedandduringanycommon
breaktimetherearestudentsleftsittingonthefloorforlackof
seatsandtables.
o Itlacksauniversitylevelselectionofpublicationstoaidin
researchoreveninleisurereading.
o Notconducivetostudyingasitistooloudandcrowded.

Classrooms
o Classroomsarefurnishedwithantiquateddesksthatareinsufficient
foruniversitylevelcoursework.
o Thetechnologywithintheroomsisoftenslowandcostsstudentsat
least10minutesofeveryclassperiodduetodifficulties.
o Someroomsarealsoindesperateneedofsoundingboardsothat
discussionmaytakeplacewithouttheroombeingdrownedin
echoes.
o Someroomshavealargeamountofmold,whichishazardousto
studentshealththatisexacerbatedbyleaksintheceiling.

GymandSportsfieldsarenotwellmaintainedandlackequipment

MediaLabconsistsofoutdatedcomputerandtwocurrentlybroken
printers.

ThereisnoareaotherthanthelibrarywithinternetandA/Cthatcanbe
usedforgeneralrecreationusewhichaddstothepressurebeingputonthe
library.

Solution
Openthesecondflooroflibraryforstudentuseandusesomeofthespace
foramandatoryquietzoneforstudentswishingtostudy.
Classroomsneedtobefurnishedwithtablesandchairs,technology
updated,andwhereneeded,soundingboardputup.
ThereneedstobeanauditoftheGymfacilitiestoestablishwhatWUT
has,andthenastudentsurveyconductedtofindoutwhatstudentswould
liketheretobemoreof.
Thefootballfield,basketballcourt,andtenniscourtneedmaintenance/
improvement.

Medialabneedstobefurnishedwithuptodatecomputersloadedwiththe
appropriatesoftwareformediaprogramassignments,andtheprintersneed
tobefixed.
Thestudentloungeneedstobewiredforwirelesstoencouragestudentsto
useitandmorecomfortableseatingneedstoplacedthere.
Alternativelyanotheremptyclassroomshouldberefurbishedasa
secondarystudentloungewithinternetaccessandseating.
Inadequatehealthcareoncampus:
TheWUTcampusisfarfromanyhospitalormedicalclinic.Thus,thereisanurseon
campusduringallopenhours.However,thenursesthusfar:
SpeaklittletonoEnglish.

Regularlyhandoutdrugsthathavenolabels,norinstructionstostudents.

Thisresultsinstudentsfeelinguncomfortableseekingmedicalattentionon
campus.

Italsopresentsaclearthreattostudenthealthifthemedicalpersonal
cannotunderstandwhattheproblemis,ifthestudenthasanyallergiesto
differentmedications,orensurethestudentproperlyunderstandsadrugs
directionsofuse.

Solution:
WUTneedstofindapoolofcertifiedmedicalpersonalthat
SpeakadequateEnglishtounderstandstudentproblems,explainthedrugs
thatarebeinggiven,andknowwhentoaskifstudentshaveallergiesor
complicationswithmedications.
Visas
WUTemploysavisaofficerfortheexpresspurposesofhelpingstudentswithvisa
requirements,answeringquestionspertainingtovisas,andresolvingissueswiththevisa.
Thestudentsarechargeda6,000bahtfeepersemesterforthisservice,thoughamultiple
entrynonimmigrantvisaonlycosts3,800.00baht,whichispaidonceayear.
Studentsnotinformedastothevisaprocedure,requirements,andor
penalties.

LittlecommunicationbetweenVisaofficerandstudentsaboutwhen
studentsneedtobringtheirpassportsandsupportingdocumentsforvisa
extensions/checkins.

Studyabroadsgivenlittletonohelpwithvisasorquestionspertainingto
visas.

Solutions
ProceduresneedtobepostedonWUTwebsitesothattheyareeasilyaccessed
andreadbystudentswithquestionspertainingtovisas.
Emailand/ortextmessagesmustbeutilizedtoalertstudentstoupcoming
expiration/checkindatesandtheproceduretheymustfollowtoextend/renew
theirvisa,orcheckinwithimmigration.
Moreattentionmustbepaidtostudyabroads,ensuringthattheyareinformed
abouttheirvisas.Theytendtobeamorevulnerablegroupasfarasforgetting
whatdatesareimportantorhavingquestionspertainingtotravelinsideand
outsideThailand.Thiscouldincludeavisaspecificseminarforstudyabroads
duringtheirfirstfewweeksinThailand,aspecificfrequentlyanswered
questionssectionontheWUTwebsite,orprintedmaterialsdealingwith
frequentlyaskedquestions.
Possibleanimalrightsviolationsoncampus:
ItoccursregularlythatanimalswanderontotheWUTcampus.
TheseanimalsareoftenfedbyWUTstudents,staff,orfacultyandbecomea
sortofcampuspet.

Itoftenoccursthatthesecampuspetsdisappear.

Solution:
Itisunderstoodthatstrayanimalscaneventuallyposeathreattostudentsafetybut
therearebetterwaystopreventtheseanimalsfromwanderingontocampusifitis
suchalargeconcern.
Thefirstandbestwayistobuildfencestokeeptheanimalsoutofareas
frequentedbystudents,staff,andfaculty,sothattheydonotcomeinto
contactwiththeWUTpopulation.

Educatethestudentsaboutthedangersposedbystraysandrequestthat
straysarenotfed.

Createapolicystatingwhyanimalsarekeptoffcampus,wheretheyare
takeniftheygetontocampus,andhowWUTplanstokeepstraysoff
campusinthefuture.

GeneralRemarks
Currently,theadministrationhasagreedtohaveameetingwiththestudentcouncilon
December1,2010.Thisshouldbemadeintoanopenforumforallstudentstoattendand
voiceconcerns,questions,orcomments.Thisshouldbecomearegulareventonceasemester
forstudentstocometobeyondthatofstudentcouncilhavingdialoguewiththe
administration.Itisalsoveryimportantthattheadministrationbecarefulinitswordingof
objectivesandgoals.Inthepastpresentedobjectiveshaveoftenbeengiveninthecontextof
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suchanitemwillbedonebyacertainpointoftimeandwhenthatdoesnthappenitcreates
unrestanddissatisfaction.Thereneedstobeafocusonwhatisbeingdone,whatthesteps
beingtaken,andwhattheoutcomeswillbepresentedinconjunctionwithtimelineforthe
plan.Thiswaystudent,staff,andfacultyunderstandtheprocessthatishappeningandwill
betterunderstandiftherearedelaysintheprocess.
Anotherareainwhichaminoradjustmentcanbemadethatwillresultinalarge
rewardisthatofstudentinvolvementinvariouscommitteesatWUT.Previously,WUT
studentcouncilwastoldthattheyhadtherighttoparticipateincommitteessuchas
disciplinary,budget,scholarship,and,theoretically,hiring,butwheninterestwasshown,
meetingscheduleswereneverreleased.Ensuringstudentrepresentativeshavethe
opportunitytotakepartintheseandothercommitteeswilldirectlyaddresstheissueof
transparencyandgiveconfidencetothestudentsthattheyarereceivingallpertinent
informationregardingtheproceduresanddecisionsoncampus.
Itisalsoimportanttoexpresstostudentsthevisionfortheuniversitybutinwaythat
itbecomesapplicabletothem.Itmaybetheultimategoaltobuildacampuselsewherebut
forthecurrentstudentsthatisnotatangiblebenefitsothefocusmustbeonwhatisbeing
donetobettertheircurrentacademicpursuitandtheninadditiontothelongerplancanbeput
forth.Studentswanttoknowwhatishappeningwiththeuniversity,whatisthevisionofthe
leaders,andhowitaffectsthem.Whenthisinformationisnotgivenortheyfeelitisbeing
hiddenfromthem,itbreedsdissatisfactionanddistrust.Studentsarearesourceforthe
universityandshouldbeutilizedassuch.Whenquestionsariseastowhatisthemost
importantcomponenttoimproveonwhatwouldmostaffectlifeoncampusthestudents
shouldbeconsulted.Giventheopportunitytogiveinputstudentswouldhelpsmooththe
processofcreatingabetteruniversity.

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