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On some days, nearly every 15-minute block of Dean Matthew Olsen's schedule is filled with appointments. As the Dean of Men, he sets the vision for the Men's R.A. program, deals with rule violations and sits at his desk with a gavel. Beyond his job description, Olsen makes mentoring students his top priority, a core value at the heart of Student Development.
"Student development is not a department, it is a life style," Olsen said. "The job of the University is student development. We need to rise to the standard with an ownership mentality. Strong student development starts with personal self-development. We have all got to say where we are flawed and where we are good and to address not just correction, but growth."
With all of the transformations happening at the University, Student Development plays a major role in transitioning to the future. The deans orchestrate 14 departments, from dorm life to Student Association and student leaders.
"Students spend 90 percent of their time outside of the classroom," Dean of Student Development, Campus Life Daniel Guajardo said. "So we want to make sure our vision fits in with the vision of the University to create an atmosphere not just for students to study, but to develop to be spiritually alive, physically disciplined, mentally alert and socially adept."
The establishment of the new Board of Trustees created a learning curve for all parties involved. In efforts to turn the University around, the deans must educate the board about every facet of ORU life. This means pouring through the rulebooks and searching out what is relevant and what rules are needed to keep ORU standards. Facial hair proposals are in the works, as well as a look at the dress code.
Overall, the deans serve as a liaison between students and faculty. They work to bridge the gap between the two. And the greatest issue they deal with is building Biblical foundations in students.
"One of the things we all need to be mindful of is that college is the last opportunity we have to impact and influence the mindset of young people," Boyd said. "Statistically, when students leave college, whatever their mindset is predominantly who they are going to be for the rest of their lives. If we can impact the mentality for a Christian worldview, then we have potentially altered the direction of an entire life span."
These goals will be accomplished through mentoring groups and educational seminars, efforts to make ORU a safe harbor where students can grow. According to Boyd, creating this atmosphere of growth will happen through a shift from the old paradigm of Student Affairs based on rules and confrontation to new healthy parameters and relationship based mentoring. He states that the vision of Student Development is to change the way students perceive student leaders, the way student leaders perceive themselves and how students view their entire experience at ORU.
Building community starts the process of mentoring students.
"We need to partner with faculty to create this sense of community," Dean of Women Lori Sylvester said. "I influence a student one way, faculty members another way and students influence each other. Faculty and staff may not see that in fruition, but we just know that we are watering or planting seeds and we are a part of their journey."
Student Development plans to harvest the power of community to build healthy student relationships, inwardly and outwardly.
"Miss Pansy is student development," Olsen said. "She gets guys to shave more than all the R.A.s and Staff members combined, because she realizes that her job is not just to swipe cards in the cafeteria. Her job is to create change in people's lives. Each of us has different duties but the same role."
One step at a time, Student Development is working to be on the edge of change.
"I look at prospective students coming in, and they are in the midst of an opportunity of creating history," Olsen said. "We are in the midst of great change, and where else would you want to be?"
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Student Development: behind rules and regulations
Rhema Muncy- Editor-in-Chief
"Student development is not a department, it is a life style," Olsen said. "The job of the University is student development. We need to rise to the standard with an ownership mentality. Strong student development starts with personal self-development. We have all got to say where we are flawed and where we are good and to address not just correction, but growth."
With all of the transformations happening at the University, Student Development plays a major role in transitioning to the future. The deans orchestrate 14 departments, from dorm life to Student Association and student leaders.
"Students spend 90 percent of their time outside of the classroom," Dean of Student Development, Campus Life Daniel Guajardo said. "So we want to make sure our vision fits in with the vision of the University to create an atmosphere not just for students to study, but to develop to be spiritually alive, physically disciplined, mentally alert and socially adept."
The establishment of the new Board of Trustees created a learning curve for all parties involved. In efforts to turn the University around, the deans must educate the board about every facet of ORU life. This means pouring through the rulebooks and searching out what is relevant and what rules are needed to keep ORU standards. Facial hair proposals are in the works, as well as a look at the dress code.
Overall, the deans serve as a liaison between students and faculty. They work to bridge the gap between the two. And the greatest issue they deal with is building Biblical foundations in students.
"One of the things we all need to be mindful of is that college is the last opportunity we have to impact and influence the mindset of young people," Boyd said. "Statistically, when students leave college, whatever their mindset is predominantly who they are going to be for the rest of their lives. If we can impact the mentality for a Christian worldview, then we have potentially altered the direction of an entire life span."
These goals will be accomplished through mentoring groups and educational seminars, efforts to make ORU a safe harbor where students can grow. According to Boyd, creating this atmosphere of growth will happen through a shift from the old paradigm of Student Affairs based on rules and confrontation to new healthy parameters and relationship based mentoring. He states that the vision of Student Development is to change the way students perceive student leaders, the way student leaders perceive themselves and how students view their entire experience at ORU.
Building community starts the process of mentoring students.
"We need to partner with faculty to create this sense of community," Dean of Women Lori Sylvester said. "I influence a student one way, faculty members another way and students influence each other. Faculty and staff may not see that in fruition, but we just know that we are watering or planting seeds and we are a part of their journey."
Student Development plans to harvest the power of community to build healthy student relationships, inwardly and outwardly.
"Miss Pansy is student development," Olsen said. "She gets guys to shave more than all the R.A.s and Staff members combined, because she realizes that her job is not just to swipe cards in the cafeteria. Her job is to create change in people's lives. Each of us has different duties but the same role."
One step at a time, Student Development is working to be on the edge of change.
"I look at prospective students coming in, and they are in the midst of an opportunity of creating history," Olsen said. "We are in the midst of great change, and where else would you want to be?"