Earlier this summer Bradley was featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education, an online journal specializing in news from colleges and universities all over the country.
Bradley wasn’t recognized for high freshmen enrollment or the state-of-the-art Markin Family Student Recreation Center, but for something else that’s been taking place on campus. University President Joanne Glasser’s office hours were hailed as a newer, less widespread way to ensure contact with the students.
Glasser has heard the complaints and opinions of more than 100 students since opening her office up last February.
The article showcased some examples of how the office hours have been making an impact. The president has helped various organizations gain recognition, and was even able to help a handful of students attend a dinner held last semester when Mikhail Gorbachev came to town.
Senior organizational communication major and president of Dance Marathon, Katy Smithy said she loves the idea of office hours.
“I think it is a great opportunity for students and leaders to ask questions or bring ideas right to the head of the chain,” she said.
Smithy said she is looking forward to meeting with Glasser on behalf of Dance Marathon and discussing community involvement.
The idea of having open office hours for students is a rare one, and the bigger the school, the harder it is to connect with the president.
While it’s hard to know for sure just how many presidents hold office hours for their students, only two other schools were mentioned in the article. The president of Bryant University in Rhode Island, Janet Morgan Riggs, said she likes having office hours because it keeps her focused.
Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, which is only slightly smaller than Bryant with 2, 600 students, has also had a positive experience with the open office time.