Almost 90 percent of USM’s student population is commuter students. Many simply come to campus for their classes and leave directly after.
University officials and campus leaders are trying to do something about this disconnection.
“There’s a lot of research that proves that students that are involved outside of the classroom do better academically, and are more satisfied with their campus experiences,” said Chris O’Connor, assistant to the Vice President for Student Governance and Organization Development.
He said there are many opportunities for students to be involved outside the classroom, but students often face many barriers in making the decision to get involved.
O’Connor is trying to erase some of those barriers with a new Student Involvement Task Force.
The task force is trying to examine the many aspects of student involvement and address different questions on the issue, like how to define student involvement and to identify the benefits of involvement.
“I feel strongly that it is in our best interest as a University to maximize our potential in terms of student involvement,” said O’Connor.
O’Connor said the task force is a group of students, staff and faculty who are committed to improving the quality of life at USM by providing worthwhile opportunities outside the classroom that enhance learning in the classroom.
The first meeting was on Jan. 18, during which they set some goals and discussed possible meeting times. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for early February.
Staff Writer Missy Remillard can be contacted at: [email protected]