By Tim Leeds
Members of the community joined students, faculty, staff and administration of the university last night in Donaldson Commons at the university campus to discuss ideas to become proactive in attracting and retaining students and finding alternative funding sources for the university.
"It was a good experience, positive energy," said Curtis Smeby of the university education department, who helped organize the forum with Mickey Kolis, also of the education department.
Smeby said the forum focused on four main areas, recruitment, retention, grants and other funding, and a catch-all "other" area. The areas were examined in the immediate situation as well as short-term and long-term needs and effects.
Smeby said they brainstormed the issues and came up with a variety of ideas, which they are compiling to distribute at the next forum. He said they considered developing teams to look at and work with ideas they thought had merit.
Smeby said this is a continuing, evolving process, which will generate more ideas to help promote and strengthen the university. He invited any interested people to attend the next forum, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Donaldson Commons Wednesday, April 19.
