Capilouto welcomes student input in decision-making on campus

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UK President Eli Capilouto

By Eli Capilouto

The Kernel’s recent editorial challenging us to broaden student engagement and involvement in decision-making was a welcome reminder for all of us of an important fact:

At the University of Kentucky, our goal is to put students first in everything that we do.

Direct engagement, open and robust dialogue, a willingness to not only talk but listen — and even agreeing to disagree at times — are a critical part of that emphasis and focus.

After all, the University of Kentucky includes a rich array of cultures, backgrounds, beliefs, ideas, opinions and desires. We serve a vast family of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends, interested constituents, civic leaders, and elected officials that reside on our campus, in our community, across our state, nation and world.

Very few institutions — public or private — offer a similar breadth and depth as a flagship and land-grant research university.

Blending that rich tapestry of people and beliefs — with all its beauty, complexity and challenges — is part of what makes a place like UK so unique and so indispensable to our state. And it’s part of how we honor and enhance our nearly 150-year-old Kentucky Promise to provide the education, research and service that transforms communities and changes lives.

Candid dialogue followed by constructive action is how we move forward together. We’ve made an important start toward ensuring that process and philosophy is followed in everything that we do.

Nearly two years ago as I joined the UK family, a University Review Committee composed of faculty and staff identified our strengths and areas that needed our undivided attention — enhancing undergraduate education, investing in facilities that will embolden living, learning and research on our campus and finding ways to competitively compensate the talented faculty and staff who unlock the potential of our students.

The exchange continued through my campus conversations with all colleges and academic units, regular bi-monthly staff breakfasts, frequent faculty roundtables, a second round of college visits, additional meetings with the University Senate, and increased communication through campus email. We’re moving at an incredible pace, and I want to make sure questions are answered, concerns are addressed, and — most importantly — ideas are heard.

But this ongoing open dialogue is only effective when it includes the voice of our students — you are why we are here.

That’s why I’ve made an effort to attend your events, join campus forums, meet with UK’s popularly elected student representatives, and engage with student leadership groups like DanceBlue, the Resident Student Association, Global Scholars, the Emerging Leader Institute and our Greek community, to name a few.

The best discussions happen — not behind my desk in an office of the Main Building — but out in the campus community where we can share ideas and together find solutions to the challenges that confront our dynamic institution, which is why my door is always open.

On issues brought to me like the sweatshops, tailgating at football games and ways to enhance advising, just to name a few, the input of students has been critical to our efforts to move forward in substantive and positive ways.

I’ve also found connecting with students via email at [email protected] or through Twitter (@UKYPres) and Facebook (facebook.com/ukelicapilouto) have enhanced the opportunity for dialogue.

At the same time, I have to recognize when I’m not the best person — the subject matter expert, if you will — to answer a specific question. My responsibility, then, is to find the resource for students to turn to so that the discussion can not only continue, but answers can be found as quickly as possible.

That was certainly the case when the thoughtful students associated with United Students Against Sweatshops came to me with their concerns about UK’s practices in athletics apparel and clothing.

We immediately worked to get these students connected to the right people across our campus, who work on these issues each day. I also was willing to meet — and did — with students to delve more deeply into their concerns and to discuss how the university could further enhance its already robust efforts in this important area.

Together, we found some approaches that I think will enrich our approach to this issue.

No process when it comes to communication is perfect, particularly at a place of this size and complexity. And I’m always open to new ideas to better interact with students, faculty and staff on a regular basis.

The best path forward is one forged through a shared dialogue and consensus. I cannot guarantee that we will always agree on the outcome, but I’m deeply committed to listening, deliberating and taking actions that strengthen the University of Kentucky.

The way we handled the concerns brought to us by USAS is one example of how things are supposed to work. We communicated. We agreed to further dialogue. We sought out experts. And we worked together on solutions.

That’s at the heart of what a university is about — especially one, like UK, where students are first.