26/11/2024
Tubman University Student Government Association-TUSGA
William V.S Tubman University
East Harper, Maryland County, Liberia
November 10, 2024
Mr. David Erskine
Associate Vice President
Enrollment Management & Student Services
William V.S Tubman University
East Harper, Maryland County, Liberia
Dear Mr. Erskine:
Ref: STATEMENT OF CAMPUS CONCERNS/RECOMMENDATIONS
Kindly accept my profound gratitude for the impactful and cooperative leadership role that you continue to play since your ascendency as AVP for Enrollment Management and Student Services. We are greatly confident that your stays in such position will immensely contribute to the wellbeing of the student community of Tubman University, and the overall progress of Tubman as a whole.
However, in my capacity as Student Representative to the University Council - SRC, I, in consultation with the President and the rest of the other executives of TUSGA, humbly write for and on behalf of the general student body of Tubman University to respectfully bring to your attention some crucial student related concerns and seek prompt redress or amicable solutions from the administration to those student related concerns.
With that being said, below is a comprehensive list of the concerns in question:
1) THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE TUITION POLICY AT A 50 -- 50 LEVEL
While it's true that education is not free, it's also imperative to consider the harsh economic climate of our country and the impoverish family or parental backgrounds of 90-percent of the student population of Tubman University. According to the record, Tubman University current total number of enrolled students is approximately 6,000, and out of the said number, only about 2,000 students are benefitting from Scholarship/Financial Aids, leaving the rest, which is about 4000-students vulnerable to the condition of paying their own school fees, either through parental supports or self-sponsorship.
Therefore, considering the struggles that those students go through, ranging from raising their school fees, daily transportation from home to campus, especially for those who are residing in Pleebo, both on and off campus feedings, and catering to other academic activities, like the buying of pamphlets, research, assignments, and recharging to keep in communication with friends, lecturers, and family members, just to mention a few.
The need to maintain the change in the Tuition Payment Plan at a 50 -- 50-level, which is 50% before Final Exam and the last 50% before access to grade sheets on the TU Online Platform, will definitely be a great help and relief to the mass number of struggling students at Tubman University who are not benefiting from any form of financial aid/scholarship. In conclusion, looking at all of these critical conditions and situations as spelled out and considering the huge number of students that are expected to be affected, which is about 4000-students out of about 6000-students, I as a direct representative of the general student body to the university council, in consultation with the President of TUSGA, Ms. Wendell Johnson, want to respectfully appeal that the change in the Tuition Payment Plan be maintained at a 50 -- 50-level, meaning 50% before final exam and the last 50% before access to grade sheets.
2) THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND MODIFY THE CONDITION OF THE STUDENT ID CARDS
Every student of Tubman University is required to pay 10.00USD for student ID card, which is very okay and enough to improve the quality and condition of the ID Cards. Unfortunately, the current state of the Tubman University Student ID Cards doesn't meet up with standards and value of the amount that students are required to pay for it. Everywhere, the cost of computerized ID card is 5.00USD, though this said amount can be negotiated and reduced when needed in huge quantity. Students paying 10.00USD means the quality and condition of the ID Cards need to be improved and modified. Staffers at the TU Division of Student Clubs and Activities using smart phones to take students’ photos for ID card are unbecoming. Therefore, we recommend the need for Tubman University through its division of Student Clubs and Activities to make available a standardized camera for quality photo-taking. Also, considering, the amount that students pay for ID cards, we appealingly recommend that ID card Packs and Ropes being attached to the Student ID Cards. And if the said concerns cannot be addressed, we respectfully recommend that the cost of each ID card per student be reduced to $5.00USD.
3) THE NEED TO PROPERLY STABILIZE AND DECENTRALIZE WI-FI ACROSS EVERY COLLEGE AND EVERY STRATEGIC POINT ON CAMPUS
Every aspect of academics is associated with research, therefore we firstly appreciate the Dr. Menjay-led Administration for implementing active Wi-Fi service on campus and at the same time appealingly recommend the need for the Wi-Fi service to be stabilized and decentralized across the 6-colleges and at every strategic point on campus, like the Student Center, College of Education Palaver Hut, TU Pavilion/G-stand, Cafeteria, Academic Gathering, EBA Palaver Hut, I think so far. This will help foster academic research among students and faculty, and in turn boost academic excellence and quality performance among both students and faculty.
4) THE NEED TO ADDRESS THE ALARMING SITUATION OF THE INSUFFICIENCY OF ARMCHAIRS
The Insufficiency or shortage of Armchairs is an alarming situation across almost every college at Tubman University, especially the College of Business and Administration and the College of Health Sciences. This embarrassing situation continues to hamper conducive learning environment at our beloved University with emphasis on the two colleges mentioned. Watching students rotating chairs from one class-room to another and using armless rubber chairs as well is so disheartening and worrisome. Therefore, with all due respect, we kindly recommend that administration prompt into the situation and provide necessary solutions, even before final exam, this semester, especially with the case of the two colleges mentioned. The urgent provision of at least initial 600-800-pieces of armchairs would be a great start, in an effort to address the said situation.
5) THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE PE SHIRTS OR REDUCE THE COST ATTACHED
It's an unarguable reality that the quality of the TU PE shirts is very thin and needs some improvements. Each student is required to pay 10.00USD for PE shirt, such amount is very reasonable and enough for the provision of an improved version of PE shirts. Besides, as Tubman aspires to be a center of quality and excellence, it's important that the value of quality and excellence be reflected in all her doings. With that being said, we respectfully recommend that the Administration of Tubman University consider the need to improve the quality of her PE shirts in order to meet up with the standard and value of the amount attached to it; or if improvement cannot be made, then we recommend that the amount attached which is $10.00USD be reduced to $5.00USD.
6) THE NEED TO RECONSIDER THE FORMAT OF STUDENT BENEFITS FROM THE SPORT FEES
Over the past and even up to present, every student at Tubman University is required to pay $10.00USD every semester as sport fees. Such fees, as the name implies is intended to promote sporting activities among students at Tubman University. That means students are expected to fully benefit from sport fees during every major sporting activity on campus and beyond. However, students across various colleges at the university have raised and still raising concerns about the situation of TU Administration giving 75- tickets to each college during only the conduct of INTRAMURAL, leaving out the Tubman University County Meet(s) and other student related sporting events. Therefore, we respectfully recommend that, instead of administration giving certain number of tickets to each college which happen only during INTRAMURA, a specific amount should be given to each college during every major student related sport event that will accommodate their feeding process and enable them to respond to other related demands.
7) THE NEED TO HAVE A PROACTIVE INTERNSHIP COMMITTEE AT TUBMAN UNIVERSITY
Internship plays a vital role in the lives of students across every career. It creates an opportunity for students to learn practical career skills and job related experiences. Considering this, it is very important that Tubman University as a Second State-run institution which aspires to be a center of Quality and Excellence have a well organized and proactive internship committee which will help in arranging and attracting internship opportunities for students, in order to enable them do their internship notable institutions and learn valuable experiences. Over the time, it has been observed that internship students have struggled and still struggling with the situation of “lack of proper arrangement” with the institutions/companies that most of them can be sent to do internship with. This situation which always results to poor state of care and attention from those institutions/companies is so disheartening and worrisome. Of such, we respectfully recommend that the administration establish a well proactive internship committee which will help attract and arrange for internship opportunities on behalf of students.
8) THE NEED TO MAKE A MINI-BUS AVAILABLE TO ADD ON THE CURRENT BUS
Considering the state of student population at Tubman University, which is about 6000-students, especially for those who are residing far distances away from campus, the need to make a mini-bus available, is very crucial in an effort to provide reliable transportation service for students. Having only one bus, which is not even regular, is actually an embarrassing and challenging situation for the students of Tubman University; therefore, we respectfully recommend that the university provide at least a mini-bus to add on the current one, in order to provide quality and reliable transportation service for students.
9) THE NEED TO ADOPT THE CELEBRATION OF WORLD STUDENTS DAY
Just as WORLD TEACHER’S DAY is being celebrated, we respectfully recommend that Tubman University adopt the celebration of WORLD STUDENT’S DAY. A day on which students will come together to celebrate their share struggles and history, while reflecting on the role of students in nation-building and societal progression.
10) FULL RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION OF ALL COLLEGES’ DAY
Considering the uniqueness and significance of every discipline, we also choose to respectfully recommend that Tubman University fully recognize and adopt a unique day to be celebrated by every college as their day. It may be considered in such way like, World Management Day for College Of Business and Administration, World Engineering Day for College of Engineering and Technology, World Agriculture Day for College of Agriculture and Food Science, World Education Day for College of Education, World Science Day for College of Arts and Science, and World Health Day for College of Health Sciences.
11) THE NEED TO FULLY STRUCTURE THE UNIVERSITY DEBATE TEAM
Debate as we know it, is an issue of intellectual exchange which help adults and students to develop critical thinking, analytical, effective communication and public speaking skills, all of which are very crucial in preparing and transforming students for worthy service in the larger society. Debate also help to expose students to the issue of local, national and international concerns which in turn propel students for local, national and global/international engagements. Not having a well structured debate team with active team members and coach is a very serious situation that needs to be address. Having a structured debate team will definitely bring students of Tubman University in contact and to the attention of both national and international institutions of profound reputation, and in turn foster partnership, interactive learning and attract other opportunities for students and Tubman University as a whole. Indeed, having a whole university with no structured Debate Team is not a good way to go as an institution. With a great regard to that, we again respectfully recommend the need to have a well structured debate team with the necessary supports needed.
12) THE NEED TO MAKE AVAILABLE A STANDARDIZED PH-SYSTEM FOR STUDENTS
As student leaders, we are seriously interested in promoting interactive forums among students and attracting or inviting individuals of both national and international reputation and experience to share their experiences on significant academic, societal and life related issues through interactive forums like seminars, workshops, symposium, presentations, etc, in order to increase the awareness of students on important issues and how to make sound decision, not just for individual progress but for societal progress as well. Therefore, we appealingly recommend that the administration make a well Standardized PH-System Available in order to make the desire of promoting progressive student interactive forums possible.
13) The Need to make 6-pieces of Projectors Available for the 6-colleges at Tubman University
In our today contemporary world, presentation is very key in every career. Therefore, we respectfully recommend that the Tubman University Administration provide 6-pieces of projectors in order to help facilitate full and effective academic presentations across the six colleges, in order to build strong presentation skills in students across every discipline at Tubman University, thus preparing students for relevant skills and experiences necessary in the job market.
14) THE NEED TO ESTABLISH SOCIAL SCIENCE LAB
Just like the case of those in the pure sciences and engineering areas, the provision and establishment of social science lab is very crucial for students in the business and social science areas, like those doing accounting, economics, banking and finance, business administration, public administration, etc. Making the establishment of social science lab possible will help students in the related social science areas to cultivate practical skills and experiences as it relates to what is expected of them in the job or work sector, in terms of using their career related tech-applications and software.
15) THE NEED FOR READJUSTMENT IN FIRST CLASSES TIME FROM 8:00AM TO 9:00AM
Over the years, always starting First Classes, beginning from 8:00AM has been and still very embarrassing to students, considering the far distances that most students live away from campus and with regards to the fact that Tubman University is the only University located within the confines of the South Eastern Region of Liberia. Not all the students of Tubman University are residing in Harper or Pleebo; others are residing as far as Grand Kru, River Gee, Karluaway-Barribo District, and other nearby counties or areas. Also, University is a universal space where responsible and engaged people meet. Starting Class at 8:00AM has been and still very worrisome to students.
According to the Student Handbook of TU, 15-minutes lateness is not considerable, and such policy is being implemented in various classes by lecturers and professors. So, it's a collective plead for and on behalf of the general student body that First Classes time be reconsidered, from 8:00AM to 9:00AM. Honestly the readjustment of the time is very possible, because it's being observed that most time before 4:00PM, the campus can be like almost empty from the angle of students.
Frankly, the situation of starting classes 8:00AM which is too early posed serious threats to the health and effective concentration of students; ranging from getting late for class based on distances away from campus and scarce means of transportation -- a condition which can most time force students to surrender to the situation of being overloaded on bikes, hanging behind cars, and riding in car trunk as if they are goods, thus leading to motor accidents and other forms of tragedies. Readjusting the First Class Time from 8:00AM to 9:00AM will be a very great relief for students.
16) THE NEED TO INTRODUCE A MINOR PROGRAM AND SOME CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS OF TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
Besides the major programs, minor programs are also very important in our today fast-changing world of complexity. Therefore, we respectfully recommend to the administration of Tubman to also introduce Minor Program as it’s the case for many contemporary universities across the globe, in order to increase the employability of students and graduates of Tubman University.
Also, considering the length of time (years) that a student can spend at Tubman University before obtaining a Bachelor Degree which is between 4&5 or 6yrs, we appealingly recommend that the Tubman University Administration introduce some levels of Certificates Programs in areas of technical knowledge, which will go for few months or a year, in order to equip struggling students for economically empowerment and make them more marketable in the job and economic markets.
17) THE NEED TO LIFT THE BAN ON STUDENT POLITICS
With all due respect to the reason why administration ban student politics on campus, we respectfully wish to reemphasize that administration lift that "Ban" on Student Politics, beginning effectively this semester. The role of student politics among students is very vital, ranging from fostering leadership skills, communication, sense of community, intellectualism, shared progress and collaboration, just to mention a few. Considering all these, it's very important that administration lift the ban in order to foster student growth and development in some regards.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we wish to reaffirm that all of the issues/concerns raised herein in this document came to our attention as a result of a very careful observation of campus affairs and through strategic meetings and engagements with the general student body. We look forward to the administration for progressive dialogues through an emergency Council Meeting, in order to provide further clarity for prompt redress/solutions to the issues and recommendations made herein.
Best regards
Reed J. Harmon
Student Representative to the University – SRC, TUSGA
Cc: Dr. Olu Q. Menjay, President, William V.S Tubman University, and Chair of the
University Council
Cc: Dr. Maria Rebecca Gweta, Vice President for Academic Affairs
