Zuri Primos
Campus administators answer questions from students at the Town Hall.
On Thursday, Aug. 28, Dillard University’s Student Government Association hosted its annual town hall meeting with President Monique Guillory, Ph.D. The event allowed students to ask questions and share concerns about student life on campus directly with university leadership.
One of the main goals of this open forum was for students, student leaders, and administrators to discuss how Dillard University can enhance the student experience for the future, as well as serve as a common ground for each party to be heard.
During the hour-long meeting, students raised concerns regarding student success, counseling services, and the direction of campus ministry.
Issues with the future of Dillard’s campus ministry sparked a heated conversation between students and staff following the termination of Reverend Herbert Brisbon III, university chaplain. Many students posed questions about the direction of spirituality on campus, in relation to a statement from Dr. Guillory regarding “moving in a new direction” of spirituality on campus.
“I do want to know what this new direction looks like because Dillard University is a United Methodist school, and we have a strong Christian presence here. I want to know what it looks like because the direction we’re going in is very scary,” said DeJuan Fuel, a junior student.
In response, Dr. Guillory explained that she hopes to broaden the university’s sense of spirituality. She expressed her inclination to challenge students’ current beliefs and incorporate more spiritual exploration on campus, as well as in the curriculum.
“I do want to make it more centralized and prioritize it as a part of our curriculum that we think about and explore questions of the divine,” said Dr. Guillory.
Beyond campus faith, academic support was another pressing issue for students, in particular concerning tutoring and overall support within the liberal arts program.
One sophomore student, Chancellor Bradley, even brought attention to the lack of direction for liberal arts students seeking academic help outside of classes. Bradley explained that this has a direct effect on students in majors that are typically projected to reach graduation later than their peers.
“I feel like we do lack representation when it comes to that aspect. And yes, our teachers and professors do help us; however, they’re overextended when they do help,” said Bradley.
In response, Dr. Guillory expressed her team’s efforts to make it more manageable for all students to satisfy their degree requirements in a more timely manner than in previous years.
“One of the ways that we’re looking at doing that is increasing the number of course substitutions that are allowed. We really want to focus on how we can make it easier for you all to advance and matriculate through your degree,” said Dr. Guillory
As the afternoon wrapped up, students expressed appreciation for the chance to speak directly with campus leadership.
The purpose of the forum was to hold a space for students to understand the role of administration, student leaders on campus, and their efforts for student feedback to be heard in full. The town hall not only served as a platform for dialogue but also reinforced the importance of collaboration between students and administrators in shaping the Dillard experience.