Mizzou hires consulting firm to ask students about Mizzou experience

The University of Missouri hired a consulting group, Keeling and Associates, to assess the Student Affairs department during its restructuring phase.

The cost of the group to survey students and submit its findings is about $150,000.

As a part of Keeling and Associates’ work, consultants will hold idea walls and open forums Tuesday and Wednesday on campus.

The first idea wall was held in the Student Union from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Consultants set up seven poster boards, each with a different question. They then asked students if they would like to comment about their experience as a student at Mizzou on the poster boards.

The following is a list of the questions:

One thing Mizzou could do to improve students’ experience of living on campus would be? The most valuable program, resource or service that Mizzou provides to support students is? The biggest obstacle to my learning and academic success at Mizzou is? What word or phrase would you use to describe the student experience at Mizzou? What resource at Mizzou would you recommend to students who want to improve their health and well-being? To better prepare me for my life and career after graduation, Mizzou should? To support diversity, inclusion and social justice on campus, Mizzou should?

Naomi, a student who participated, said she is glad the university is physically asking students about their experiences and issues. She said the campus climate survey that the university previously conducted was biased.

Naomi also said this kind of student survey was overdue by a few years.

Another student, Andrew Pham, said this was a good time for the administration to get more involved.

Pham said the university needs to focus more on student activities so they aren’t so stressed about academic studies.