Moving Student Services Center a step in the wrong direction

Editor,

As an alumna and current staff member, the proposed move of the Student Services Center off campus seems to not be considering all of the impacts on students, staff and faculty. While I don't disagree that a more coordinated approach to handling our relationship with students would be beneficial, moving Student Services off campus addresses the space issue of how to get these services integrated, but it leaves out the most important piece: service to students.

While it may be convenient for new students to have an off-site location with good parking, current students will lose a great deal of convenience in their ability to access Student Services and get things done. Likewise, faculty and staff who need to be able to access Student Services personnel on a daily basis in order to coordinate services no longer have clear access. One-hour meetings turn into two-hour meetings with the commute. A quick student errand turns into an all-day process as they shuttle back and forth between the new Student Success Center, the Bursar's Office, their instructor's office and their department with a wait for the shuttle bus between each stop.

I thought we were trying to improve service and communication and reduce energy costs. Creating new, longer communication channels that break down without fossil fuels seems like a step in the wrong direction. By all means, create a "one-stop" location to reach out to students we are not currently reaching, but please don't make the Student Services Center less accessible by taking it off of campus.

Elisha Allen

UNM staff