Elmer Meyer, Students at the Top . . .
This article describes Elmer Meyer's vision for the ECU campus. This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.Citation for this article is: "Elmer Meyer, students at the top . . ." Pieces of Eight, September 15, 1981.
When Elmer Meyer, ECU's Vice Chancellor for Student Life, visualizes his campus division in organizational chart form, he places the students at the top, his staff who work with students in various service capacities next, and himself at the bottom.
Since coming to ECU from Cornell University two years ago, Meyer has guided his division's growth to inclue 14 departments - every non-academic student service function on campus.
Among these are on- and off-campus residence, student activities, career placement, counseling, dining facilities, services for handicapped students, intramural sports, security, financial aid and health services. A new emphasis, particularly import to Meyer, is to assist "non-financial" students - the older students, the commuters, the students from foreign nations, the students living off campus.
"Students are in class only 15 to 17 hours a week," he says. "Even adding study time, that leaves a heck of a lot of time to plan and use outside the classroom."
Just a few Student Life accomplishments include a new five-year dining services contract and faculty-staff dining; adding bookcases, carpeting and other amenities to residence halls; appointment of a financial advisor to the SGA and Media Board; and arranging for Handicapped Student Services to be coordinated by a full-time staff member.
Meyer concedes that a student housing shortage is still a problem, but some direction in this area will be taken after a feasibility study is complete.
While the students' academic work develops them intellectually and prepares them for careers, involvement in student activities is the "best possible" preparation for future citizenship, Meyer believes.
He modestly disclaims the full credit for progress in the Division of Student Life, attributing much of it to the "willingness" of his enthusiastic staff.
"Our purpose is to help student's grow culturally and socially as well as intellectually," he says. "Our staff is dedicated to the students' welfare and devotes many hours - both day and night - to working with and for students."
