In an effort to interact with Martin J. Whitman School of Management students and hear their concerns, Dean Ken Kavajecz is hosting town hall style meetings.

The meetings are held in the Milton Room in Whitman, and the latest meeting took place Thursday to focus on the school’s seniors. The meetings allow students and administrators to communicate about important issues facing the school, Kavajecz said in an email.

“The meetings open up lines of communication among school partners and maximize the chances of unearthing new ideas,” he said.

Kavajecz was inspired to hold these meetings because of a need for transparency, dialogue and engagement with the students, he added. Kavajecz has made maintaining contact with students and building a sense of community a priority, Whitman assistant dean of undergraduate programs Lindsay Rapp said in an email.

“He is showing his commitment to hearing what our current students have to say about their experiences in the school,” she said. “As a student, you know your recommendations and feedback are being heard when you communicate directly with the dean.”

Kavajecz held at least one town hall in the fall semester for graduate students, Rapp said. Because of the positive feedback, he wanted three meetings scheduled for undergraduate students in the spring, she said.

The meetings will continue to be held on an ongoing basis, Kavajecz said.

Scott Rosenthal and Sakina Kader both attended Thursday night’s meeting to voice their concerns about Whitman-related issues.

Rosenthal, a senior accounting major, came to the meeting to relay concerns that the capstone, which is required for all Whitman undergraduates, is not as well organized as it should be.

“The capstone is supposed to take everything you have learned over your four years and put them into one class, where you apply all those skills,” he said before the meeting. “That doesn’t happen and I want to voice my concern.”

Rosenthal said Kavajecz has done a good job of bringing in new faculty in his first year as dean. He added that he appreciates Kavajecz taking the time to host the meetings.

Kader, a senior entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises and Spanish major, said limiting smoking outside of Whitman was the main concern she brought to the meeting.

“I wanted to talk to the dean about making boundaries around Whitman so people can’t smoke so close to the doors,” she said before the meeting. “It bothers me a lot and other people have also mentioned it, so I wanted to see what we can do about that.”

Kader appreciates how approachable Kavajecz is, adding that the meetings were a great way to voice opinions on problems.

Kavajecz said students have responded well to the meetings. He added that they felt more connected to the school.

“Everyone that has participated has, I believe, really gotten a great deal out of the time and feel much more of connection to the Whitman School,” he said.

Although the feedback has been helpful, Rapp said she wishes that more students attended the meetings.

Said Rapp: “The dean wants to form a partnership with the student body and I would like to see more students taking advantage of the opportunities provided.”

Published on April 1, 2014 at 1:50 am

Contact Justin: jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306