News release final

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Halle Forbes University Services Chair 212-465-4095 Forbe2hn@dukes.jmu.edu

Colleen Hall Public Relations 484-809-2108 14cmhall@gmail.com

James Madison Students Work to Make Student Life Perfect HARRISONBURG, Va—Tired of the lack of parking at JMU and Festival’s unreliable straws?

The University Services committee of James Madison University’s Student Government Association released a survey to all students to get input on all issues related to dining, transportation, facilities, technology, and libraries to make student life the best for students. The form is found on goo.gl/5WF3ry and will stay active for the 2017-2018 academic year.

The survey consists of four questions: What is your suggestion/concern/idea for improving student life? What suggestion does this suggestion just fall into? What is your name?

What is your email address? Responses are sent to Halle Forbes, the University Services Chair, and she will work with her committee to contact appropriate administrators to resolve the issues submitted. Suggestions are reviewed every Tuesday during the University Services Committee meetings. Each University Services Committee member oversees either dining, transportation, facilities, technology or libraries. The committee regularly meets with administrators in each sector to voice student concerns with possible solutions. (more)

University Services 2 Perfect Student Life The committee will set up stations across campus to input suggestions throughout the year. Every first Friday of the month, members of the University Services committee will be in the Student Success Center gathering student opinion for improvements. The purpose of this is to create a relationship with the student body and let others know the resources available.

Previous improvements include getting better straws at Festival, creating a bus stop by Tree House dorms, installing wheelchair ramps on campus, providing more seating in Student Success Center and Carrier Library, bringing back spicy chicken sandwiches to Top Dog, creating a path from East Campus to Walmart, fixing broken drinking fountains and desks, and others. Some projects in the works include providing more gender-inclusive bathrooms, installing a camera in Mason Parking Deck, and providing even more study spaces across campus.

On-campus services reach out to the University Services and ask for student opinion regarding student life. Previously, James Madison University architects met with the committee to gather opinions regarding new facilities on campus such as the new D-Hall. The services work with the group to promote on-campus services such as The Writing Center, The Well, Health Center, Career and Academic Planning, and Counseling Center. The committee regularly collaborates with Dining Services, Carrier Library, Rose Library and Parking Services.

At the end of the academic year, the committee will compile a list of completed tasks.

The accomplishments will be posted on a board in the Student Success Center for all students to see. The goal of the survey is to get 500 responses throughout the year. ###

University Services 3 Perfect Student Life About University Services The University Services Committee acts as a voice for the students, amplifying student opinion to appropriate administrators, executing projects to resolve concerns and promoting student-based initiatives on campus. The Committee focuses on aspects of student life including transportation, dining, housing, recreation, safety, substance abuse, technology, and University services. For more information go to sga.jmu.edu or follow @JMUFixIt on Twitter.

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