In the final days leading up to the inauguration of SGA president-elect James Fowler and his staff, Tyler Reed, vice president of academic affairs, said that looking back on his time in the SGA, he has been pleased with what he has been able to accomplish while in office.
Reed said the primary duties of the office include directing academic values, curriculum and advising, in addition to helping students with advising concerns and Academic Integrity Week. Other divisions within the department include academic programs, academic resources, University libraries, student recruitment and University Standing Committees.
About his time in office, Reed said he has enjoyed having the opportunity to meet with so many new and potential students.
“Because I am charged with directing student recruitment, I am frequently working with the office of admissions striving to obtain the best students out there,” Reed said in an e-mail earlier this week. “This past summer was quite busy with the many orientations and new students wanting to get involved on campus. Being in the SGA office allowed for me to meet their families and help point them to the many student organizations the Capstone has to offer.”
Of the programs he said he is most proud of, Reed said he is particularly fond of the textbook rental program, which was introduced this year, quickly becoming “a big success for what it was.”
“It was a way for students to save money upfront on their textbooks,” Reed said in a telephone interview. “Instead of investing a couple of hundred dollars into a textbook and getting money back for it at the end of the semester, they were paying all their savings upfront.”
Reed said that only three classes implemented the system for their own books, but the SUPe Store is currently working with the office of academic affairs to increase the number of classes offered.
Another aspect of academic resource programs that Reed oversaw was the calculator rental program, which was implemented in Rodgers Library. Reed said the SGA is currently working to establish the program as a permanent one, adding more calculators for students to use.
Students on campus seemed to agree with Reed’s assessment that the office of academic affairs did a number of things to make the academic environment at the University that much better.
“I think that the SGA could do more to increase the academics here at UA, especially to help struggling students with tutoring, to assist with advising, and overall increase the academic reputation of the Capstone,” said A.J. Collins, a freshman majoring in political science and economics.
Amanda Wright, a sophomore majoring in Spanish and biology, said that despite her little knowledge of the workings of the SGA, there needs to be more initiative taken by the organization to reach out to students.
“I only hear about the SGA one time a year, and that’s during the election when they’re chalking and handing out stickers. So, in order to be more effective, they need to do that kind of promotion year-round that way we know what they’re doing,” Wright said.
Looking to the future, Reed said he would ultimately still like to be involved in working with students.
“Any student can really get involved. It’s not that hard for me to do,” Reed said. “Anytime they [SGA] needs help with something, I’d love to help.”
One capacity that Reed mentioned in potential service was possibly working with University Programs because “what they do is very instrumental on campus.” If given the chance, Reed said he hopes to bridge a better partnership between the organization and the SGA in the future to work together.
“I think University Programs has done a great job and that there’s room for improvement,” Reed said. “I’d really love to jump in and help out in any way possible.”
In addition to this, Reed is also involved as a member of his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, as well as playing intramural sports and chairing various committees, including the undergraduate programs and services committee and the University libraries committee.
Looking back over the past year, Reed said that he is honored to have been given the opportunity to work with so many people that he greatly admires.
“I loved meeting with students and helping out with their problems,” Reed said. “This year has definitely flown by as vice president.”
Cate Kennedy and Caroline Taylor contributed reporting.
