Archived Suggestions :: November 2008

Suggestion — 1151

Subject — 2009 Spring Course Schedule

Forwarded to — Web Services Manager

Suggestion / Comment

Can the course offerings be put in a more accessible spot on the website????

Response

The day the Spring Schedule was open, the UHV homepage, and events section of the main secondary pages were updated.

Suggestion — 1152

Subject — Online Version of UHV Catalog

Forwarded to — Web Services Manager

Suggestion / Comment

For the online version of the catalog... please put it in pdf format so it may be searched. I have occasion to cut and paste portions of the catalog as answers to questions from students and faculty (usually new adjuncts). It is sometimes very difficult to find anything in the online version. It would be much easier for those accessing the website to use the catalog if it were searchable.

Response

Thank you for your suggestion.

There is a PDF and online version of the catalog on the UHV website available. If you need help locating it, please let Web Services know.

Suggestion — 1153

Subject — UHV Jaguar Merchandise

Forwarded to — Athletic Director

Suggestion / Comment

As I walk through the Victoria Mall stores, HEB, and other local vendors I see high school and other college sports paraphernalia displayed for sale. I've observed people of all ages and sizes wearing these items in what appears to be a show of pride in a particular school. However, I am quite surprised that I don't see any UHV or Jaguar paraphernalia for sale to the public in stores. Why is that? I suggest that UHV make an effort to have these items available for sale to the public in local stores to increase awareness of UHV sports programs and increase community pride in UHV.

Response

UHV Jaguars items are currently on sale at the UHV athletic office, located in the University Center building on the UHV campus and online at uhvjaguars.com. Our apparel sales generates much needed revenue for the athletic department therefore we have to be certain that a partnership will benefit UHV athletics as well as the local stores.

Suggestion — 1154

Subject — Commencement Speakers

Forwarded to — Chief of Staff

Suggestion / Comment

Why does UHV keep acquiring commencement speakers that are affiliated with the republican party? First Ron Paul, now Glenn Hegar. Give me a break. Some democratic representation would be nice to see and hear. Contrary to popular belief, the entire UHV population is NOT republican.

Response

Our practice has been to invite commencement speakers who will be of interest to our graduates and guests, and add significance to this memorable occasion. Some of these speakers have been elected officials, both republican and democrat, while others are well known in other fields, such as Andrei Codresku (literature) and Milo Hamilton (sports announcer).

Suggestion — 1155

Subject — UHV Website

Forwarded to — Director, Marketing

Suggestion / Comment

I thought the web page would be changed to address some of the concerns that faculty and students have expressed about the difficult in finding information. All I hear from marketing is that they are busy with the annual report and downward expansion. How successful will the downward expansion be if our website stays in this shameful state?

Response

All issues with students having difficulty finding information on uhv.edu were immediately addressed as soon as Marketing and I.T. were made aware of the challenges. The two key issues were:

1. Locating "Forms"
   This was resolved by putting "Forms" in "Popular Pages"
2. Locating contact information for the Bursar's Office
   This was resolved by making our "Directory" accessible under "Student Resources" for both future and current students.

If you are aware of other specific challenges that students or faculty are having, please share them with me. You can reach me at ext. 349, or you can e-mail me at ellisj@uhv.edu. I will attempt to resolve the issues immediately.

We have developed improvements to the homepage and secondary pages. We are in the process of reviewing them for implementation. With help from I.T., the updates will be uploaded as soon as we have resolved any potential issues.

Thank you for sharing your concern.

Suggestion — 1156

Subject — HUB Vendors

Forwarded to — Purchasing Agent

Suggestion / Comment

If we are supposed to be primarily using HUB's and are sent reports on the percentage of HUB purchases we have made, why did UHV recently set up Schulenberg printing as our primary printing vendor? They are not a HUB.

Response

The institution's goal is to make a good faith effort to purchase a minimum of 20% qualifying goods and services from HUBS. (HUBS are entities, including women and minority owned businesses meeting certain State qualifications that qualify them as a Historically Underutilized Business). The printing stationary award referenced was informally bid and several HUBS were invited to bid however, no HUBs responded. Schulenberg Printing offered the lowest overall priced bid for the services and met all bid requirements. The Purchasing Office and the University is committed to providing contracting opportunities for HUBs and actively supports and encourages participation by soliciting offers, bids and proposals from HUBs when the opportunity arises.

Suggestion — 1157

Subject — Performance Evaluations

Forwarded to — Director, Human Resources

Suggestion / Comment

Why are employees who do not supervise staff being asked to complete performance evaluations for staff who don't report to them? Supervisors need to be held accountable for doing their jobs which includes conducting performance evaluations.

Response

Supervisors are responsible for completing the performance evaluations for those employees that they supervise. Sometimes there is an individual that is considered the “functional” supervisor of the employee, but is not the actual supervisor who is responsible for the hiring, discipline issues and performance evaluations. I am not aware of who you are referring to in your suggestion, but please do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions or concerns.

Please refer to policy C-13 Staff Performance Evaluations, C-13 http://www.uhv.edu/fin/policy/C/c-13.htm

Suggestion — 1158

Subject — Employee Confidentiality

Forwarded to — Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Suggestion / Comment

I just passed the hall way this afternoon and I heard one teacher was sharing some behaviors of the students to the other person. I thought this would hurt school reputation if the listener is the future employer. If the listener is another faculty member, this probably change others' attitude about those students. Comparing results between students and gossiping behind classes are all violation of the spirit of FERPA.

Response

Thank you for expressing your concerns about faculty discussing students in hallways. I agree that negative issues should not be discussed where others can overhear conversations because it is easy to get the messages out of context. This situation is difficult to manage from a distance. I will mention your concerns to the Deans and Chair of the Faculty Senate so they can remind faculty about FERPA as well as misunderstandings.

Suggestion — 1159

Subject — UHV Website Navigation

Forwarded to — Web Services Manager

Suggestion / Comment

I use the JAWS screen reader and Microsoft magnifier and I am having trouble finding the student email link on the home page. Occasionally I am able to find it, other times, I am not. Please consider making the email link more visable. thank you, Jacob

Response

At this time, the TEXT ONLY option in the upper left hand corner of the UHV homepage will be the best option for you to use.
Thank you very much for your suggestion. Web Services is constantly trying to improve our site for all of our users, and really appreciate your feedback.
Please call Web Services at 361 570 4848 so we can have further discussions on how the site can be more accessible.

Suggestion — 1 1160

Subject — Office Phone Etiquette

Forwarded to — Sr. Director, Information Technology

Suggestion / Comment

Please do not allow employees to have their phones transfer to the operator when they're not in their office and the caller presses 0# to reach another employee in that office. It is very frustrating to call someone in the West building, press 0# when they're not in, and then get the switchboard operator in the Center building who has no way of knowing where that person is. This is such an irresponsible and rude thing to do. I'm sure our students do not appreciate that any more that I, an employee, do.

Response

Thanks for the suggestion.  We are making that change so that as a default, faculty voicemail will transfer to their School secretary.  However, we are not able to prevent any faculty from setting their forward function to go to whatever extension they enter.  Just as an fyi, our standard practice for setting the Forward to go to the switchboard for faculty was set years ago when our faculty had offices in four different buildings and when the schools’ staff phones were more often busy than not, resulting in the call being transferred back to the voicemail system.  However, we’ve changed a lot in the last few years, and it makes sense to make the change you suggested. 

I will argue that your assessment that our process is “irresponsible and rude” is unfounded.  It might be inefficient, and perhaps ineffective, but not irresponsible.  I honestly don’t know how you can judge this as being rude.  The calls were forwarded to a person with the ability to transfer the call to the most available person in that office, not just one phone that may be busy. 

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