NSM Virtual Suggestion Box Responses

Suggestions submitted through the NSM Virtual Suggestion Box are reviewed by college leadership and considered as part of ongoing planning, priority setting, and decision-making across the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Below is a curated list of suggestions and responses - click a suggestion to view the response - shared for transparency with all NSM faculty and staff. Note that suggestions may be edited for clarity and content prior to posting.

After visiting the College of Pharmacy, I was struck by how intentionally their building space promotes student belonging. Several walls highlight student organizations, student encouragement messages, and informal community elements, creating a welcoming, student-centered environment. In SR-1, our walls primarily showcase research posters. This reflects an important core value, but there may be an opportunity to celebrate students and their success more visibly, particularly in first-floor spaces where students gather and visitors pass through (e.g., near the Dean’s Office or between Rooms 116 and 117). Such displays could support belonging, engagement, and recruitment, while complementing our research identity.

Thank you for this thoughtful suggestion. Our physical spaces communicate who we are and what we value, and it is important that they reflect student engagement alongside research excellence.

We will explore ways to showcase student organizations, involvement opportunities, and student achievements in high-traffic areas to foster a stronger sense of belonging while maintaining a professional and cohesive environment. We appreciate your offer to share examples and welcome continued input as we consider next steps.

Thanks for organizing this. Great idea! Students frequently email faculty with enrollment-related questions that are better addressed by program directors or advising staff. This can create unnecessary back-and-forth and delay resolution for students. Could NSM help communicate more clearly to students who their appropriate point of contact is for enrollment questions? While this may be a university-wide issue, additional clarity at the college or departmental level might improve efficiency.

Thank you for raising this practical concern. Instructors are often the first point of contact for students, even when other offices may be better positioned to provide assistance.

We will review our student-facing materials to determine whether clearer, more consistent guidance would better support students in navigating available resources. We welcome specific suggestions for improving clarity and encourage faculty to continue directing students to the appropriate offices to ensure timely and accurate assistance.

The NSM Office of Research recommends holding a “kick-off” meeting upon receipt of a new award. This meeting should include the principal investigator, the department business administrator responsible for managing the award, and the research liaison officer who assisted with the application. The purpose is to review key topics such as: 1) Sponsor’s Notice of Award (NOA), 2) Program requirements, 3) Approved budget and justification, 4) Compliance obligations, 5) Reporting requirements.

Thank you for this thoughtful and practical suggestion, which can help ensure compliance, clarify expectations, and set projects up for success from the outset.

We will work to incorporate this service into our NSM Research Office. In the interim, PIs and DBAs are encouraged to request a “kick-off” meeting if one is not proactively scheduled.

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