Can an administration truly progress when the people it is supposed to serve are struggling to adjust to its administrative decisions and reforms?
They say change is the only constant thing in life. This is absolutely true, as no reasonable progress is achieved without making adjustments and allowing room for change. Humans desire progress and development and, as such, must be willing to embrace changes that bring about better results.
Change is often introduced to improve efficiency, make tasks easier and achieve better outcomes. Similarly, when a new administration or leadership takes over, there is often a desire to do things differently by adopting new methods, introducing policies and implementing reforms that could bring positive developments.
Such transitions happen in different organisations, including our universities, where new management teams and student union governments take over from their predecessors, with the hope of better governance and administration.
However, new administrations do not automatically guarantee better situations. New policies and reforms, if not properly communicated and implemented, could introduce unnecessary struggles.
What happens when the policies introduced by the management of an institution become additional burdens to its students?
Let us examine the situation at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI).
Recently, the institution welcomed its fourth Vice-Chancellor and also swore in the ninth assembly of its Students’ Union Government (SUG). These transitions have come alongside changes in academic registration, adjustments to students’ fee schedules and other administrative procedures.
There have also been improvements in student profile and registration procedures for freshers. These changes are evidently intended to improve administrative processes and ensure proper documentation and record-keeping.
For ease of administration, new systems and procedures must be properly communicated. Students should be informed ahead of time about changes that directly affect them. They need adequate time to understand, adjust and plan accordingly. Implementing too many changes at once without sufficient preparation may become overwhelming and create unnecessary difficulties.
Gradually introducing new procedures and adequately communicating them would make implementation more effective.
The Students’ Union Government (SUG) also has a responsibility to communicate timely and accurate information to students. Official communication channels, particularly the Directorate of Information, must circulate only verified and reliable information.
Just as knowledge is power and information is key, having the right knowledge and receiving timely information are even more important.
One area where this administrative and communication challenges become particularly evident is hostel accommodation.
There have been changes in the hostel accommodation application process, and students, while awaiting the commencement of the exercise, were on the lookout for the familiar application procedures. However, a different process was introduced, and although the first batch of approved accommodation names has been released, students are still awaiting the second batch.
School has resumed, yet some students remain uncertain about where they will stay. There was also very little time between the release of information about documentation requirements and the scheduled opening of the hostels. This has created difficulties for students who have resumed, those preparing to resume and others who are squatting while awaiting accommodation approval.
There are also difficulties students encounter when seeking clarification. Accommodation should not become an avoidable source of anxiety, especially at the beginning of a new academic session.
Students’ welfare includes securing good accommodation. They should not have to contend with uncertainty about where to stay in addition to their existing academic pressures and financial responsibilities.
A CALL TO ACTION: THE NEED FOR RESPONSIBLE ADMINISTRATION
These challenges can be addressed through deliberate and student-centred administrative decisions.
First, there should be gradual implementation of new reforms and policies. Whenever a new procedure is introduced, management should give students adequate time to understand and adjust to it.
Secondly, there should be timely communication. Important registration and accommodation requirements should be announced well ahead of deadlines, giving students sufficient time to prepare and make necessary arrangements.
Thirdly, information disseminated through official channels must be verified and reliable. Students should be able to depend on these platforms for accurate information.
There should also be improved accommodation facilities. Available facilities must be expanded to match the student population and the institution’s admission capacity.
Finally, students’ experiences and feedback should be considered before major changes are implemented. Students are directly affected by these decisions, and their concerns should not be overlooked.
Ultimately, the new administration has an opportunity to establish a positive legacy. Institutional development should not be measured solely by the number of new policies, procedures or administrative changes introduced, but also by how those decisions improve students’ experiences. Change should make the student experience better, not make the journey more difficult.
