Saint Xavier University Sign sxu.edu
On Mar. 1, 2024, Keith Elder, Ph.D., began his time as President of Saint Xavier University. In just a little over a month, the Saint Xavier community has felt a drastic shift from the environment created by the previous full-time president, Laurie Joyner, Ph.D.
The Xavierite editorial board has witnessed the change in the community and are excited to see how this will play out for the future of the university.
The biggest change is the actual presence of a president on campus.
A member of the editorial board shared their excitement about seeing Elder on campus, stating, “I know he went to Drama Club’s show, which was exciting as it clearly demonstrated his desire to be a part of the community because the show took place after his work day would have ended.”
Other members of the editorial board shared that Elder is creating a noticeably positive connection with students by showing up to events and being seen around campus. One member of the board summed up the sentiment by stating, “It’s nice to see he cares about students and wants a first-hand experience meeting them.”
While only one member of the editorial board has gotten the chance to sit down and speak with Elder, all members of the board have either gotten to speak with Elder very briefly, or exchanged a few words in passing—something unheard of with the previous presidency.
Overall, the Xavierite editorial board agrees that seeing Elder around campus has already created a large positive impact on the university’s environment. One member of the board shared that they “…feel that as a community, we have become much stronger by having a president who is active with its students.”
Having a president involved and present on campus is a crucial aspect of keeping a university in good shape. One member of the board expressed that having a president be active in their community boosts the morale of the students.
Another member focused on how being an active president can help when making decisions that affect the university, “In order to serve the community, you first need to know it. Who compromises the community, what are their concerns, what do they want to see in the future, etc… should be kept in mind when making decisions that impact them.”
Through Elder’s seemingly active engagement with the SXU community, the entire editorial board agreed that they see the university moving in a positive direction under his leadership.
However, there are still many issues that Saint Xavier is facing, and that the editorial board hopes Elder will prioritize in the upcoming years.
One board member focused on the issue of funding, mentioning “There are lots of people at SXU with great ideas that can do the community some good, but we just do not have the money to make those ideas a reality.”
Another issue listed was academic advising, referencing this as something many students continue to struggle with.
One member of the board stated that they would like to see more classes and sections added, mentioning that many classes’ times conflict because there are only one or two sections available for each class.
While there are still many changes to be made, and though Saint Xavier may never be perfect, the university is currently in a drastically different state than it was in the past, thanks to the work of both Elder, and the previous Interim President, Rebecca Sherrick, Ph.D.
It was only a year ago that the Xavierite was publishing articles regarding the previous full-time president’s lack of connection with the student body, the students’ lack of trust in SXU after the cutting of multiple majors in the liberal arts, and the university’s straying from the Mercy Mission.
But now, it seems as though the tide is finally changing for Saint Xavier.
The Xavierite editorial board has become hopeful for a bright future for the university, with one member stating that “Dr. Sherrick paved the path for greatness, and Dr. Elder is here to make it happen. With communication and a strive to make change, it will happen.”
Another member of the editorial board shared a strong message that sums up the drastic change Saint Xavier has witnessed in the last month: “In the brief time we’ve had with Dr. Elder, I’ve seen something that hasn’t been on campus for as long as I can remember: hope. If Dr. Elder’s actions match his words, I have faith that SXU could make a complete recovery and thrive under his new leadership.”
Only time will tell what Saint Xavier University’s future holds, but if the darkness that the previous administration brought can so quickly be overcome, then it is safe to say that there is a promising future for Saint Xaiver.
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