By Rieley McDonnell, Guest Writer
Erika Jay joined the Xavier community this year in a new position as the Assistant Director for Commuter and Off-Campus Students.
Jay previously worked at Northern Kentucky University, where she was an academic advisor.
“I’ve been in higher education for over ten years now, but I’ve always wanted to work in student affairs,” she said. She also voiced her appeal of fulfilling a new position. “You get to sort of shape it, you get to put something into it,” she said.
Jay described her role as “focusing on commuter students and being accessible to them.” She described how it can be difficult for commuter students to construct a community on campus because they are not on campus as frequently as residential students. “When we schedule things like at nine, ten o’clock at night, that’s gonna leave out a commuter who may have an hour commute,” Jay said.
On-campus events are one of the primary ways students form connections with other students. Jay has made it a point to plan different events to help commuter students construct relationships.
“In September, we will have a cookout to help first-year students make the connection with somebody on campus who might be a resource for them,” Jay said.
She also expressed some of the often-forgotten challenges commuter students face.
“Let’s say you get your first class at nine o’clock, but your next class isn’t until two. Where are you going to hang out?”Jay said.
The Commuter Lounge located on the third floor of Gallagher Student Center is a place where commuters can meet others and hang out in the absence of a dorm room.
Jay expressed some of the goals she has for her time at Xavier. “Short-term would be for commuters to feel like they have a voice, a space,” she said. “This semester is going to be a time of outreach and of, ‘hey we’re here,’ and trying to get out there in front of people so they know to come to me.”
“Long-term would be to help our on and off-campus partners to broaden their idea about what it means to be a commuter.”
“I’m new, and so I am still trying to figure out the culture and how to do things here. I come from the world of academic advising, so I’m still trying to blend the two worlds together. The main way I hope to do that is by being there for the students and figuring out ways for us to be more inclusive,” Jay said.
Her main goal of the year is to build community and to bridge the gap between commuters, on-campus students, and faculty.
“Ultimately, I want us to build community and to work together,” Jay said.