New position focuses on needs of students

Newly appointed Dean of Students, Professor Rod St Hill is looking forward to working with and for students.

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) reinforced its commitment to providing a positive student experience today, with the announcement of a new Dean of Students.

USQ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bill Lovegrove, today announced that Professor Rod St Hill will fill the position of Dean of Students.

Professor St Hill has worked at the University for the past 13 years in a variety of roles, including Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Business Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Institutional Partnerships).

As part of this role, Professor St Hill is responsible for enhancing the student's university experience and the learning and teaching environment of the University.

Students' first year experience, orientation and transition will be a strong focus of the role, as well as promoting strategies to enhance student performance and monitoring graduate outcomes, taking into consideration the diversity of the USQ student population.

Professor St Hill said he is looking forward to the challenge of meeting student needs and believes that some of the current issues for students include combining academic workload with paid employment and social activities, and worrying about their future career.

"I hope to enhance the quality of engagement of students with both the academic and social systems in the USQ community," he said.

"There are many members of the USQ community who have a passion for students. I would like to bring them together so that we can work jointly to make the USQ student experience the benchmark to which other universities in Australia and internationally aspire."

Having worked in the university sector for 25 years Professor St Hill has acquired a wealth of experience in most aspects of university life

"Throughout my career as a university academic I have had an ‘open door' for students."

Rod's consultation times for example, included times out of normal business hours via his home phone to cater for external students and he also made his home telephone number available to on-campus students in the final weeks prior to the examination period.

"In my role as Associate Dean (Academic) I was always been available to help students understand University policy, often working in conjunction with student advocates from the Student Guild. This was particularly important to students involved in the appeals process or who sought advice following illness, accident or emotional trauma.

Acting as a senior student advocate and senior arbiter for student grievances are additional roles of the Dean of Students.

Students can rest assured that the new Dean of Students has their needs as his top priority.

Fiona Taylor, +61 7 3470 4117