NUSSU takes steps to improve campus vibrancy and student life
Student studying at YIH's Starbucks. Credits: Loh
MEETING STORY by Samantha Ding
During their annual general meeting, the 33rd National University of Singapore Students’ Union (NUSSU) council addressed the NUS Masterplan and initiatives to organize coffee appreciation classes at Starbucks in Yusof Ishak House (YIH).
The NUS Masterplan is a project undertaken by the Provost’s office to map out future policy directions for the physical layout of Kent Ridge Campus.
This Masterplan stretching over the next 20 years, hopes to incorporate students’ input in order to “enhance vibrancy and provide a well-rounded education experience for NUS students.”
Former NUSSU president, Christopher Cheong said, “There are plans to put pedestrian lines at the slope from central library to YIH. There are also plans for cycling tracks and there might be changes to the routes for bus 95 and 96 in the future.”
NUSSU has also put in effort to increase campus vibrancy in YIH. They conducted a survey to find out which cafe operators were most welcomed by the students and staff and the results were overwhelmingly in favour of Starbucks.
Together with representatives from key stakeholder groups, Starbucks was recommended to be the cafe operator in YIH.
Other highlights include coffee appreciation classes and a community wall for students and Starbucks interaction.
Starbucks is estimated to begin operations in October 2011, a performance stage for students to perform is also scheduled to be built.
Other initiatives addressed involved academic and residential matters such as the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) option and Residence Admission Scheme (RAS).
The S/U option encourages students to pursue their intellectual interests, without undue concern that exploring a new subject area may adversely affect their grades.
There has been increasing feedback on the disparity in S/U option policies between different faculties. This year, NUSSU focuses specifically on the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
“We have raised this matter to the Board of Undergraduate Studies (BUS) meeting. BUS has acknowledged this disparity and they will conduct a university-wide review of the policies in each faculty before any further action,” said Ang Kaili, NUSSU Students Welfare secretary.
As for the upcoming RAS scheme, it is in response to the shortcomings of the previous system and will impact many undergraduates greatly.
NUSSU has been working with involved parties to work on key issues of allocation policy and administration details of the scheme.
Ang said, “We are looking forward to the launch of the residence admission scheme after years of hard work and we will monitor the implementation closely.”
During their annual general meeting, the 33rd National University of Singapore Students’ Union (NUSSU) council addressed the NUS Masterplan and initiatives to organize coffee appreciation classes at Starbucks in Yusof Ishak House (YIH).
The NUS Masterplan is a project undertaken by the Provost’s office to map out future policy directions for the physical layout of Kent Ridge Campus.
This Masterplan stretching over the next 20 years, hopes to incorporate students’ input in order to “enhance vibrancy and provide a well-rounded education experience for NUS students.”
Former NUSSU president, Christopher Cheong said, “There are plans to put pedestrian lines at the slope from central library to YIH. There are also plans for cycling tracks and there might be changes to the routes for bus 95 and 96 in the future.”
NUSSU has also put in effort to increase campus vibrancy in YIH. They conducted a survey to find out which cafe operators were most welcomed by the students and staff and the results were overwhelmingly in favour of Starbucks.
Together with representatives from key stakeholder groups, Starbucks was recommended to be the cafe operator in YIH.
Other highlights include coffee appreciation classes and a community wall for students and Starbucks interaction.
Starbucks is estimated to begin operations in October 2011, a performance stage for students to perform is also scheduled to be built.
Other initiatives addressed involved academic and residential matters such as the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) option and Residence Admission Scheme (RAS).
The S/U option encourages students to pursue their intellectual interests, without undue concern that exploring a new subject area may adversely affect their grades.
There has been increasing feedback on the disparity in S/U option policies between different faculties. This year, NUSSU focuses specifically on the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
“We have raised this matter to the Board of Undergraduate Studies (BUS) meeting. BUS has acknowledged this disparity and they will conduct a university-wide review of the policies in each faculty before any further action,” said Ang Kaili, NUSSU Students Welfare secretary.
As for the upcoming RAS scheme, it is in response to the shortcomings of the previous system and will impact many undergraduates greatly.
NUSSU has been working with involved parties to work on key issues of allocation policy and administration details of the scheme.
Ang said, “We are looking forward to the launch of the residence admission scheme after years of hard work and we will monitor the implementation closely.”