It’s not who you know… OK, it’s who you know

“I hope freshmen learn how to think clearly based on evidence, the ability to express that clear thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.” Nevada president John Lilley

1.
John Lilley, president of the University of Nevada, Reno, jml@unr.edu. (If you need to reach him, it’s better to make first contact through his assistant, Joyce King, jking@unr.edu, or 784-4805.

President Lilley was unfamiliar with UNR when he first visited in April 2001. However, he “sensed immediately the quality of the university and the immense possibilities” while he was being recruited.

Lilley said students can enjoy high-quality programs, some of which have international reputations. The university’s most important priority is the quality of education it offers, but he hopes freshmen learn more than just the subjects taught in the school’s classrooms.

“I hope freshmen learn how to think clearly based on evidence, the ability to express that clear thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.”

Lilley said he likes to hear from students.

“Students can reach me via e-mail,” Lilley said. “In addition, I welcome my interactions with students at the Pizza with President.” Pizza with President is an event where students can learn about another staple of college life: pizza. (It’s even free.)

“Make the most of your first year at the university by focusing on good study habits,” Lilley said. “If that goes well, there will be time for co-curricular activities. Far too many students believe that university life is just more high school.”

2.
Melody Bayfield, director of the Parking and Transportation Service, 784-4654, Melody_Bayfield@vpaf.unr.edu.

Bayfield and her department work to provide the campus with a comfortable parking experience. She’s not just about constructing more parking garages, though; she also offers programs that help to reduce car traffic on campus. For example, she has free parking permits for bicycles, offers a Citifare “ultimate rides” bus pass, which is valid for 10 months for $65, and reserves close-to-campus parking areas for carpoolers.

For those who have a parking permit, the department provides free motorist assistance—they help with flat tires, jump-starts, key lock-outs and empty fuel tanks.

Her job’s most difficult challenge is to find funding to construct more parking garages to meet the campus’ ever-growing need. Among other, less painful methods, she’s had to increase parking permit prices.

As the director of the department, she’s taken care of the campus’s parking needs for 21 years. Based on campus expansion plans, she’s helped plan such parking solutions as the Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex, a garage next to the Lawlor Events Center, and the West Stadium Parking Complex, which will be open in time for the fall semester.

Bayfield said the department provides information to help students reduce headaches in their college life.

“Visit us and learn the services that will provide a stress-less parking experience,” Bayfield said.

3.
Kari Todd, the marketing representative of the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), 784-6569 ext. 240, ktodd@unr.nevada.edu.

USAC just added three new countries to study—Mexico, Netherlands and Korea.

Todd said studying abroad through USAC programs can give students life-changing experiences. She should know: She went to Denmark when she was a student at UNR. She had tremendous experiences there and made some lifelong friends.

“In the more cohesive global environment, students have a unique opportunity to learn and experience the world around them,” Todd said. “USAC offers 34 programs in 24 countries that would fulfill two years of language requirement. Almost all past participants of study abroad say it has changed their life completely.”

In addition to the language programs, students can take courses in the host university, and most of them are credit-transferable.

Although the USAC programs are open to students who’ve taken at least one semester, she said it’s a good idea to visit the USAC office early to begin planning ahead. All student employees at the office have been on the USAC programs, and they are happy to share their experiences.

4.
Gonzalo Garcia, attendant at the Wolf Perk. Meet him at the Wolf Perk or The Cellar.

A 48-year-old attendant at the Wolf Perk welcomes the students with the aroma of coffee, pastries and conversation.

Garcia has worked at the café for a year and a half. Most visitors to the café had been served by him at least once.

He enjoys talking with students from all over the world while he prepares coffee for them.

“We have a great diversity of students here,” Garcia said. “I love to listen to the stories about their experiences, culture and country.”

Garcia said he especially loves to help students who are working on their Spanish, and he’s a ready Spanish conversation partner.

5.
Cheryl Hug-English, M.D. M.P.H, medical director of the Student Health Center. Associate Dean Office of Admissions and Student Affairs of the School of Medicine, 784-6598, cherylh@med.unr.edu

Dr. Hug-English became director of the center in 1988, when the center was still located at the Juniper Hall. For 16 years, she has worked to make the campus a healthier place. The Nevada campus has the uncommon benefit of a complete range of health services—such as pharmacy, lab and X-ray machine.

In addition to the clinic, the department offers other health-related campaigns, such as an alcohol-awareness week.

She said freshmen should establish and maintain good balance. For example, good diets, moderate exercise and enough rest.

Hug-English said students should learn the services the center offers since, for most students, college is the first time in their lives that they have to deal with their health problems by themselves.

“Most students are not aware that we offer a wide range of services,” Hug-English said. “Generally, freshmen are likely to get sick more often because they might be exposed to new viruses by living in dormitories. Also, the transition to college is very hard. We are here to provide healthcare to make the transition smooth.”

6.
Rod Aeschlimann, the director of Residential Life, Housing and Food Service, 784-1113, rod@unr.edu.

Living in the dormitories helps students make connections with the campus community—friends, faculty members and organizations—that support success at the university. According to a recent survey, students who lived on campus had a 16 percent higher success rate than off-campus students. Aeschlimann said about 90 percent of out-of-area students and 50 percent of local freshmen live in the dormitories during their first semester.

The dormitories also provide students with academic support services. For those who have difficulty with school, the department provides the Academic Intervention Program. Aeschlimann said the program has been successful in increasing students’ GPAs.

The dormitories can house 1,750 students, but Aeschlimann said he is planning an increase of 300 to 400 beds every three to four years until 2020. He said he loves to hear students’ ideas for improving the dormitories. For example, 24-hour-quiet floors are available. He said many other options are available to reflect students’ living preferences.

The dormitories also host social events, reflecting Aeschlimann’s philosophy that out-of-class experiences are as important as in-class activities.

“When I talk to the parents and prospective students, there’s some concern about fitting into university life,” Aeschlimann said. “I’m happy when I see these students are fitting in—for example, eating with friends at a cafeteria.”

7.
Steve Riccomini, the coordinator of Intramurals and Sports Clubs, department of Campus Recreation and Wellness, 784-1225 ext. 224, scr@unr.nevada.edu

Riccomini said the students should be involved in intramural sports because they provide students with inexpensive fun and healthy recreational opportunities. The intramurals have a variety of sports from soccer to Ultimate Frisbee. Riccomini said he would add other sports if more than 10 students asked for them.

Riccomini said it’s unnecessary to have high athletic skills to participate. He said it’s easy to make new friends in intramurals since sports bring down social barriers.

He said he can refer students to experts on the sports that students want to learn.

“The recreation program offers any kind of recreation you can think of at a nominal cost,” Riccomini said. “College life can be stressful, so blow off some steam and stay active by participating in sports.”

8.
Sandi Guidry, the associate director of the Student Financial Services, 784-4666 ext. 3006, sguidry@unr.nevada.edu

Guidry started working as a student employee in 1979—she’s been helping students solve financial problems for 25 years. At the department, she said students can have walk-in meetings with financial advisors. Advisors can help students fill out scholarship applications, consult with them about financial problems, and confirm scholarship requirements.

In her quarter century, Guidry has made financial processes less difficult for students—mainly through Internet-based forms. Tuition is payable online, and employment information can be updated, as can scholarship applications. In addition to the scholarship and employment information, the department also provides short- and long-term loans.

Guidry said the most common and serious problem students are faced with is losing scholarships due to incomplete knowledge of scholarship requirements, such as maintaining a certain GPA.

“Since some students are the Millennium Scholarship recipients, visiting us and understanding the policies of the scholarships is important,” Guidry said. “Money is a big issue, and we are here to help the students to get through college.”

In order to have the best opportunity to get money, she recommends students apply for scholarships as early as possible.

9.
Tom Davies, General Manager, Associated Students of the University of Nevada Bookstore, 784-6597, www.asunbookstore.com.

More than 242,000 customers bought textbooks, computers, Nevada apparel or a pack of gum at the A.S.U.N. Bookstore last year, according to Tom Davies, bookstore general manager.

The bookstore, owned by the A.S.U.N. and the Graduate Students Association, sells class textbooks, an eclectic selection of non-course literature, education-priced computer hardware and software, snacks and sundries and aisles of Nevada apparel including sweatshirts, bumper stickers and ball caps.

Bookstore sales directly benefit the students of the University. Last year, the store cleared $10.5 million in sales, the profits of which, went to the A.S.U.N. to fund the recently constructed Intramural Sports Field ($100,000 over 10 years), the wellness center, The Lombardi Recreation center, the escort services and other A.S.U.N. expenses or causes.

“When everything is said and done, any extra money, our profit, goes back to the students,” Davies said. “You can find textbooks online, in lots of places, but is it worth the inconvenience, and do you want to see your money leave the campus.”

“At the bookstore, we offer the right editions, support for all the computer software and hardware we sell and our own guarantee. If you have a problem, it is easier to come back to us and let us personally take care of it than it is to ship it back to another company.”

10.
Millie Syring, a document delivery librarian of the University Library, 784-6500 ext. 289 mlsyring@unr.edu.

Getting to know librarians at the reference desk of the Getchell Library is one of the keys to an academically successful university life, says Millie Syring.

Syring said students who grow up with computers know about the free information available on the Internet, but few are aware of things that have a cost attached—such as some databases or online journals. Since many professors ask students to use these data sources for term papers, it’s important to know how to retrieve the information with UNR’s subscription licenses. She said the reference librarians can teach students how to access them from the school’s libraries or at home, as well as how to evaluate the information.

“If you can’t find good sources for a term paper, visit us, call us, e-mail us, or chat with us online,” Syring said. “The reference librarians are the information specialists.”

Syring is willing to answer any question about the university. She is sometimes asked how to enroll in classes, the locations of professors’ offices, and scholarship information.

“We can guide the students to the right places,” she said. “If we don’t know the answer, we can refer students to people who do know the answer.”

David Calvert contributed to this article.