Understanding the Student Body
Photo provided by Rampage student photographer Savannah Thompson
Dr. Jason Craig, the new provost at BU, has helped to implement policies and changes at the university while highlighting the student experience and caring for our student body. Dr. Craig dove headfirst into his new role and has plans for further action.
Rilla Copper, director of student success, recalls one of the first tasks Dr. Craig was involved in on campus: the reworking of the RAMS Life program, previously called Vocatio. In-person students at Bluefield University earn credit by participating in areas that can help a student grow in their education, as a believer, and as a person.
“We met with Dr. Craig for several revamping sessions early on (he’d probably only been at Bluefield 24 hours or so), and his leadership, vision, and ideas were absolutely invaluable,” Cooper said. “Anyone who spends a few minutes with him will see that he has such a heart for the students. In our meetings, he helped direct the program’s vision to be something that encompasses what we want all BU students to experience here: growing in faith, academics, service, and community.”
Cooper went on to speak of Dr. Craig’s valuable help in successfully redefining the program.
“He was integral in finding the ‘right’ direction for the program that also truly fit our students,” Cooper said. “He asked thoughtful questions, provided direction in purpose and value, and also helped work through some of the administrative mechanics that could help us make a better program overall.”
Dr. Craig emphasized that though the program did not change much, its focus shifted to be more in line with students.
“If you really look at it, we didn’t really change that much, but we changed a lot of the emphasis and a lot of the focus to be, I think, more student-friendly and more student-engaging,” Dr. Craig said.
Dr. Craig has also been involved with changing the ways students meet with their professors during the start of their time on campus, as well as the way the honor code signing is conducted. Dr. Craig introduced a lunch where students could meet their professors instead of the usual introduction on stage during the honor code signing.
“The faculty just went and sat with the students, and the conversations were great,” Dr. Craig said. “I kind of hope that the students got to know their faculty a bit more.”
Dr. Craig acknowledged that when there is change, there is also room for failure. Although there was no failure in his latest changes, he realizes it is a risk of his position.
“Part of being in this position is you have to go, ‘All right, we tried something, and it didn’t work.’ So what are we going to do next? How are we going to adapt? What are we going to change?” Dr. Craig said.
So far, though, Dr. Craig’s time and work on campus seem to be a success. Cooper said Dr. Craig’s attitude and skills have helped both him and the university succeed in this new semester.
“Dr. Craig already really understands our student body; perhaps it’s better to say that he understands people,” Cooper said. “To succeed academically, students have to feel supported and seen. Dr. Craig does a great job of connecting and really caring for students one-on-one, and just relating to them in a real way. However, he also has the vision and rigorous educational standards needed for a successful provost . . . it’s great to see this leadership and combination!”