With unification complete, PNW has two full-time student advocates to assist students. Jennie Pruitt and Diana Moryl serve the Hammond and Westville campuses, respectively.

Carmen Panlilio, vice chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, said student advocates assist students with various problems they may have by looking at a situation from a student’s perspective and directing the student in need to a solution.

“It won’t directly solve the problem, but it will follow up when the situation is resolved. There’s a lot of directing, but a big part of the job is following up and that’s what we really need,” Panlilio said. “When we say advocate, we mean for the student or friend of a student. It could be someone who is concerned about someone. It doesn’t have to be direct.”

Pruitt said that one example of assisting a student was when a student had an issue with a grade not being posted. She contacted the professor, which led to the student and professor meeting to solve the problem.

“I had a student who was seeking to contact an adviser for whatever reason. I sent an email courtesy and call on behalf of the student to the adviser and said ‘Hey, can you make an appointment?’ He was very appreciative,” Pruitt said. “I’m your BFF on campus. Students, reach out. Anytime you have questions, we encourage you to reach out to the Dean of Students office. Our students are our priority. We’re here to help.”

Andy Pettee, director of Student Assistance, Leadership and Conduct, said both Pruitt and Moryl have all the necessary skills to be a natural fit for the positions and that he wants students to feel comfortable coming to the Dean of Students office.

“The fact that [PNW Chancellor Thomas Keon] and Panlilio are dedicating two full-time staff members to be advocates to our students sends a message that student success is a priority,” Pettee said. “Not just saying it, but doing it by putting the money and resources into them being successful.”

Lisa Goodnight, associate vice chancellor of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, said that part of the reason the student advocate positions exist is due to federal law, which says that a university should have such a position.

“We believe that we must have this position. Students need access to help. With sexual assault, the policy is very clear but also very scary, so we believe it’s important to have someone to help them,” Goodnight said. “There’s nothing too small to help with. We had students come to us because they didn’t like the milk, so we directed them to who they could voice that to.”