On May 8, the KAIST Town Hall Meeting commenced in the Chung Kunmo Conference Hall located on the fifth floor of the Academic Cultural Complex (E9). Having been the third installment of the event, the Town Hall Meeting provides a direct communication avenue between KAIST students and the administration — the university’s high-ranking officials and council members come in full attendance to answer the students’ questions, concerns, or inquiries. This month, participation among the KAIST community was incentivized through in-event snacks and treats, as well as raffle prizes and coupons.
The first part of the meeting was dedicated to asking the attending officials questions collected prior to the event. The questions threaded a vast array of topics concerning various issues and sectors of students. One of the questions was about updates regarding the New York Campus. President Kwang Hyung Lee stated that there will be no significant issues in accepting students into the campus, as well as organizing agreements for dual and minor degrees. However, President Lee mentioned that accommodating students in the campus dormitories is currently hounded by recent economic hardships such as rising inflation rates in the US. Hence, only a couple of students can go as of now. It was assured that these are being deliberated carefully with small steps.
Other questions concerned academic life, such as some professors’ diligence and effort in teaching, as well as the number of leave days provided for graduate students. President Lee and Vice President Man-Sung Yim assured students they would take a closer look at the former issue, while at the same time reminding students to also actively participate and ask questions during lectures. As for the latter issue, the Research Team Leader reiterated the importance of graduate students’ right to rest, but also expressed caution on stipulating school-level policies regarding leaves. He emphasized the need to communicate directly with lab professors to take into account the lab’s unique situation, and acknowledged that the professors may already be aware of this need.
The second part of the meeting allowed live participants to submit their questions, from which the hosts were to draw as much as time allows for the officials to answer. The questions likewise covered broad topics, from generic questions on school-related issues such as the recently launched P/NR grading policy and diversity of food options on campus, to specific questions regarding certain courses or monthly stipend regulations. Participants whose questions were drawn were given Café Pascucci coupons, and by the end of the event, a final raffle was conducted to select winners of various prizes.
Prior to leaving midway in the meeting, President Lee was asked about his views on what kind of university KAIST is. His answer was that KAIST is not just a place to learn things, but also for students to find and seek for their dreams.