It may be summer vacation for college students, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a flurry of activity going on at Williston State College.

For new WSC President Dr. Raymond Nadolny, this summer is very busy reorganizing the office areas and his office to increase efficiency and access. He’s also adding staff and making improvements to various areas of campus.

Nadolny said the changes and improvements he’s initiated are centered around the simple concept of better serving the student’s needs, as well as creating a more positive all-around college experience.

“We’re doing this from the perspective of the question ‘Is there more we could be doing to better serve the students?’ and the answer is yes. It’s a continuing process, where we now have a leadership team in place that can have honest conversations about how better to serve the student’s needs,” said Nadolny.

Some of the immediate changes Nadolny began over the summer is the process of moving all of the different student services into one central location as a kind of a “one-stop” place for students. He said this is an effort to be student-friendly, as well as efficient. Nadolny even has moved his office across the hall by an entrance near the student services area. Nadolny said there is to be more staff hired as well for various needs. A new vice-president of Student Services is to step in and begin work soon. There also is to be a full-time music faculty and a person in charge of housing and safety.

Another improvement is the movement of adult education from an outside trailer into an indoor classroom where work is almost complete. New computers and equipment are being installed, as well as comfortable student chairs.

“The whole idea is, we want to put you in a professional space with new, quality equipment. It’s a much richer, enjoyable learning experience that way,” said Nadolny.

An area Nadolny thought was important to have was an improved tutoring center. To achieve this, a first-floor computer lab is being relocated onto the second floor, and a tutoring center is being organized for students.

“It’s important for students to know there’s a place to come to that’s safe; that people won’t laugh because they need tutoring and they can get the help they need,” said Nadolny.

Another area being developed is the beginning of more non-credit classes the community can take and be involved in at the college.

“In the president’s search we were asked about our desire to bring non-credit-based classes to the college for the community. To be able to have the community involved is important. We want to recruit in the community; to go out and be asking what does this community want to learn about and then provide that,” said Nadolny.

Nadolny said another thing they’ve worked to improve is technology. In some classrooms they’ve installed “SMARTBOARDS.” These are new computers professors can use for conducting interactive lessons in class, distance learning and for recording lectures for students to download from the college Web site.

“Online classes are fine, but this way students can be here and also use all the technologies available and have the interaction and environment. I believe this college is really at a top of a learning curve right now,” said Nadolny.

Nadolny said one thing adding to the excitement at the college is the fact they’re getting closer to finalizing who they’re going to use for the various capital projects that are to start construction. The projects are the $9 million bonding authority for a new dorm, $5 million in funding for a virtual workforce center and about $1.6 million to renovate the science labs.

“The guys in the committees involved, they’re just floating on air with what they’re seeing. People will be surprised with what we’re able to come up with with this money,” said Nadolny.

Nadolny said the shakeup in structure and the new direction they’re headed has the staff excited and taking an active part. He said workers in many of the offices that are being redone went as far as coming in at night and on weekends to paint walls and move things around.

Nadolny is just been shocked and impressed by the effort, which came about basically on its own without him even really asking.

“They’re doing things, taking things further than we imagined. And they’ve been communicating and coordinating with each other,” said Nadolny.

Other improvements to the campus include renovations to the baseball field, a soccer field being put in next to it, a coffee shop being added to the campus bookstore and the addition of carpet to some of the main hallways in the near future.

Nadolny is very excited about his first full school year at the college.

“Students will see that we’re investing in them. I’m very confident we have the right leadership that’s going to make things work for them,” he said.