UAPB Officials Earn Customer Service Excellence Certification: A Step Towards Institutional Greatness

UAPB Officials Recognized for Customer Service Excellence

Two officials from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), Sheena Meadows and Dora Sanders, have recently received certificates of completion for the Customer Service Skills in Higher Education certification through the Academic Impressions virtual program. This achievement aligns with UAPB's 2023-2030 Strategic Plan, specifically focusing on sustaining a culture of institutional excellence through professional development.

Meadows, the director of educational assessment, and Sanders, the director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, are committed to enhancing the student experience at UAPB. Their training emphasized the importance of quality customer service, a core value outlined in the university's strategic plan. According to the plan, UAPB strives to provide a respectful and consistently excellent service to both internal and external constituents.

Importance of Customer Service in Higher Education

The Customer Service Skills in Higher Education program covered critical competencies essential for effective customer service, including:

• Communication strategies and scripting
• Inclusive practices in service excellence
• Tools for measuring and assessing campus customer service culture

This initiative is part of UAPB's broader commitment to professional development, which includes membership to Academic Impressions for approximately 60 employees, including academic deans and university directors. As competition in higher education rises, fostering a culture of service excellence is crucial for enhancing enrollment and improving student retention.

A Commitment to Ongoing Development

UAPB has actively engaged its campus leadership over the past year to develop strategies aimed at increasing recruitment and retention. Meadows expressed excitement about leveraging the knowledge gained from this training to provide exceptional customer service experiences that are both consistent and sustainable.

In addition to the recent training, UAPB has hosted workshops focused on retention through excellent customer service and mindful classroom management, showcasing its ongoing commitment to enhancing customer service across the campus.

Dora Sanders

This accomplishment reflects UAPB's dedication to providing quality customer service, which remains a top priority in their strategic initiatives.