Doug Cooper works with graduate students
Becky Lundblom
Originally published 06:00 a.m., November 22, 2007
Updated 02:12 p.m., November 21, 2007
Doug Cooper, graduate degree analyst, has worked at Emporia State University for 20 years, and is one of this month’s You Make a Difference award recipients.
Cooper could be best described as student-centered.
Peggy Anderson, Cooper’s nominator says, “He worked very hard to learn the new Banner system, enter program requirements in the appropriate format, and run numerous tests so students could be awarded degrees without interruption during the transition and utilize the new self-serve degree audit via BuzzIn.”
Cooper says he feels this is just a part of the job.
“I look at the work I perform as a service strictly for the benefit of the graduate students who are taking classes at ESU. The things I do to assist them in meeting their goals are important to me because of them,” he says.
Besides working with graduate students, Cooper’s job is rather detail-oriented. It is his responsibility to perform post-graduation audits for students, track students, input information for programs, and handle many questions.
Cooper says it’s the variety of his job that makes it enjoyable. “It is a nice blend of person-to-person interaction and detail work, both of which I greatly enjoy.”
After working at ESU for 20 years, it is apparent that the university is important to Cooper. He strives to make it the best it can be in his daily responsibilities.
“I want the graduate students who come to ESU to have a good experience and to tell others about what a great school ESU is because of the people who work here. I would say that if a person does this, then we will be able to continue to market ESU as a great place to be.”
Cooper says he is extremely humbled by receiving this award, but says his job is a privilege.
“I just do my job the best way I know how to benefit our students,” he says.