University President Bryce Jordan made his final appearance to University Student Advisory Board members during a closed portion of the meeting last night and thanked them for their dedication to the University.

"I thanked them for putting their interest in the University first rather than concentrating on their own political issues," Jordan said. "It wasn't always like this."

The University president plans to retire Aug. 31.

Jordan stressed the importance of University presidents attending USAB meetings and hearing the views of a diverse group of students.

"I think USAB is an important thing," Jordan said. "I'm going to advise the successor to get in there a couple of times. It is also important that senior officers attend meetings. They have more expertise in some areas."

He added that he will advise the next president to speak in closed meetings.

"There are some things in the management process of the University that I am not prepared to talk publicly about," he said.

Some issues, which will eventually surface, are not in a stage of development where it is appropriate to make them public, he said.

Attending USAB meetings is the easiest way to meet with a broad-based group of students, especially since the University president has time constraints on the number of meetings that must be attended, Jordan said.

"This is very handy," he said. "It gets student leadership and various segments of students together. This way you get a bunch of point of views in an efficient way."

The president added that he was unaware of many student concerns until USAB members brought them to his attention.

Jordan said he also talked about being a student for a day and the appropriation process.

Most USAB members said Jordan's visit was very informative.

"It was informative, especially being a new member," said Interfraternity Council President Scott Stephan. "He was very accommodating to old people and new people."

USAB members said it is important for University presidents to attend USAB meetings.

"This is our link between administrators and student leaders," said Coordinator for the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments P.J. Sternberg. "It is the way to keep communications."