Note: This Report was compiled to update CCSGA on the events and issues being pursued on CC’s various All College Committees. I based this Report on the responses of student representatives who currently sit on these committees. Unfortunately, this Report lacks a desired depth, due to the fact that several student representatives failed to respond to my inquiries, and amongst those who did, a few were fairly sparse in terms of details. Nonetheless, this is the first Report of its kind, and hopefully it will provide at least some insight into the happenings of CC’s All Campus Committees.
Athletic Committee: This Committee has spent much of the year discussing proposed NCAA Div 1/3 rule changes, renovation issues involving El Pomar, and improving staff access to tickets. One key area of concern has been trying to keep students involved and informed with the El Pomar renovation.
Budget Committee: The Budget Committee has completed an operating budget for the next fiscal year and has created projections for the following two years. They have also developed a plan to lower class sizes to 18 students. There has also been a sub-committee to discuss proposed changes in the student activities fee. (Since Logan Dahl sits on this Committee, he will be able to provide details more fully than this report.)
Information Technology and Library Board: This Committee has been busy this year updating CC’s intellectual property and copyright policies to reflect modern technology. It has also discussed reorganizing the Information Management division, as well as potentially separating the Committee on IT from the Committee on the Library. This Committee has conducted an external review of the library and is currently pursuing a new director for the Tutt Library. Given the demands and specific focus required to find a new director and eventually, in renovating Tutt Library, student reps from the IT/Library Committee have expressed their desire to obtain CCSGA’s support in officially forming two committees, one for IT and one for the library.
Diversity Task Force: The Diversity Task Force has been working to implement a student survey on diversity and the campus climate, which was drafted by Professor Emily Chang. Ultimately, the DTF hopes to issue a ‘best practices’ report to President Tiefenthaler based on the results of this survey and a tour they have conducted of peer institutions, which they hope to see supported by CCSGA.
Women’s Concerns Committee: Calling this year a “transition year,” this committee has spent time discussing the proper role and responsibilities assumed by the WCC on campus. Additionally, the WCC reviewed the college policy on parental leave, and compiled a list of possible faculty and staff that could potentially serve as representatives of the WCC in future hiring. The WCC’s focus has primarily been on staff/faculty issues, however, and one student rep voiced concerns that maybe student interests could be incorporated into more discussions.
Dean’s Advisory Committee: The DAC has met multiple times this year and has reviewed well over 100 applications, which included petitions for grade track changes, Life of the Mind and Venture Grants and LAS applications. They have also devoted time to finding guest/faculty speakers on campus. One possible concern that was raised was finding a way to potentially ensure greater accountability for the funding provided through grants.
Curriculum Committee: The Curriculum Committee has discussed revising all-college requirements, and particularly, by supplementing the D credit with something that incorporates social justice/marginalization/non-Western groups. Changes in the language requirements were also discussed. Additionally, this committee explored instituting a universal all-college evaluation for faculty that may or may not be used in tenuring decisions, but will provide a singular evaluation for all professors— rated according to standardized scores that come back from evaluations.
Committee on Instruction: This committee’s exclusive focus has been on approving courses, course descriptions and credits. “In this sense it has a very standard protocol that does not change semester to semester.”
Sustainability Committee: The Sustainability Committee “has addressed a partnership with Sunshare, the AASHE STARS sustainability/energy efficiency program, the worner renovation and the El Pomar Rennovation, the production of a sustainable model room, and the president’s ideas on sustainability.”
Student Conduct Committee: The SCC has met to hear several student conduct cases, and more broadly, has discussed ways in which the SCC might be able to better inform students of various Pathfinder policies and procedures. To this end, the SCC has also strived to raise awareness of its own existence, so that more students may become informed of its role in the disciplinary process on campus.
Financial Aid Appeals Committee: Upon the time my report was completed, there had been no financial aid appeals thus far this year, and therefore, this committee has yet to meet.
FYE Committee: Unfortunately, neither student representative was able to actively serve on this committee this year.
Minority Concerns Committee: Unfortunately, neither student representative of the Minority Concerns Committee responded to multiple attempts of communication.
General Reflections: Some issues that were mentioned by several student representatives involved accountability, vagueness, and communication. To a large degree, I am responsible for part of this confusion.
In the future, I would stress to my successor that he/she make efforts to hold student representatives on all-college committees more accountable. To this end, it is important that the CCSGA Executive Vice President is clear and direct in relaying his/her intentions, and reciprocally, the VP must also find time to meet with representatives as needed, in order to ensure smoother communication.