What is the Council and what does it do? The Council is a collection of motivated students that exists as a forum to ensure that the viewpoints and opinions of students are considered in decisions involving Department policies and programs. The Department Chair convenes the Council on a monthly basis for the purpose of obtaining student input on various topics that concern the Department and its programs. In general, meetings will follow an open discussion format although the discussion will generally be guided by specific questions. Information gathered will be utilized by various Department committees that require student input as they undertake key processes necessary to ensure the continuous improvement of high quality programs. Examples of key processes include orientation of students, curriculum review, analysis of assessment results, etc.

Why was the Council formed? Student input has always been important in shaping Department programs and services. There are a number of ways we gather information from our students. These include satisfaction surveys, assessment exercises, and instructor evaluations. This Council will be one more way for students to become involved and to have a voice in departmental programs and policies. The council will allow us to explore important issues at a deeper level than that which is afforded by surveys alone.

Who is on the Council? Our goal is to have students from each academic area represented. Each of our majors, as well as the specialty areas within the Business Administration major will be asked to nominate a student representative. Also, each student club will be asked to appoint one member. Finally, we wish to ensure that at least one adult student and one commuter student participates. Department representation consists of the Chairperson, the Assistant to the Chair, and the Department Student Liaison.

Can I volunteer for the Council? You can nominate yourself to be on the Council. If you are interested in serving, tell your advisor or the President of your student club(s). If the response is overwhelming, we will need to limit the membership to the groups defined above, so if for example, you are an Accounting major and we already have a student representative from Accounting, we may choose to make you an alternate.

How often does the Council meet? The Council will meet on a monthly basis. To avoid scheduling conflicts as much as possible, the meetings will be held on Monday afternoons at 12:00pm. The meetings will last one hour and lunch will be provided. Members are expected to attend each meeting.

What will I get out of it? You will have the opportunity to speak to issues that directly impact your education within the Department. The individuals most able to enact change will hear your opinions. To the degree that this council supports our accreditation aspirations, your participation directly impacts the perceived quality and value of your degree. Your conscientious and consistent participation will also be recognized in a letter of recommendation written for you by the Department Chairperson at the end of your term.

How long would I be a member? Membership corresponds to the academic year. Generally, students will be nominated at the beginning of the fall semester and serve until the end of the spring semester. We would like continuity on the council, so we'd like each member to make a commitment for the full year.

What it's NOT…. The Council is not an open “gripe” session. There are several other processes in place for students to make specific and general complaints (formal and informal) to the Department. That's not to say that program issues that students are dissatisfied with will not be discussed. This is a forum for the Department to get feedback on targeted issues from the students we serve and on these issues, certainly we want to hear both the good and the bad. As such, we seek concerned students who will listen carefully to the questions being asked and who will give thoughtful responses to those questions. In order for the council to be effective, we need to stay on task and to be focused with respect to the topic at hand. Students are of course, welcome to suggest topics for the agenda. Once each semester, the Council will hold open forums for students to express concerns. However, it is important to understand that this is not the general purpose or charge of the council.