Get involved in the University’s strategic plan

One of the best things about attending Salem State University is the incentive to involve students in the university’s development process. In other words, YOU have a say in the direction that the university wants to grow in. Want more social justice initiatives? Want more diversity? Want more civic engagement? The university is giving us the chance to weigh in on its future, and the futures of the incoming students. This is not an opportunity to be taken lightly.

Picture courtesy of salemstate.edu

The collaboration committee has surveyed faculty and staff about what changes they would like to see in the future. It’s the student’s turn now to speak up.

Currently, the mission of the university reads:

“Salem State’s mission is to provide a high quality, student-centered education that prepares a diverse community of learners to contribute responsibly and creatively to a global society, and serve as a resource to advance the region’s cultural, social and economic development.”

The strategic plan is essentially the vision for the future of the university with specific tactics the university plans on taking action on – all supported by the mission. The new strategic plan for AY 2017 is focused on keeping up with the ever-changing world around us. This new plan is being constructed to reassess the priorities and goals of the university that will eventually lead to tangible changes.

The strategic plan of 2013-2016 focused on student success, diversity, and sustainability. This plan aligned the academics and engagement of the university with social justice and change. Some of the fruits of this strategic plan included the implementation of the new general education curriculum,  more combined 4+1 masters and bachelors programs, the veterans services center, the center for civic engagement, and more. These are tangible examples of how the university benefitted from its last strategic plan.

Now YOU can have a say in what will be in the next plan. The office knows that surveys aren’t the best way to get opinions out of busy students. They also acknowledge that the best way that students voice their opinions is in a room full of their peers, where they can bounce ideas off of one another. That’s why they’ve organized just that.

The planning committee formally invites you to:

Strategic Plan STUDENT FORUM

Date: Tuesday, November 15th

Time: 4:30 PM

Location: MLK Room

Please come out and provide ideas and thoughts on what should be included in the new Salem State Strategic Plan! Student voice matters!

Speaking of change please register for the Student Leadership Conference. Take time on Sunday to grow your leadership skills and hear from the powerful group “Dear World” as the keynote.

The Center for Diversity & Multicultural Affairs also invites you to “STEP Afrika” tonight in Vets Hall at 8 PM. Come see this transformative step group perform.

image credit: http://www.mountunion.edu/step-afrika-makes-its-way-to-mount-union-august-26

Diversity, Climate, and #SSU4Activism

Representatives from many parts of the University joined hands and hearts in the name of promoting diversity and improving the racial climate on Monday in Vets Hall. There were faculty and staff as well as students there. Faculty and staff were from all departments: Athletics, Student Involvements, Psychology, Business, Academic Advising, and more. No matter where they came from, everyone had one goal in mind: to discuss the current racial climate on campus, and how we can improve it.

The room was set in a manner that would allow conversation. Round tables sat students, faculty, and “moderators”. Each table was equipped with three sticky notes, statistics on the current racial representation on campus, as well as an evaluation. These materials would assist in the discussion session in the forum.

Opening remarks were given by Rebecca Jimenez, Director of Student Involvement and Activities, Rebecca Comage and Julia Golden of Diversity & Multicultural Affairs, and Lucibelle Delgado, SGA President. They talked about being an active listener and to not be afraid to speak up. They stressed that the forum was an open place for all opinions to be heard.

A conversation about college climate and activism followed. Activism is no stranger to college campuses, as highlighted in the last blog post. The videos shown to accompany this discussion also brought up the general racial climate on college campuses. Some college campuses were said to have a high percentage white population because of discrimination in the acceptance process.

Student had a lot to say, even in this discussion. One student mentioned that if you don’t let activism play out, you are enabling a pattern and not letting truth be heard.

Following was a discussion on the three C’s of the afternoon: connection, concern, and community building. What is your connection to Salem State? What are your concerns? How will you go about making change.

The relationships with coworkers and students at SSU as well as the amount of self-growth achieved here are the connections people have to this university. The concerns of the attendees include lack of diversity in administration and students, microaggressions, lack of education on race topics, and more. Suggestions included more education of on racial topics, student group collaboration, classes concerning race, and more.

Additionally, there was a conversation on social media using the hashtag:

#SSU4Activism

Attendees were using it, and offices like ours and First Year Success was, too.  Here are some social media highlights:

The conversation is not over. There will be more conversation on campus, and if you have any more ideas for activism on campus, tweet it with the hashtag #SSU4Activism.