Student Activities Office, CSU, Chico
2007-2008 Annual Report
Mission Statement
The mission of the Student Activities Office is to create an environment in which all students and student organizations are encouraged and aided in the development of positive social, cultural, intellectual, recreational, and leadership programs and activities. To fulfill this mission, the Student Activities staff supports programming which promotes learning, personal growth, self governance, social responsibility, and understanding.
I. 2007-08 Departmental Accomplishments
- Redefined the old student run Multicultural Center into an active state supported Cross-Cultural Center for the university community.
- Brought to campus a national speaker whose expertise focused on mixing alcohol and prescription drugs. The program was held in Laxson auditorium with over 700 students in attendance.
- Redesigned the content and look of the Student Activities Office web site.
- Conducted SAO’s first outcome survey with student organization presidents and treasures, using the student voice on-line system.
- Facilitated the process to allow Greeks to assist with residence hall move in for Fall 2007.
- Worked with Multi-Cultural Greek Council to revise their constitution and bylaws.
- Planned and implemented the Patrick Ranch clean up in April with over 100 Greek Students participating.
- Organized a Bacchus Network Peer Education Training for the campus.
- Increased the Greek Spring 2008 Recruitment number by 10%.
- Successfully implemented a wed based sign up procedure for the Intramural and Sport Club programs.
- The Recreational Sports program successfully implemented a two-year risk management plan.
- Over 3000 individual students participated in the Intramural Program in 2007-2008, which is a 20% increase over 2006-2007 academic year.
- Implemented an Intramural Sports advisory group, which is designed to review and rule on official game protests or other unique issues.
- Men’s Volleyball team won Division II-17 National Championship.
- Sports Club team members performed over 300 hours of community service and donated 1242 food items to the Jesus Center in the holiday food drive.
- Developed and implemented “treasurer” and “trip leader” workshops with a handbook for each club sport team. This helped enhance the pre-trip meetings as well as their financial planning for the year.
II. The Top Three Accomplishments for 2007-2008 were:
a) Establishing a viable, active Cross-Cultural Center, which all students regardless of their ethnicity, culture or differences, feel included and respected.
b) Utilizing the student voice program for needs assessment, student satisfaction and outcomes assessment. This initial year will give us a good baseline to build a body of evidence for the future.
c) Solidifying the President’s Initiative funds for the continued support of the various task force recommendations, which have provided positive results for the campus.
III. Changes in Policies and Procedures
As a result of a system wide risk management audit of intramural and club sports, we began requiring each club sport to:
- Have at least two people first aid/CPR certified.
- Have a declared trip leader with training for each trip
- Have designated trip leader attend pre-trip meetings
- Have individuals include copy of insurance card with SC application
- Have on file a proposed budget plan for the academic year
IV. Resource Summary
Budget Summary - SAO received an additional $40,000, which was dedicated to the programming expenses for the Cross-Cultural Center (CCLC).
Staffing- SAO was able to hire one new professional staff member for CCLC while another member did not finish out the year in the center.
VI. 2007-08 SAO Program Goals and Outcomes
- Engage the Greek students to create a meaningful and incentive based program for the University Cup
- Outcome: The students are pleased with the $1,000 incentive for the University Cup. They have formed a committee to look at additional incentives.
- Increase the Spring 2008 recruitment numbers of second semester freshmen for Greek organizations.
- Outcome: The Spring 2008 recruitment numbers increased by 10% over Spring 2007.
- Engage the Greek students to redesign the alcohol use/abuse rules for their members
- Outcome: A new policy was proposed and discussed with Drew and shared with the Greek students, who took it as a starting point for discussions with the University President and the Vice President for Student Affairs. These discussions will be ongoing:
- Work with NPC to ensure that the Panhellenic Sororities are active participants in University Cup.
- Outcome: Discussions with the NPC advisors have continued, with little progress. We are moving to have discussions with the NPC delegates who are the international representatives for the member groups. These discussions will continue through the summer.
- Complete the redesign and implementation of a new SAO website.
- Outcome: Successfully completed with a redesigned look as well as the content included in the SAO website.
- Select and train a new leadership coordinator.
- Outcome: A new leadership coordinator was hired and trained and has initially proven to be very effective in this position.
- Establish a Multicultural Center Student Advisory Board.
- Outcome: This has been completed in fact the Advisory Board meets every two weeks during the semester. It has bee helpful in defining the function and design of the CCLC space.
- Develop the organizational infrastructure to establish a viable Multicultural Center.
- Outcome: This was completed in spite of numerous problems including philosophical and personnel issues. However, in spite of it all, the Center was able to create a positive atmosphere, and space for many students.
- Develop the organizational leadership of the student groups currently housed in MCC.
- Outcome: This has been attempted. There are challenges with the American Indian Club (AIC) and the Pan-African Union (PAU). MEChA is functioning and progressing forward. CCLC has worked with AIC and its advisor to redefine AIC’s direction. This will be an ongoing discussion. PAU has decided to create a new organization called the Black Student Alliance.
- Organize, promote and implement the Fall 2007 Fun Without Alcohol Faire (FWAF).
- Outcome: FWAF was held for the first time in the fall semester. It was well attended by the elementary schools throughout Butte County.
- Submit a grant to assist with the reduction of high risk drinking behaviors of college students.
- Outcome: Research was conducted concerning applying for the model programs grant funded by US Department of Education. There were to be only seven grants awarded nationally. It was determined that for the life of the grant (18 months) and the amount to be awarded did not justify applying for the grant at this time.
- Establish a smooth transition for the integration of the Recreational Sports program within the Student Activities Office.
- Outcome: The Transition to Student Activities has been a positive experience and will only be enhanced by the opening of the WREC in Spring 2009.
VII. Assessment Efforts
- Student Activities will continue to utilize student voice for conducting outcome surveys, needs assessment and student satisfaction of programs
- SAO will continue to utilize the data collected from Alcohol Edu and the CORE to determine alcohol use/ abuse behaviors of the college students.
VIII. Challenges and Opportunities
The major challenges facing Student Activities in the near future will include:
a) Being intentional in our efforts within the department to work as a team and not become compartmentalized and isolated. We have to continue to work for the good of the whole in order for us to truly serve students effectively.
b) The pending retirement of a significant core of SAO staff members in the next for years, will have a major impact on Student Activities. Thus, succession planning is critical for the unit.
IX. Goals for 2008-2009
1. Implement on-line student organization leader advisor training modules.
2. Enhance the communication and programming activities with Student Health and Wellness Center and CADEC.
3. Complete the 2008 Biennial Review document to remain in compliance with the Drug-Free Schools Act.
4. Develop an active user-friendly CCLC web page.
5. Develop a strategy and marketing plan for expanding programming opportunities for resident hall freshmen in the recreation center.
6. Generate an operational manual for programming policies and procedures for the opening of the rec center.
7. Pursue online registration for competitive club participants.
8. Work with the Multi-Ethnic Greek Council on their academic plans, while getting their respective faculty advisors more involved in the program.
9. Establish a team/color concept for Greek Week where 4-5 organizations are partnered together for the week, which hopefully will generate more unity and spirit.
X. Leadership
Overall it was a very good year except for one major personnel issue that came out of nowhere. However, the majority of the time, management continued to recognize the good works of the staff via promotions, IRP, Merit increase, celebrations, and direct comments of praise. Recognition of staff is extremely important as we ask them to do more with limited compensation as a reward. Overall it was very productive year for the program, staff and students.