General assembly brings Student Government together

Students, CAB representatives, and student senators met Tuesday to discuss student retention, student enrollment, campus improvement, and other campus issues.

Each of Senate’s committees reported what they have been working on so far this semester and what they plan to do for the back half of the semester.

Campus Improvement Committee chairperson Stephanie Alfred reported that the committee has completed two main projects this year: water bottle filling stations around campus and bathroom changing stalls in Kent Hall. The committee has also worked on campus recycling. The recycling bins will arrive at campus soon, she said. The committee’s main project for the spring is to expand the food pantry for students on breaks. The committee hopes to partner with Northwest Community Action Partnership for the food pantry.

Constitutional Review Committee chairperson Curtis Stevens said the committee is working to improve how the constitution is written and how student government operates. “Gender identity” was added to the non-discrimination clause, freshman can now vote immediately when they are voted into Senate, the attendance policy for senators and officers is being improved, powers between executive board and Senate are being adjusted, and the relationship between CAB and Senate is being improved. Other changes include clarifications and fixing grammar and usage errors. The committee hosts open forums to discuss constitutional changes in the Senate office at 4 p.m. every other Thursday. There is an open forum today.

The Spring Daze Committee chairperson Katrina Hurley said the committee is hosting the Spring Daze event on April 28-30 so there is an activity that is not alcohol centered. The Nearly Naked Mile will be part of the event on April 28, and the Party at the Pavillion will be on April 29. For the final day, right now, they have 56 planned booths but plan to organize a few more this week. The event will include nearly every building on campus.

Activity Fee Board Secretary Nathaniel Brown said they revised their bylaws through Senate this year. The main change in the bylaws is that clubs can fundraise but if it exceeds the seed money, the club has to return it but can keep the profit. He also congratulated the clubs because this was the first year AFB had few late budget packets. AFB hearings for club budget packets are today, tomorrow, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

CAB Chair Stephanie Steele said that nominations for CAB executive board start in April. Steele said CAB is providing funding for clubs to host booths during the circus hosted on April 9.

Attendees discussed ways to improve the student retention rate at CSC. Senior Director of Student Affairs Pat Beu said that CSC’s retention rate is about 65 percent and that “isn’t a bad rate.” Some students expressed that some reasons students do not stay in Chadron is because there aren’t enough activities and there are issues with academics.

Students said there should be more of a variety of food services on campus and that Senate should look into getting franchises or a grocery store where students can use bonus bucks to buy food. Students suggested that the school looks into reevaluating their contract with CSC Dining Services to allow more options on campus.

Concerns from students include professors needing to analyze their teaching styles, lack of effective email communication, the library being closed on Saturdays, the coffee shop set up, Wi-Fi, lack of activities for students on and off campus, classes not transferring to other colleges, students feeling uncomfortable in the tutoring center, and lack of advertisement for events on campus.

Director of Student Affairs and Student Activities and Recreation Chris Green said he is looking into a smartphone application for students that would show all the activities happening on campus.

Ideas to improve student retention at CSC include offering students perks at businesses in town if they use their student ID, cooperating with a business in town to make a mini golf course, and encouraging students to enjoy the outdoor areas around Chadron. Career and Academic Planning Services Director Deena Kennell and Green are working with Chadron Chamber of Commerce and Dawes County Tourism on improving the relationship between the college and community.

Kennell said to email [email protected] with any academic concerns.

Ideas to improve the student enrollment rate are updating the school’s website (csc.edu), clubs hosting booths during signing days, events during signing days, events on the weekends, have students of each major speak one-on-one with prospective students, create promotional videos of CSC, and having prospective students spend the night in the dorms as part of the tour.