Massachusetts Campus Community Building Day

On February 2, 2020, the Student Advisory Council (SAC) to the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education voted, and unanimously approved, the creation of a statewide Campus Community Building Day. SAC is committed to implementing the statewide Campus Community Building Day in order to create communities across the 29 public higher education institutions of our Commonwealth; guided by shared values, an unyielding dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion, and a fundamental commitment to supporting one another.

Overview:

Massachusetts Campus Community Building Day
Student Basic Needs - The People, Policy and Practice
April 5, 2023 | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Virtual Event
Link to join Webinar

Event Agenda
  1. 12:00 p.m. Welcome/Opening
    • Travis Lawrence, Trustee/SAC Chair, Massasoit Community College
      Dr. Noe Ortega, Commissioner, Department of Higher Education
  2. 12:20 p.m. Transition Activity
  3. 12:25 p.m. Connecting the Work | Centering Student Voices in
    State Policy and Resources
    • The Student Experience (Student Panel)
      Moderator: Artie Kopellas, Trustee, Bridgewater State University
      1. Mari Dus, SGA President, Berkshire Community College
      2. Kiara E Rosario, Trustee, Roxbury Community College
      3. Brian Wellman, Student, Salem State University
      4. Patricia Naya, University of Massachusetts Boston
      Transition Activity
      What Do Students Need from State Partners? (State Partners Panel)
      Moderator: Georgiana Chevry, Department of Higher Education, Basic Needs
      Program Manager
      1. Anna Berry, Dean of Students, Greenfield Community College
      2. Kathleen O’Neill, Director of Single Stop, Bunker Hill Community College
      3. Laura Sylvester, Public Policy Manager, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
      4. Lorraine Ward, Director of Food Access and Nutrition, Department of
        Transitional Assistance (DTA)
  4. 1:20 p.m. Transition Activity
  5. 1:25 p.m. Student & Campus Research
    • Moderator: Travis Lawrence, Trustee/SAC Chair, Massasoit Community College
    • Lead Researcher Dr. Tara Gully-Hightower, Massasoit Community College
      Student Researchers
      1. Arielle Anicent, Massasoit Community College
      2. Kehinde Agbeleye, Massasoit Community College
      3. Oluwaseun Phifer, Massasoit Community College
      4. Faith Chimelokam, Massasoit Community College
  6. 1:40 p.m. Next Steps - What can You do?
    • How to set up a pantry and partner with the community?
      Richard Doria, Assistant Director, Student & Family Support Services, University
      of Massachusetts Lowell
    • Student Ambassadors Program
      Mari Dus, SGA President/SAC Vice Chair, Berkshire Community College
      Loyd Joseph, AmeriCorps Vista, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
    • SAC Advocacy - Hunger Bill Updates
      Robert Hutting, State University Segmental Advisor, Salem State University
      Cindy Mack, Policy Chair, Bridgewater State University
  7. 1:55 p.m. Transition Activity
  8. 1:58 p.m. Closing
    • Andrew Whitcomb, Student, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  9. 2:00 p.m. Program End

Community Building Calendar:

April 3-7: Weeklong Activities
Mount Wachusett Community College
Campus Community Food Drive
In-Person
Leominster and Gardner Campus
Donations Can Be Dropped in the Student Lounge of Both Campuses

North Shore Community College
Food Drive
In-Person
Donations can be dropped at the Office of Student Engagement at the Danvers and Lynn Campuses

 

Apr3

Delta Alpha Pi Autism Awareness
Mount Wachusett Community College
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center

Apr3

Volunteer Day at Community Servings
Roxbury Community College
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
In-Person
179 Amory St,
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Apr4

Basic Needs Security Panel
Berkshire Community College
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Virtual

Apr4

Bake Sale Fundraiser
Mount Wachusett Community College
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
In-Person
McCarthy Center Lobby

Apr4

Campus Community Food Drive
Framingham State University
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
In-Person
McCarthy Center Lobby

Apr4

Community Building Week Barbecue
Bridgewater State University
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
In-Person
University Park Tent

Apr4

Parent Support Group Career Wear Event
Mount Wachusett Community College
TBA
In-Person
Gardner Campus, TBA

Apr4

SGA Bake Sale and Human Services Hot Cocoa Bar
Mount Wachusett Community College
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center

Apr5

Alpha Beta Gamma Bake Sale
Mount Wachusett Community College
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center

Apr5

Massasoit Community Building Day
Massasoit Community College
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
In-Person
Student Central Building

Apr5

Parent Support Group Career Wear Event
Mount Wachusett Community College
Providing students with affordable business attire
In-Person | TBA
Gardner Campus, TBA

Apr5

Sexuality and Gender Alliance Club Basic Essentials Drive
Mount Wachusett Community College
9:00 AM- 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center

Apr5

Social Media Takeover
Salem State University
All Day
Virtual
Twitter: @SalemState

Apr5

Virtual Statewide Campus Community Building Day Watch Party
Mount Wachusett Community College
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center

Apr6

Financial Literacy workshop
Mount Wachusett Community College
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Zoom

Apr6

Food Drive Bingo
Middlesex Community College
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
In-Person
MCC cafeteria

Apr6

Mental Health Anti-Stigma Campaign
Mount Wachusett Community College
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center

Apr7

Active Shooter Training
Bridgewater State University
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
In-Person
Burnell Hall Room 132A

Apr7

Breaking the Stigma, Utilizing "The Shelf"
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
12:30 AM - 2:30 PM
In-Person
"The Shelf" 2nd Floor Kennedy Building at MassArt

Apr7

Community Closet Opening
Quinsigamond Community College
TBD
In-Person
QCC gymnasium

Apr7

Dodgeball Tournament
Bridgewater State University
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
In-Person
Kelly Gymnasium Large Gym

Apr7

First Aid & CPR Training
Bridgewater State University
10:10 AM - 1:00 PM
In-Person
Burnell Hall Room 132A

Past Retreat Information:

2018

Student Leadership Retreat

Each year, members of SAC organize a student leadership retreat in the spring that includes: open meetings with members of the Board of Higher Education and its staff, guest speakers, and workshops that promote student leadership.

2018 SAC Retreat Agenda

October 4, 2018, 10:30am—3:00pm
Fitchburg State University, McCarthy Center, Forum Room

Public Higher Education: Overview and Goal Setting

Carlos E. Santiago, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

The SAC was joined by Commissioner Santiago. He talked to the SAC about the growing enrollment gap in public higher education and funding. He also lead students through a discussion to help set an FY19 goal.

Commissioner's Complete Presentation on Students First! >

Breakout Sessions

Student Trustee Training

Matt Noyes, Director of Trustee and Government Relations, MA Department of Higher Education
Dena Papanikolaou, General Counsel, MA Department of Higher Education

The student trustee discussion focused on best practices to include the most important issues facing students on campus in board meeting agendas and how to disseminate information from board meetings to the student body. The experiences of the student trustees on both fronts varied widely from campus to campus. Moving forward, the students will utilize the SAC Facebook group to continue the discussion online and to share methods that they have found to be effective.

Complete Presentation >
Student Trustee Discussion Questions >

Student Government/Senate Training

Ignacio Chaparro, Project Specialist, MA Department of Higher Education, UMass Boston Alum

In this session, Student Government leaders participated in a round-table discussion of ethical leadership, representation and advocacy, community building, and fostering growth and continuity. At the end of the discussion, student leaders were broken into four small groups to discuss and answer the following four questions:

  1. How do ethics play a role in Student Government?
  2. How do you build relationships?
  3. How can you build your Student Government?
  4. How are you “future proofing” your Student Government?

Complete Presentation >

Feature Presentation

Advocacy & Engaging Students

Dave Koffman, Director of Communications & Policy, MA Community College Executive Offices
Jake Oliveira, Assistant Executive Officer, State University System Council of Presidents

Dave and Jake provided an overview of public higher education in Massachusetts, including the need for further investment in our public colleges and universities. Students leaders were asked to familiarize themselves Massachusetts's need for a highly educated workforce and the important role that public higher education plays to create that workforce. Due to the lack of investment, campuses have been forced to raise the cost of a post-secondary education leading to further student debt.

Complete Presentation on Advocacy and Engaging Students >


To register for the 2019 Student Leadership Retreat, contact Stacy Bougie at sbougie@bhe.mass.edu

Meetings & Events

Apr 3

Task Force on Nursing Education and Workforce Development Meeting

Apr 22

Executive Committee Meeting

Apr 25

Student Advisory Council Meeting and Elections

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