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
- 12:00 p.m. Welcome/Opening
- Travis Lawrence, Trustee/SAC Chair, Massasoit Community College
Dr. Noe Ortega, Commissioner, Department of Higher Education
- 12:20 p.m. Transition Activity
- 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
- Mari Dus, SGA President, Berkshire Community College
- Kiara E Rosario, Trustee, Roxbury Community College
- Brian Wellman, Student, Salem State University
- 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
- Anna Berry, Dean of Students, Greenfield Community College
- Kathleen O’Neill, Director of Single Stop, Bunker Hill Community College
- Laura Sylvester, Public Policy Manager, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
- Lorraine Ward, Director of Food Access and Nutrition, Department of
Transitional Assistance (DTA)
- 1:20 p.m. Transition Activity
- 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
- Arielle Anicent, Massasoit Community College
- Kehinde Agbeleye, Massasoit Community College
- Oluwaseun Phifer, Massasoit Community College
- Faith Chimelokam, Massasoit Community College
- 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
- 1:55 p.m. Transition Activity
- 1:58 p.m. Closing
- Andrew Whitcomb, Student, University of Massachusetts Lowell
- 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
Delta Alpha Pi Autism Awareness
Mount Wachusett Community College
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center
Volunteer Day at Community Servings
Roxbury Community College
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
In-Person
179 Amory St,
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Basic Needs Security Panel
Berkshire Community College
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Virtual
Bake Sale Fundraiser
Mount Wachusett Community College
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
In-Person
McCarthy Center Lobby
Campus Community Food Drive
Framingham State University
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
In-Person
McCarthy Center Lobby
Community Building Week Barbecue
Bridgewater State University
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
In-Person
University Park Tent
Parent Support Group Career Wear Event
Mount Wachusett Community College
TBA
In-Person
Gardner Campus, TBA
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
Alpha Beta Gamma Bake Sale
Mount Wachusett Community College
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center
Massasoit Community Building Day
Massasoit Community College
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
In-Person
Student Central Building
Parent Support Group Career Wear Event
Mount Wachusett Community College
Providing students with affordable business attire
In-Person | TBA
Gardner Campus, TBA
Sexuality and Gender Alliance Club Basic Essentials Drive
Mount Wachusett Community College
9:00 AM- 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center
Social Media Takeover
Salem State University
All Day
Virtual
Virtual Statewide Campus Community Building Day Watch Party
Mount Wachusett Community College
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center
Financial Literacy workshop
Mount Wachusett Community College
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Zoom
Food Drive Bingo
Middlesex Community College
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
In-Person
MCC cafeteria
Mental Health Anti-Stigma Campaign
Mount Wachusett Community College
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
In-Person
Gardner Campus, Student Center
Active Shooter Training
Bridgewater State University
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
In-Person
Burnell Hall Room 132A
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
Community Closet Opening
Quinsigamond Community College
TBD
In-Person
QCC gymnasium
Dodgeball Tournament
Bridgewater State University
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
In-Person
Kelly Gymnasium Large Gym
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:
- How do ethics play a role in Student Government?
- How do you build relationships?
- How can you build your Student Government?
- 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
