Communication

Minutes

Here you can find minutes from our weekly meetings.

Columbia 3-1-1

Ian Solsky (VP of Communications)

Since CCSC wants to focus this year on initiatives supported and driven by the student body and since CCSC wants to serve as a body that addresses all individual students’ concerns, it is necessary that we institute an effective communication system between us and every individual CC student. This year, CCSC will implement a liaison system in which every CC student is assigned to an elected CCSC member. Thus, for the 2008-2009 academic year, each elected CCSC member will be responsible for approximately 130 students. All CC students will be encouraged to contact their CCSC liaison with any and all issues pertaining to life at Columbia. CCSC liaisons will be responsible for addressing the students’ concerns in a timely manner (within 48 hours) and directing them to the appropriate resources at Columbia which may also be of help.

Last year, there was a CCSC liaison system to all clubs, where each elected CCSC member was assigned to be a representative to a set number of clubs. We have shifted the liaison system from groups to individual students this year because:

  1. Columbia clubs are under the jurisdiction of ABC and SGB and are encouraged to approach their respective governing board with all problems before approaching CCSC
  2. Not all CC students are involved with extracurricular clubs
  3. Many students have issues outside of their involvement in extracurricular activities
  4. A liaison system that covers every CC student will thus inherently cover those students involved in extracurriculars who need to approach CCSC
  5. This system is one of many initiatives that will be implemented this year to make CCSC an organization that is more available to all CC students and all of their concerns.

In addition to replying to students, liaisons will be expected to send two emails a semester. The first email will be sent out within the first weeks of the semester so that liaisons can introduce themselves and so that the liaison can explain how they can help the student throughout the semester. The E-Board will inform the entire council of the timing for these emails to be sent out and will additionally send the council a sample email template which liaisons can use if they choose to. When sending out the Columbia 3-1-1 emails, it is required that all CCSC members Cc the E-Board in their email so that it is ensured that every CCSC member fulfills his or her responsibility. The E-Board will try to assign the liaisons CC students in the same class year as them. The E-Board will email each liaison a list of the names and unis of the students they are responsible for so that the liaison can quickly and efficiently contact all of their assigned students at once. The E-Board does not expect the amount of work for this system to work to be excessive. However, if a liaison is faced with a situation in which all of their assigned students constantly need their issues addressed, then clearly that liaison’s amount of work will be fairly distributed amongst the council. Also, while the E-Board expects each liaison to spend the time to look into how a student’s issue can be solved, if there is any uncertainty as to how a student’s concern should be handled, these student’s problems should be forwarded to the E-Board. It is possible that changes might be made to the liaison system and each liaison’s responsibilities as we all see how this system actually works in practice. Nonetheless, we are confident that implementing this system will be effective in reaching out to students so that they understand that CCSC is an organization that truly wants to improve their Columbia experience.