The Value of Campus Traditions and Student Engagement
On a foggy Thursday morning, Ricky K. of Casswell Drive stumbles out his front door with a coffee in one hand and a tiki torch in the other. Slowly, Ricky shuffles his feet towards the curb, soaking in the morning dew. Once at the curb, Ricky takes a deep breath in, while lifting his tiki […]
Including Commuters in Your Campus Community
It’s not easy to build amazing communities in your res halls and within your organizations. But it’s even harder to include students who don’t have a “home” on campus. As a commuting student in college, I understand how difficult it can be to feel a part of the campus community if you don’t work hard […]
Making Shared Connections For #TBT
So I sit here, unabashedly listening to the Jonas Brothers album from 2007. You know, the one, with Year 3000 on it? Yeah, you know it. (For Tom’s sake, I will let you know that this is Sabina, community manager, writing. Do you even JoBro, Tom?) I promise I have a point here. One […]
Student Engagement Through A Communal Refrigerator
As more residence halls cater to the luxury demands of their students by offering private rooms, private bathrooms and private kitchens, the opportunities for informal moments of engagement and/or learning can decline. Research done by Donald Markwell, George Kuh and Vincent Tinto back up this claim by revealing that… “Opportunities for students to come together outside formal […]
Community Leaders vs. Those in Leadership Positions
Today, Tom and I got into a conversation about what the definition of a “leader” is on a campus. We realized a distinction between two types of leaders: Those in Leadership Positions People with the title; hired, elected, etc. to lead others Community Leaders Influencers in the community, whether they realize it. People who lead the […]
5 Ways Our Coworking Space Wins at Community Building
Swift Kick has the privilege of working out of a coworking space. Coworking is when a bunch of small companies, freelancers, and start ups work in an office together because it is way better than working from home. New Work City is an awesome place to be, not just because of the exposed brick, but […]
Stay Just a Little Bit Longer: How to Make “September Members” Into Regulars
The beginning of the academic year is a time of transition. Anxious freshmen are trying to find their niche in a new environment. Upperclassmen want to try something new, maybe develop an interest they’ve discovered over the past year or two. To a student leader, the beginning of the year is a crucial, crucial point, […]
Poll! What’s the best way to snag members in September?
It’s the beginning of a new year, and that means you student leaders are all over the place, looking for new students to bring into your awesome organization. With all the options out there to snag a freshman (or transfer, or upperclassman!), where do you find the best community enlarging opportunities? Also, head over to […]
The 3 S’s of Community
Community building is key within any organization or team. The best teams feel like something each member wants to be loyal to. They should be committed to making the group as a whole succeed, not just themselves. Three very important parts of creating a community are shout-outs, strengths, and support. Shout-outs: Make people feel great about […]
Student Leader Spotlight: Hope Blanchard, Corning CC ’15
School and Year: Corning Community College, ’15 Major: Dual in Directed Studies and LAS: Childhood Education Social Studies Leadership position: Vice President of Student Association Executive Board How do you define leadership? Leadership is having the ability to use the combination of respectful communication, honesty, integrity, and commitment to motivate and inspire others to reach their highest […]