Parkhurst Dining Services

Hey everyone!

I hope you all are enjoying your first week of winter break!  

The reason for my post is to tell you guys that Parkhurst Dining Services will be having a representative come speak at the next SVA Student Life Council Meeting.  He is not going to be talking about meal plan usage at Doris and Gateway UNLESS students ask him....

SO get your butts out to the meeting and ask! You've been sending me messages, now seek out the guy who has all of the info.  The meeting will be on January 30th in the President's Board Room of Main Building from 12 to 1 pm.  

Happy break to all of you!

Meghann Harris

SVAAC President

MAT Representative

Steps Taken at the last Academic Affairs Council Meeting

Hey everyone!

At the very first Academic Affairs Council meeting, students were asked to fill out sheets of paper stating issues or concerns that they had for the semester and ideas for what SVA could do to help MICA work toward solving them.  

Based off of these sheets, at the last SVAAC meeting of the semester, we created research groups to find out more information on Financial Aid, Departmental Resources, a space for photography artwork, and safety in terms of chemicals / hazardous waste in the classroom.  I, Meghann Harris will be supervising the Financial Aid group, Meredith McFall, our VP will be surpervising the Departmental Resources group, Ellice Park, our secretary, the photography group, and Megan Miller, from student activities, the safety group.

So... here are the meeting minutes (written up by our wonderful Ellice!) for you to scan over.  Check 'em out if you're interested.

Thanks!

Meghann Harris

SVAAC President

MAT Representative

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Student Voice Assoc. Acad. Council Mtg. Minutes

11-20-2008 Noon - 1 PM @ Main 160

Review and Approve Minutes

Departmental Concerns
Based off of the student concerns sheets that each representative filled out at the beginning of the semester, the SVAAC has found four areas to address in small groups:
1. Financial aid (informal resource list for students to put on MICA web site; general questions, general scholarships)
2. Health & Safety (assume has a lot to do with dolphin bldg)
3. Departmental Resources (ie studio space ie model shop ... things open to specific majors, and students at large.. possibly into MICA Red Book?)
4. Space for Documenting Artwork (figure out ideal space; work study position? compile list to pass on and look over; dan myers!)

Additional Department Reports
- DRAWING: Jennifer B.
26 enrolled at least, 10 freshman want to be majors, Friday talk with them about being drawing major at MICA
bc so few, .. micadrawingmajors.blogspot.com
forum to talk about techniques, resources, etc
field trip specifically for drawing majors to see Charles Ritchie
peer to peer critique set up on Wed fox 210 at 4 pm; advertised in cobalt soup and on posters
group of sophomores going to sr studios next week, see reviews
- Exp Anim: n/a
- Int. Media: n/a
- Vid: new representative - Eric Varella

Jan Stinchcomb and Chris Whittey speak

on student concerns:
-are working on issues (esp IL working with Whitney, in line with IL philosophy)
-one thing that stood out: ventillation issue with print making
-most of concerns are being worked on and already recognized
-student concern: new ventilation in the some of the senior studios for drawings majors is filled with dirt and charcoal and is giving students nosebleeds
-Jan Stinchcomb: was changed last year but will continue to check up on the issue

Faculty Hires
-sva informed that a very rigorous search is happened, listings advertised heavily for higher education folk and for full time hires, not so heavily for part time hires
-each dpt has their own process
-concern response: part time hires, how does this affect the students? full time : part time ratios
-reply back: bc so interdisciplinary, may be working three parts.. how much of the curric delivered by those faculty? we exceed norm standards (60:40 ft:pt) there will always be pt faculty

**meghann has heard about the shuttles and meal plan usage (at cafe doris and gateway) concerns, is on it.

**mya wondering about getting to know professors pre-semester class and their syllabi
response: faculty directory online, syllabi colelcted and posted

**announcement: would like feedback about course information
response: clarity with course titles, perhaps subtitles
response 2: would like hard, unbiased information about courses as opposed to students' feedback/opinions


ANNOUNCEMENTS:
town hall mtg 2/18/09 3pm - go! location tbd

Representatives from the Faculty version of the council:
-Jason Sloan: no particular announcements
-Mina Cheon: 

-first yr as chair of student affairs committee; also on faculty executive committee
-happy with the work that's going on in sva, wants reps to encourage their friends to come out
-faculty committee grp acts as liaison between sva and faculty assembly
-there's 5 members in the f.c.
-wants to respond to syllabus idea - the kind of work she does with her students changes every semester to try to update with the times.. the course description may not be entirely accurate, because the dynamics of the class can altar things too.. but more description may be helpful, she thinks. since changes, albeit little ones, are always likely

in terms of SPRING MTGS:
town hall mtg is where fred, ray, dusty are on panel/stage asking questions and answering questions
a lot of faculty meet there,
fall: address and recognize issues
spr: students can be recognized there with their concerns, raise their issues that they might be passionate about
good forum to get information about, where we're going, where we're headed
spread the word! it's a big deal.
also with spr mtgs: without student input, it's just faculty
so look at your section of dpt self study and talk some more.
they'll ask questions on whole, and you can give feedback
glowing rec's are great but your concerns should be raised. doesn't mean that mica won't get accreditted, but it'll go into the report and taken seriously from there
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: March 10 @ NOON. BE THERE.
this is actually a MANDATORY MTG.
the accreditation team is only here monday & tuesday. megan miller will be happy to write you a note (ray as well) to your faculty member to let you out of class to be a part of this effort!


DEVELOPING  2  PROGRAMS:
1. gaming
2. community arts program
also.
this friday 1030: etsy.com, one of those folk are coming

Shuttle Services at the last Student Life Council Meeting

Hey there boys and girls,

In the last SVA Student Life Council Meeting, Rufus Davis and Dave Butkiewicz came to talk about Shuttle Services and Campus Safety.  A lot of students have voiced complaints about both topics, so this may be of interest to a lot of you.  I am posting the meeting minutes sent to me by Karol Martinez and Ashleigh Wilkinson.  

Also, just a heads up, at the first Student Life Council meeting of spring semester, a representative from Parkhurst Dining Services will be coming to speak.  Before the spring semester starts, I will be posting a schedule of the meetings for both the Student Life Council and the Academic Affairs Council, so make sure you check back.  I will also try to post little notes about the subject matter of each meeting.

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SVA Student Life Meeting Minutes

November 14, 2008

12:05 Meeting is started - 

Introduction of officers, Dusty Porter, and Karol Martinez 

Quick welcome and explanation of SVA Student Life

12:10 Katie McNiff from Student Activities speaks about a proposed Recreation Fee-

-Katie handed out a sheet which explained the proposed fee ($55 per semester added to tuition) that would be used to give MICA students:

a. access to UB fitness facility 

b. a full-time Wellness Coordinator at MICA

c. programming from the Wellness Coordinator 

d. a larger and more varied offering of instruction

e. expanded hours at the MICA fitness center

f. funds to travel to regional art schools for weekend sports tournaments

g. annual ski/ snowboarding trip

h. increased funding for sports and recreation based clubs

i. transportation to recreation related activities 

-Katie mentioned that MICA’s small facilities are not serving all students as well as it could be and that this fee would be a major step in making health, wellness, and recreation a priority at MICA

12:14 Brief discussion about proposed Recreation Fee

-Most students in attendance felt the recreation fee would be a good idea commenting that it was time for MICA to catch up and give students more access to health/wellness and recreation 

-There were a few students who said that they would want to know more about how the funds were being allotted before deciding what there opinion was on the matter

-Katie can be reached at  HYPERLINK "mailto:kmcniff@mica.edu" kmcniff@mica.edu

12:17 Christina Holmes gave an update from the Budget Committee-

-Christina is one of the two undergrad representatives on the committee

-She reported that the first meeting was a reflection on the past year and that the next meeting would be more about the future

12:20 Guest speakers Rufus Davis and Dave Butkiewicz from Transportation and Safety

-Rufus Davis, the Manager of Contract Services and Fleet Management, introduces himself and speaks about shuttle service at MICA and the need for student feedback in improving the shuttle system

-Also talked about the need for parking at MICA and the ways in which MICA is trying to find creative solutions to the lack of parking

-New EZ pass meters added to Mount Royal in an effort to create short term parking for those visiting MICA but takes away space for commuters

-Brief discussion about whether the shuttle should run on a schedule without any consensus being reached

-Student concern about the shuttle policy of not dropping off students at known parties and how this could affect students in the area trying to get home and not to the party. This policy is no longer in effect.

-Dave Butkiewicz, the Acting director of Campus Safety, introduced himself and answered student questions including a question about the crime communication policy

-Bike safety was also talked about including the suggestion from students for either enclose bike storage or provide better lighting near bike racks. 

-A student raised concern over the guest policy in academic buildings and it was decided that Dave would review the policy and see if there was a way to allow some pre-approved guests in buildings after 9pm

-A student requested first aid kits to be available at the desks in residence halls

-Dave responded to a question about how Campus Safety was giving information to students by saying that Campus Safety really needed to work on branding itself in the way many other offices at MICA has done. This would include easier accessibility to information online and possibly through pamphlets and posters.

-Rufus can be contacted at  HYPERLINK "mailto:rdavis@mica.edu" rdavis@mica.edu 

-Information about campus safety can be found at  HYPERLINK "http://www.mica.edu/LIFE/safety/index.cfm" http://www.mica.edu/LIFE/safety/index.cfm

12:50 SVA and Club Announcements

The next SVA Student Life meeting will be held on January 30, 2009

Outdoor Club- upcoming camping trip at Gunpowder Falls

MIQA- Transgender Day of Remembrance, Anti-Proposition 8 Protest

Playwriting Club- bi-yearly performances on the 21^st and 22nd

  NAEA-Craft making night

Viking Club has upcoming Super Smash Brothers Tournament

Experimental Fashion Show

Anime Club- Old-school anime night

International Education Week starting Monday Nov. 17

12:55 Meeting Adjourned 

Meal Plans and Meeting Minutes

Hey everyone!

Just so you all know, I have contacted a few people about not being able to use meal plans for various things at Doris now unless you have a sandwich or a salad, so hopefully something is being done about that.  I will keep everyone informed!

Also, the following post will contain our Student Voice Association Academic Affairs Council Meeting Minutes from the last meeting on October the 16th.  This meeting was about different issues within departments.  It's an interesting read and everyone should check it out!  

If you see a concern of yours that is not listed in our minutes, please email me at mharris01@mica.edu for your department representative's contact info so that they can tell the department chair the next time that they meet with them.

Here goes:

RECAP SVA MTG 10-16-2008 NOON-1PM @ MAIN 160

-INTRO : Meghann Harris, President of SVA, MAT Representative

-Few announcements/Recap on the first SVA Academic meeting: 

-Town Hall meeting explanation and approval of minutes

-what Cabinet of SVA does: pose questions from students on the floor for

MICA administration to answer

-ie questions about school store never being priced explicitly

-Summary of previous SVAAC meeting and approval of minutes

-Campus wide committee election: Exhitions Committee

-Kat Buckley elected student representative

-Publicizing concerns

-Sarah Barnes talked about Art Market 

-Jan Stinchcomb, Dean of Undergraduate Studies talked about self study 

****check out sva blog! @ micasva.blogspot.com

-Blog will list all SVA meeting minutes in the future

-Election of SVAAC Vice President and Secretary

-Explanation of each position's duty

-VP

-Oversee any SVA Academic Council subcommittee

-Cabinet mtg to discuss with Student Life and Academic Affairs to 

possibly create subcommittees to solve issues for whoever is 

interested

-Liaison to VP of Student Affairs

-Report issues to Student Affairs (Ashley, Christie, Taylor, and

President of SVA Student Life Council) 

-Secretary

-Take minutes for regular open SVA mtgs

-VP & Secretary get together with President once a month to discuss 

goals and the current status of SVA

-Election for positions:

-Meredith McFall for VP (unopposed)

-Ellice Park for Secretary (unopposed)

-SVA Department Reports

Each member of the SVA was required to meet with their department chair before the meeting to discuss issues or concerns in the department as well as talk about the self study.

Art Ed.

Reps: Rachel & Meghann

Dpt Chair: Mary Hafeli

Concerns:

-Not many concerns, no Art Ed. Document on MICA Self Study online

-Thinks of sending out mass survey of Questions prepared by reps to have ongoing

conversation with students about MAT concerns

-Chair sent a mass email sent out to raise awareness of who the MAT SVA reps 

are, and that SVA exists to act as liaison between student body and administration

Recap concerns: none

Art History

Reps: Kat Buckley & Ellice Park

Dpt Chair: Kerr Houston

Concerns:

-AH students generally happy with AH department; only concern has to do with 

internships but department is good at keeping AH majors up to date with 

opportunities

-AH dpt thinking about having a senior thesis

-Study abroad opportunities

-Seminar class on tech for learning blackboard and the like for teachers

Recap concerns: technology lessons for faculty

Ceramics

Reps: Lauren Henriksen, Courtney Stone, Melissa Schmid

Dpt chair: David East

Concerns:

-huge junior class, growing school population

-how to help dpt grow? How to get space? 

-Want dpt to grow but doesn’t have space to incorporate other students and 

encourage this

-Maybe incorporate concentration

Recap concerns: Space space space!

Drawing

Rep: no rep present

Dpt chair: Rex Stevens

Experimental Animation

Rep: no rep present

ENV Design

Reps: Deunte Ford, Mya Kerner, Meredith McFall, Luisa 

Dpt chair: Peter

Concerns

-Losing professors who can teach classes

-ENV students have to take other dpt’s classes to make up for certain classes

-Ie video classes for computer drafting skills classes

-Ie autocad can be learned in Continuing Ed but the class is not listed 

online?!

 therefore, how to not get overlooked?!

-Misconceptions or misnomers from self study

-Ie written goal in self study is for students to explore different way sof 

fabrication and different ways of design

-Yet losing fabrication tech class and architecture foundation class (2 

foundational courses for learning skills) – students don’t know how to 

fabricate, will fall behind

-Two classes listed in self study that aren’t really there

-Students cannot reach full potential with these issues

-Design department in flux right now, Peter looking to get support from other 

branches that are listed in self study

Recap concerns: need more faculty and classes, correct self study

Fibers

Reps: Anne Carnes, Ashley Lloyd

Dpt chair: Christine Woods (new chair) 

Concerns

-dpt grow very quick, school asks for more intro classes YET not enough Space 

and not enough Faculty

-currently 2 technicians but need one fully working who specializes in technology

-ie smart textiles program as part of fibers program at the moment

-want: increase technology options and opportunities

-ie more digital printers

-which can’t be had without another full time technician

recap concerns: need space and faculty, one full time technician

Foundation

Reps: Tiffany Tsui, Stacey Montobello, Omer Wasim

Co-Chairs: Michelle LaPerriere, Katherine

Advisor: Richard

Concerns:

-Students not happy with apartment-roommate situation

(Referred to Residence Life Office)

-Students not aware of existence of Major Cafe

-learning disabilities, some teachers don’t honor the issues or students don’t want

to admit their ada position

recap: concerns addressed during the meeting.

GD

Reps: Becky Slogeris, Andy Mangold, Melissa

-not met with chair yet, no updates

recap concerns: none

IL

Rep: Alex Gracey

Chair: Whitney Sherman

Concerns

-studio space with seniors having to double up in cubicles

-80-some students in sophomore class, yet only 35 spaces available

-possible ways to give sr students space

-studios in bank bldg? 

-half of IL space in fox building cut by gallery space

recap concern: Space!

Interactive Media

Rep: none present

Interdisciplinary Sculpture

Reps: Brian Mullineaux, Jamie

Dpt chair: Ladell 

Concerns:

-want to make website for dpt, blog for students

-information about staffing classes

-talk with grad students to help create the website

-want to get mica alumni to come back for helping department in creating 

internships, networking, etc

-students interested in facilitation of transfer credits from other colleges into MICA to emphasize interdisciplinary aspect

-chair talked about graduates who felt short in contemporary art world post-

graduation

-interest in creating contemporary art classes to be available or made mandatory in

the degree program

recap: website, networking, mica alumni back to mica, credit transfer facilitation, adding contemporary art classes to degree program

GFA

Rep: none present

Chair: Rex Stevens

LL&C

Reps: Rose, Rachael Beckman

Chair: Jennifer Wallace

Concerns:

-make LLC into its own major

-want to get together focused group of students to talk about this with 

faculty

-focus on critical writing, thinking, inquiry, literarture; writing analysis, 

etc .. hodgepodge of bfa and ba type of degree

-thinks making into own major will aid students in criticism or teaching

-interested in accreditation for doing this in four years

recap: make LLC into its own major

Painting

Rep: Stephanie McKee

-not present/no concerns yet

Photo

Rep: Eric Goldschmidt, Heather

Concerns:

-more funding for field trips

-Currently MICA will not fund anymore field trips for classes

-more funding for visiting artists

-had to cancel a number of talks

-students need to learn traditional AND digital means of photography

-lack of equipment

-only 8 digital cameras for all photo department available

-ones available at moment are fairly sophisticated but out of date

-students want more equipment to rent, and lenses which they may not be able to 

afford

-lack of focus on digital aspect

-not enough lockers for photo department

-students having to store chemicals in their apartments- hazardous

recap: more funding for trips and visiting artists, need more equipment and space for lockers, stop cutting classes

Printmaking

Rep: Carrie (three people but one official rep)

Chair: Gayle - met with her and lots of other students

Concerns

-entilation

-better ventilation needed in building otherwise printmaking space is 

hazardous entity in itself—wearing masks and gloves only goes so far

-solution: upgrades on fans and different things could be effective without 

building an entirely new building - MORE fans as well

-lots of opportunities with windows that have unusable fans (too loud, can’t 

hear professors)

-run through the building, can find lots of places to upgrade old 

technologies, fans are ancient

-ie Intaglio room

-ie litho, two windows there

-ie windows facing street from dolphin don’t seal very well, have to

climb up to open or close them via kicking

-difficult for print majors to get into classes necessary or desired

-other dpts deal with this issue by closing off certain classes until open 

registration (ie animation) 

-need certain number and variety of survey classes/dedicated classes for just one particular medium in order to save room in classes for actual print majors but still 

allow drawing, painting, etc... majors to take print classes

-survey classes often don’t count toward core as opposed to printmaking 

collective

recap: currently hazardous ventilation and lack of efficient class registration system

Video

Rep: none present

PAULA PHILIPS ANNOUNCEMENT

-Introduction

-Been at MICA since the 1970's

-Painter with Masters in studio painting

-Developed several programs for MICA

-i.e. CAP

-Faculty Committee:

-faculty committee to address specific things around Campus

-Takes student concerns back to Faculty Assembly Committee to voice concerns 

and joys, then administration and president

-5 faculty reps, who rotate to attend every SVAAC meeting

-Concern:

-SVA elections/representative selection process

-Can SVA possibly hold elections for the position of 

representative in the spring semester?

recap:

introduction/raise awareness of faculty group dedicated to being a liaison between administration and student body

idea given of having few representatives per dpt to rotate persons and share heavy responsibility

idea also of electing student representatives rather than depending on chairs to appoint representative leaders

MEGAN MILLER announcement

-There is still room for applicants for the student space galleries

-4 gallery spaces this year = more opportunities to show work

-difficulty in filling up the space because they didn't have enough 

applicants

-Let students know reopening application process for shows in Spring

-Campus safety & shuttles

-If interested in this topic, go to upcoming Student Life Meeting

-Rufus Davis will be talking about this with Student Life SVA

Next meeting: November 20, 2008 NOON-1 PM @ Main 160

Town Hall Meeting Minutes

Didn't go to Town Hall because you're a slacker? Read the minutes!

Town Hall Meeting Notes – Fall 2008

Introductions:

Presidents and Vice President of SVA tell their names and talk about the recent changes that have been made to mica over the past year, involving recycling, smoking, and shuttle services.

Fred: 

Would like to mention and let people know how helpful the town hall meetings have been.  They would also like to mention how helpful it is for graduating students to get hold of them and let them know of things that they should change.  Hearing from the students is the one thing that really brings about change.

Things to consider:

We don’t always have the answers

Brining things to the forum brings things to attention.

We understand that the USA is currently in a lot of economic strain.  The school is looking into it, that students will and should be able to continue to afford the education here at MICA.  They understand that there was a student loan crisis last semester.  Their main goal is to make sure students will still be able to graduate at their intended time.

Mica is making sure that the money we have is spent as best and economically as it can be.  They would like to know from the students if there is anything they should know about that could help the school save money ie: recycling, better light bulbs etc; so that we can help keep the school out of crisis together. 

Quick check of the student to faculty ratio- faculty equal to students.

Ray:

Looking back at the past 60 and 70 years we have noticed that people tend to gather in time of crisis to address the crisis, the school would like to have students gather together in the time before the crisis so that it can be addressed before issues come up.  Thank you for those who are able to attend the town hall meeting.

Rumors of how large the incoming freshman class is- The number of students coming in this year was a few students smaller than the last.  There were 1842 last year (large senior class) and 1787 this year, so we are smaller.  The school is not trying to get more students.  The school is trying to level out the number of incoming students to stabilize the school. There are eleven new full time faculty to help support the number of students already at MICA.

2 conferences this fall

-Graphic Design - AIGA “Social Studies” with designers from across the country

-Harvard “Tansformations” in African American Art.  Embracing Cultural Differences in African Art

Issues involving new advisors; now up to 5 full time advisors.  The school feels that there are now enough advisors to address the students thoroughly.  Advisors are there to help you plan your future ie: internships, courses, job ideas, and more.  The school feels that more generalized advisors are better than advisors focused in individual majors. Supports interdisciplinarity. It is amazing to see people working together to make a better MICA environment. New courses and things open to all majors: 

Textile lab

Climate change- the world today

Stop Copy Rewind Save- video and film

Interactive exhibits- video design

Design Practice Internship- local organizations and every day artists

Inner arts Course- Baltimore Symphony 

MICA Design Coalition- Design for Communication

Interactive Spaces- Hopkins works with students on online art publications

Take advantage of your advisor and ask questions!

Dusty:

Another recap of the changes that MICA has made: 

-Recycling

-The Office of Diversity and Inner Cultural Development was created and has moved to the 2^nd floor Bunting.  Clyde Johnson was hired as an Associate Dean.   

-Celebrating the BBOX space- MICA is happy that they now have a performance space for the students and staff.  Space is used daily.

The forum goes to Q&A session:

A few questions were prepared ahead of time to get the forum moving.

1. We had talked earlier about an expressed concern for the strain of the economy on MICA, and balancing the budget.  How has the Gateway impacted the current tuition?

A: The Gateway was in no way paid for with tuition money.  The school raised 10 million dollars to help fund the building, and the gateway residents partially pay for the building, but no, tuition does not fund any MICA construction.  

In terms of the Tuition increase though, there is a lot of pressure for us to bring the tuition down.  Tuition funds the staff here at MICA, and other growing student activities, and programs.  The modest increase in staff salary and the growing number of student services, is what is being reflected in the tuition, not MICA construction.  70% of MICA’s budget is salaries and benefits for staff and faculty.  MICA is trying very hard to find a good model for the future as far as ways to keep the school running properly and conserving money by doing things more efficiently.  

2. Concerns about wireless connections in Gateway & computer lab access in the evenings?

A: The MICA residential apartments were never meant to be WiFi, and if you are receiving WiFi it is probably from one of the WiFi active areas such as the Gatehouse, Gateway Courtyard, or the Meyerhoff Dining Hall.   CONTACT _Con-3EC08E5D1 \c \s \l Campus Technology can provide you services to help you set up your own router with a password if you would like.  As far as available campus locations in which you can access a computer if you do not own one, Bunting was closed last year in the evening in order to save energy, but this year there are still locations in the Fox building, 1^st floor Meyerhoff, and Brown center to accommodate students.

3. College Store: Any plans to change the layout, or put prices on more items so that students know what they are buying?

A:  The pricing is on 90%+ of all the items in the store on the shelf below the item.  As far as long term development, the school is looking into ways in which they can enlarge the store, because they do know that it is too small, and not the quality or scale they would like.  Students could come together or make a group to help MICA think of ways to make the store more accommodate the students.  

4. Commuters would like to know if there will be better parking for MICA students who do not live on campus and must drive to school. 2 hour parking is not adequate.  

A:  MICA knows that the station building and the parking on the street is clearly not enough for the students.  However, students can apply for a special pass through the city in order to park in Area 3 if they live in Bolton Hill.  The city is who the school has to go to as far as re-zoning and get more lots like the Gateway lot open.  Short term solution is to change the hours to 3:30 in the Station & Bunting lots to make it easier to make it to class.  Long term solution is to use more public transportation and to work toward reducing MTA bus passes – we don’t have the quantity of students yet, but we can work with other schools to get this underway. 

5. Plans for the Dolphin building?

A: MICA has gone back and forth on what is next because Gail Deery (chair) wants to stay in the Dolphin Building.  Been through studies, and we cannot put chair lifts on the stairs to address the handicap access.  We could definitely use better ventilation and safer facilities.  

6. Lighting on Mount Royal, can it be better?

A: The lights are something MICA cannot change because we don’t own the buildings.  We have to go to the city to request light bulbs or new lights to be put in.  MICA can request these things though and has done so with the current one that is out, and will stay on them to get it fixed.

7. Energy conservation: Turning off lights over the summer in Gateway & Studio Center?

A: For security purposes and for the contractors working over the summer on the buildings we had to have the lights on for some time. As far as over all conservation, we have made changes for more efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation, as well as new energy saving light bulbs.  However the lights in the Studio Center could be zoned or put in with motion detectors, even though creating individual switches would be impossible.  HVAC & light bulb replacement are our #1 priorities as they are the biggest abusers of energy.

8. Issues with advisors.  Some advisors did not know or understand what was important to particular majors (n particular MAT programs and concentrations)

A:  The advisors have only been there for one semester, and they are getting better and better at organizing and putting together more helpful information not only for themselves but for the students, in order to give them a clearer understanding of the curriculum and the possibilities here at MICA.  Let us know where the gaps are and we’ll get them up to speed.  Student commented that her advising experience was excellent.

9: Hopes for extending library hours?

A: That’s is something we had not thought of and is something we can easily resolve.  The library closes at 8:30 pm currently, and we can work to extend the hours, but we tried reducing summer library hours to balance that out and students complained about that as well.  If there is a need, please bring that forward.

10. The upcoming voting; is there a chance we can provide the students with transportation, if they are not filling out absentee ballots, but they vote outside of the Baltimore city limits?

A: You can go online to your county website and search for volunteers who are willing to pick up and drive those who do not own a car to the voting locations.

Baltimorecity.gov. Rock the Vote event may allow for students to connect on sharing rides.

11. There is a lot of disappointment from the students in the Interactive Media department.  They feel that because of the fewer number of students they are not taken seriously when they request more courses or better facilities.  

A: There has been discussion about the departments that are smaller, but because there are so few students interested in them, there is a sense that there is not much we can do to help these departments.  The students work as hard as they can to make the most of the situation.  It is frustrating because the lack of students equals lack of resources.  As soon as students realize that they aren’t getting a higher level of course professionalism and resources, they leave the department for another department.  Will take up through the SVA Academic Affairs Council.

Mention of the Self Survey:

Students will be able to go online when the survey is up and give the school VERY helpful information about the things that they would like to see change, or things that the school is doing well.

The SVA would like to thank the people who were able to attend the meetings and they hope that these kinds of forums will continue to be able to provide the students with an open talk to discuss things of issue.

Mention of the 12-1 presidents board room Academic Affairs meeting, open to all people.

More SVA information available at  HYPERLINK "http://www.mica.edu/studentvoice" www.mica.edu/studentvoice