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 2nd 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, 1st 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
