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   

SVAAC Meeting Minutes 9-25-08

Want to know what went down at the first Student Voice Association Academic Affairs Council meeting?  Read this!

SVA Meeting Minutes: 9-25-08

Introductions

Meghann Harris, president leads meeting with agenda and sign-in sheets.  Representatives introduce themselves as well as faculty and staff in the room.  Megan Miller, Jan Stinchcomb, & Christopher Whittey all introduce themselves as advisers to SVA, and Regina DeLuise introduces herself as the Student Affairs Committee faculty representative.

Description of SVA

Meghann Harris and Megan Miller share guiding documents and flow chart of SVA structure with members and discuss briefly.  Expectations of representatives are covered, meeting with chair and students within the department regularly as to serve as the communication between students and administration.

Elections for Co-Chair & Secretary

Explanation of positions; elections held at October meeting.

Campus-wide Committees 

Megan Miller explains the campus-wide committees, Budget and Finance & Exhibitions.  Members from SVA Academic Council serve on these committees.  Andy Mangold, Graphic Design major, will continue to serve this year on Budget & Finance.  Elections were held for the vacant position on Exhibitions Committee.  Kat Buckley, Art History major, was selected for the position.

Goals for the Year & Publicity for SVA

Meghann Harris passed out information sheets asking representatives to list things they are most excited about and things that are of the greatest concern to them for their department.  These will be compiled for the next meeting where goals will be set for the upcoming year.  

Meghann also emphasized the importance of staying positive rather than having this serve as a forum for whining.  SVA should be taking action steps toward improving problems, not just complaining about them.  We can take up broad concerns, but recognizing that we will not likely fix the tuition problem.  Instead we can spread information about Financial Aid, taking little steps toward fixing a big problem.  Spreading the word about information like faculty hire sessions, publicity is the key to getting the word out about things happening on campus where we can share our voice/concerns.  Request went out with sign-up for any students interested in doing marketing & publicity for SVA.

Self Study Review

Jan Stinchcomb & Chris Whittey reviewed the overall Self Study Process.  Document created is 300 pages covering every facet of MICA.  Two accreditation bodies will be working with us, NASAD & Middle States, and will be visiting the campus in March.  They stressed the important role of SVA representative in reviewing the Self Study document for your department and providing feedback to your chair.  October 30^th is the deadline for comments. 

Art Market – Sarah Barnes

Sarah Barnes from Ceramics discussed the sale on December 10-13^th from 10 am – 6pm.  All departments are welcome.  15% commission fee goes back to competitive scholarships.   HYPERLINK "http://www.mica.edu/artmarket" www.mica.edu/artmarket 

Upcoming Meetings

Thursday, October 16^th, 12 pm, Main 160

Thursday, November 20^th, 12 pm, Main 160