Student Advisory Group (S.A.G.)
Student Advisory Group Minutes
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
12:10 – 12:40pm/ 7:00 – 7:30pm
Room 108/111
Introductions – Director of Student Success & Faculty and Staff present
Purpose of SAG
The purpose of SAG is to create a channel of direct communication between MTI students and administration.
Topics for discussion should be of general interest to all students. Individual student concerns with classes and/or instructors should be addressed with the student’s instructor or dean.
Celebrations
- Winter Break is almost here!
- Daymaker student, day: Sandra Marawanyika
- Daymaker student, night: Amrit Dhillon
Upcoming Activities
- Last day to guess the amount of candy in Dean’s office: December 21. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 22
- Admissions hosts “Coffee, cocoa and cookies” noon and 5 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, in the North Annex Building lobby.
- Schedules available: Tuesday, December 22
- Winter Break: December 24 through January 3
- Back to school: Monday, January 4, 2010
- First day of new term: Monday, January 11, 2010
SAG Updates
Ed Hardenbrook, Vice President of Operations, gave an overview of our parking situation. We know that parking can sometimes be a challenge, but please minimize your and everyone else’s frustrations by adhering to the following guidelines:
- Arrive early to school or between classes to get a good parking spot.
- Please park within the lines so that all the parking spots can be utilized.
- Don’t park closely behind other vehicles and prevent them from backing out
- If you are parked on the street, please don’t park in front of fire hydrants or you will be ticketed.
- Please do not park in apartments, condominiums, or care facilities private lots
David Vallerga, Dept. Chair, IT, added that carpooling is a great idea. Joyce said that anyone interested in carpooling, either getting or giving a ride, should contact her.
Joyce Rogers announced that we are lucky to have such a diverse student body. Many of our students are ESL. One of them has indicated an interest in forming an English conversation group that would meet just to practice their English. Interested students should see Joyce.
Open Forum – begins @ 12:20 / 7:10
Day Open Forum items:
- Suggestion that students who smoke be asked to sit on one side of the classroom so as not to offend non smokers with smoke smell.
Response: this is not a practical solution, but we agree that smokers should be mindful of the smell on their clothing, hands, and breath.
- Suggestion that the school try to get discounted bus passes
Response: We have looked into this and we are not eligible because we are a private college and we have fewer than 1,000 students.
- Observation that some people drive too fast or drive unsafely through the parking lot.
Response: We agree, and we request that students report anyone driving in an unsafe matter to Ed Hardenbrook.
- Suggestion that hooks be installed in the men’s restrooms in the stalls and in the main area for backpacks.
Response: We are working on doing this over the break.
- Suggestion that we use numbered parking stickers on cars so if someone leaves his/her lights on, we can easily locate him/her in the classroom.
Response: We have looked into this idea in the past, but because our students use multiple vehicles, the logistics of issuing numbered stickers is more complicated than our current system, which is just to go to each classroom to announce that there is a car with its lights on in the parking lot.
- Suggestion that we try to get discounted gym memberships for our students.
Response: We will look into this, but in the mean time, try using your student ID card and ask for a discounted rate.
Night Open Forum items:
- The keyboarding class is too long in the evenings. It’s difficult to stare at a screen for 3.5 hours. What can be done to change the format of the class? can we get glare screens?
Response: John Alcorcha, Dept. Chair, General Studies, advised that students speak to the instructor about taking breaks during the class
- I like it here and want to continue after I get my degree. Why don’t you offer a Bachelors program?
Response: Actually we have looked at this, but it is a lengthy process with our accrediting body (WASC) and for the time being, we are focusing on what we do best: offer short term programs that give our students the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed.
- Request for a color copier for students to use for special projects, reports. Students could even pay for copies.
Response: This is a service that we don’t offer because of the costs to the students for printing and because of the oversight of the machine itself.
Close- Next meeting will be Wednesday, March 17, 2010.