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My name is Sabrina, and I have spent the last couple of years working as the Student Activities  Manager for the Multicultural & Student Activities Programs Office. I have had the opportunity to work with the Registered Student Organization. With working in this area, I have gained insight on how we educate our students on our risk management policy and student code of conduct. Furthermore, I have worked on collecting data and research on how to improve the experience of student organizations on campus responsibly and safely. With my educational experience in student development and leadership, my perspective has always been to support students in any way possible especially when students are wanting their organization to strive or their personal aspirations. Moving forward, the audience focus is coordinators, staff, faculty, risk management office, advisors, and reservations that oversees Registered Student Organizations as a whole for the university which entails the proper training for organizations on campus such as risk management, funding, fundraisers, events and President’s Round Tables. Student Organizations have great opportunities for students to learn about themselves such as leadership skills, interpersonal/intrapersonal skills, communication skills, decision-making skills, and networking. With these hands-on learning experiences, students are able to prosper into the leaders they want to become and their organization’s compliance with the university. The purpose of this topic is to educate others on the responsibility and safety measures we must take to ensure all organizations are comply with university conduct and laws.

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In my interview with Emily Banda, she has worked for Angelo State University for the past two and a half years as the Multicultural & Student Activities Programs Coordinator that oversees Registered Student Organizations (RSO). When discussing student organizations and risk management compliance to the university policies it is important that training for all organizations happen annually to keep up-to-date with the transitions of the new presidency and the Texas Education Code § 51.9361. Risk management impacts not only student organizations but other departments on campus that are held accountable to give input in the topics discussed for the training. As the university departments work together to provide safety and awareness of potential risks student organizations have a great team to support their needs in risk management (E. Banda, personal communication, September 24, 2020).

Best Practice

Risk Management Training (Topics: Alcoholic beverages & Illegal Drugs, Hazing, Title IX, Behavior at parties and events, Fire and Other Safety Issues, Travel, and Adopting a Risk Management Policy)

Registered Student Organization Funding policy/ Fundraising Training

President’s Round Table (a monthly meeting to get updates from student organizations and give advice to help improve their organization)

Moving forward with our discussion COVID had become a topic of interest due to the shift of moving online for training. A contingency plan was acquired by the university and guidelines for events in which all planning events were on hold. This was an issue that the coordinator worried about because how would students engage with each other and build that sense of belonging to their members. With the contingency plan reviewed each week and their brainstorming on the COVID topic for RSO’s they have created a Health and Safety Guidelines Training for RSO events (including the CDC practices). This is an issue for all colleges and universities because with this type of training it does not ensure that students will abide by them on or off-campus. The university officials will have to see if it impacts our environment after the training is implemented across campus. Although the school year has changed in how we function on campus the university is providing the best available options for student organizations (E. Banda, personal communication, September 24, 2020).

Emily Banda

Student Programs & Activities Programs Coordinator, Registered Student Organizations

Angelo State University

https://www.angelo.edu/content/profiles/8264-emily-marie-banda

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The National Association for Campus Activities supports student organizations and is providing a Virtual Student Organizations Institute Training for professionals. This training offers the best professional speakers, virtual learning formats, online engagement, policy and conduct, assessments, and networking. With training, it can help those that are in positions of student organizations and able to enhance professionals in their educational needs virtually (National Association for Campus Activities [NACA], 2020).

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June 23-25, 2020

If you manage student organizations, whether a new or seasoned professional, the Virtual Student Organizations Institute offers you opportunities to learn valuable skills and practices from experts and colleagues in the field. Hosted by ACUI and NACA, this virtual format will explore best and promising practices, learn strategies for online engagement, policy and conduct, inclusive practices, and assessment, and connect with peers.

By participating in this experience, you will:

Gain strategies and skill sets that support advancement in the area of student organization management;

Learn relevant trends impacting student organizations in higher education-including student organization conduct, inclusive practices, and online engagement;

Develop competence in assessment, organizational leadership and management, risk management and legal issues, and adapting in the changing landscape of higher education; and

Create a network of peers who can support you through your journey.

REGISTRATION
By registering for this event, you will receive access to all three days of the program including:

4 general session deep dives

2 breakout sessions opportunities

2 roundtable discussions

Informal networking throughout the week

Digital copies of materials, including presentation slides, handouts, and resources shared by attendees

Participant information (including institutional student organization demographics that can be used as a resource to connect with other attendees)

ACUI/NACA Member Registration - $225
Non-Member Registration - $325

SCHEDULE
Please hold 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT June 23-25 for the institute. Specific time blocks will be announced soon.

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NACA® Student Organizations Institute - Virtual Student Organizations Institute

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If you manage student organizations, whether a new or seasoned professional, the Virtual Student Organizations Institute offers you opportunities to learn valuable skills and practices from experts and colleagues in the field. Hosted by ACUI and NACA, this virtual format will explore best and promising practices, learn strategies for online engagement, policy and conduct, inclusive practices, and assessment, and connect with peers.

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Baker, J. (2020, April 3). D2L is committed to ensuring the continuity of learning through this challenging time. Education Drive. Retrieved from https://www.educationdive.com/spons/d2l-is-committed-to-ensuring-the-continuity-of-learning-through-this-challe/575153/

Link: https://www.educationdive.com/spons/d2l-is-committed-to-ensuring-the-continuity-of-learning-through-this-challe/575153/

Summary:

A trending topic has been raised to ensure learning through a unique situation like COIVD-19.

Transitioning into online platforms can be difficult for users to navigate online software.

Some colleges and universities have created or partnered with IT or outside resources to help those non-savvy with online programs and platforms.

These types of resources can help increase technology users to feel comfortable transitioning into online programs/platforms to ensure a successful educational experience as we face COVID.

With working together in technology programs/platforms those resources will continue to support your needs and provide a community to help assist with the new changes we take on in our work/school/university environment.

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Redden, E. (2020, September 18). Lawn games, anyone? Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/18/colleges-look-lower-risk-ways-students-socialize

Link: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/09/18/colleges-look-lower-risk-ways-students-socialize

Summary:

All over college campuses students are wanting to make connections with their peers and administrators are providing options for lower-risk social events for a somewhat normal college experience.

Administrators are worried for students that are in large groups partying together without the CDC practices both on and off-campus. Is it right to punish those that are not following rules due to this pandemic?

Administrators officials have asked themselves are we setting our students up for failure for not setting rules for our students to arise too. If rules and awareness were set in place before coming to campus universities would have a better outcome.

Some universities have brainstormed how to make it work on their campus because students need human connection and it is not good for student’s health being cooped up 24/7 a day.

These ideas have come into play such as lawn games, student performances/concerts, library lawn, class outside, and even following the Pod concept to lower the risk for students.

The overall outcome is creating a healthy and safe environment on campus because we know students are going to do it somewhere and so why not here on campus. We are the ones here to see our students rise to the challenge and implement CDC practices in their lives until we can all be together.

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Source of Law: Federal

Texas Education Code § 51.9361

Link: https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/education-code/educ-sect-51-9361.html

Summary:

The Texas Education Code § 51.9361 demonstrates Risk Management Programs for Members and Advisors of Student Organizations. Risk Management Training is done at least once each academic school year both the student (president) and advisors must attend to comply with their university policy. The student and advisor are needed to attend under this section of the policy and to identify what type of organization they represent to determine the benefits of risk management. Identifying the type of organization, it helps the university understand the needs of that organization. Furthermore, if the student or advisor does not attend the risk management training, they are not an active organization on campus until training is done and complaint to the university policy. After taking the risk management training, the Advisor must make sure the President or an officer of the organizations give the training to all members. The risk management topics consist of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs, hazing, title ix, first and other safety issues, travel, behavior at functions, and risk management adoption policy for student organizations. Next, all mandatory paperwork and training have been properly documented officials will gather documentation for records.

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Source of Law: Federal

20 U.S. Code § 1092 (f)
Link: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/20/1092

Summary:

The Jeanne Clery Act is a reminder to all universities to present risk management training. This incident occurred when a student was harmful hurt, beat, cut, raped, sodomized, and strangled in her room on school property. The school failed to inform its students on campus safety known as a crime (any type of crime). Due to this incident, her parents wanted justice and campaigned for legislative reform then turned into federal law. This Act is created for students on campus and student organizations that travel with university federal funding. Anywhere the organization travels (destination) and the hotel they are staying has to be reported to the university polices in case of any crime in the surrounding areas. The information given to the campus police protects each student traveling, alerts crime in case of an emergency, or sudden death (traveling). With this act in place students and parents have the university and this act to protect them.

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Source of Law: Federal

20 U.S.C § 1232g, 34 CFR Part 99
Link: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/pdf/ferparegs.pdf

Summary:

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects student’s confidentiality with school records and student organizations conducting studies on the behalf of the university or accrediting organization. This means student organizations that collect information from potential members are to use that information appropriately and not give this information to others that are not a part of the official organizational board. As for the organization conducting studies of the behalf of the organization, they must get approval for promoting the school name. It is important for the organization to use confidentiality rules with all members and seek approval or guidance when using or affiliating the university name.

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Source of Law: Federal

Texas Education Code § 51.9315

Link: https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/education-code/educ-sect-51-9315.html

Summary:

The Texas Education Code § 51.9315 is to protect expression on campus. Student organizations come from different perspectives and this code protects them to express what they believe in. Organizations are allowed to use meeting/conference rooms, networking communication with the university, and expressive activities. Which is protected by the First Amendment. All student organizations and students must be enrolled in the institution and abide by the risk management rules and policy. With this code, students are protected to express themselves through their organization speech or activities with the approval of safety measures in place. The institution is allowed to set certain areas outdoors as public forums and within those areas it will remain not unlawful to protects student rights.

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Kent State University. (2020). Administrative policy regarding discrimination by registered student organizations. Retrieved from https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/administrative-policy-regarding-discrimination-organizations-based-race-color-religion-0

Kent State University is approaching student organizations with policy register. Student organizations must be registered and approved by the university. The university follows three detailed areas policy, procedure and violation of rule or procedure. With each area there are other rules and regulations students must abide by. As well as any new state or federal and regulations.

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Principle I-Autonomy

Guiding Principles of CAS Member Associations [PDF file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://standards.cas.edu/getpdf.cfm?PDF=D67207DB-A711-46AA-86038F4A48ACF434

Link: http://standards.cas.edu/getpdf.cfm?PDF=D67207DB-A711-46AA-86038F4A48ACF434

The Principle I- Autonomy connects to student organizations based on supporting and empowering individuals in their beliefs, learning from others (open-mindedness), being accountable as young professionals, and engaging in professional development. With these areas of interest student organizations are able to connect to peers and have common ground in what they are supporting.

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Ruben, B. D., & Nolfi, T. (2010). Assessing and Improving Student Organizations: A Guide for Students. The Assessing and Improving Student Organization (AISO) Program. Stylus Publishing, LLC.

This book can help professionals understand how student organizations work on the inside of the organization. It will provide you with what student organizations are thinking such as how to plan an event, improve membership, making connections, and engaging in activities. Furthermore, provides leadership building, personal and professional structure, identify strengths, weaknesses, and improvement skills student organizations can work on with understanding their needs. It is important to understand what the organizations are wanting to accomplish for themselves, their members, and how to reach those goals.

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#13 Recommendations (best practice for compliance)

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#13 Recommendations (best practice for compliance)

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1.      Understand and research student organizations information because some policies can change with just little movement, but they make a big statement when it comes to accountability.

2.       With COVID-19 in the brink of everyone’s watch list to see what is going to happen, it is better to create a contingency plan for your department or university to have reassurance that you are keeping the campus community safe as much as possible.

3.      Look at other recourses virtually to enhance your professional career to move forward in our unique situation of COVID.

4.      If you are not if this will work create a plan to created involvement with students online or work with your university to think outside the box because students want human interaction.

5.      Original sources of law intertwine with other sources or policy to protect student’s well-being. Let students become aware of their rights and be an advocate to get their voices heard.

6.       Ethical Principles are important to students’ rights and your judgement as well because it will guide you to the best decision you can make in difficult situation.