The Student Affairs Blog

They Don't Know What They Don't Know

Students and new staff members will frequently ask me about surveying their students.  They often seem very matter-of-fact and self assured that they've found an answer to one of their pressing programming  issues:  what to present on campus.

It makes sense at first glance.  Wondering what to program on campus?  Ask your students!  Brilliant.  And wrong.

Here's the problem with surveying your students in order to plan your programs:  They don't know what they don't know.

The vast majority of the students on any campus are blissfully unaware of the universe of student activities programs that are available.  They don't attend APCA and NACA conferences.  They don't read Student Activities Journal, Programming  or Campus Activities magazines.  They don't even read this blog.

They essentially have no idea of what's available in the marketplace.  They don't know what they don't know.

Ask them what bands to book, they'll tell you "My Morning Jacket" or "Fall Out Boy."  If you ask about comedy, they'll tell you Chris Rock or Dane Cook.  Odds are, your campus can't afford those acts.  Or at least not all of them.  So you haven't gained much from your survey.

But more importantly,  my original premise:   They don't know what they don't know. 

Ask your students:  would you like to stick your hands in different colors of hot, molten wax?  Really?

Yet we've all seen students at conferences line up for hours, waiting to produce their very own "Wax Hands."

Ask your students:  would you like to see a ventriloquist?  Really?

Many students may not even know what the word means.  Yet we've all seen students rolling in laughter over Dan Horn, Jeff Dunham, or Taylor Mason.

I often liken entertainment surveys to asking children about dinner.  If you ask the average child what he or she wants for dinner, they'll tell you what they know:  they want a Happy Meal.  And if that's what you always give them, they never learn to appreciate more exotic food like broccoli or sushi.  Don't we all know college students whose diet consists of burgers and chicken strips-- because it's the only food they learned to like?

Take your co-curricular duties to heart.  Remember that you serve an important teaching function on your campus.  Avoid a regular diet of "Happy Meals" for your students.  Book some unusual programs, events that aren't even on the students' radar.  Your students-- and your campus-- will be better for it.

National Eating Disorder Week (NEDAW) Feb 24th - March 1st 2008

We are in the midst of NEDAW and for both men and women, college is a vital time to educate them. Eating disorders are a silent epidemic on our campuses because no one wants to talk about it. This year's key message is:

Be comfortable in your genes. Wear jeans that fit the TRUE you.

As an example of how to integrate it on campus, NU (Northeastern University) is hosting events all week in honor of NEDAW.

Each day is dedicated to a different cause, and each day is a different way for you to help!

MONDAY: Learn about disordered eating in the US, who is being affected, and Why those suffering from an eating disorder may not be getting the care they deserve.

TUESDAY: What Can You Do To Help? Come pick up information on the signs and symptoms of eating disorders and how to help a friend who may be struggling.

WEDNESDAY: “Be Comfortable in Your Genes!” - Donate your “skinny” jeans and other old clothes that no longer fit your body comfortably in the CSC. Encourage yourself to wear clothes that fit the REAL you! Donations will be made to Rosie's Place.

THURSDAY: Declaration Day! Come to the CSC and sign our “No Weigh” contract, declare yourself free from the constraints of a weight-obsessed world!

Check out the National Eating Disorders Association's website for more info and other activities.

Old Prom Dress Drive - Student Activites Event Idea

Ok, in my searching for event ideas - I came across another idea I thought was unique enough to post here. Montgomery County Community College and also The University of Southern Mississippi hosted an Old Prom Dress Drive to help local teens who can't otherwise afford a nice dress.

Reporter Maggie Mays of USM said they collected around 375 dresses in total. They also recruited several beauty salons to donate their services to the girls on prom night.

 

Organizer for the USM event, Tyleen Caffrey, said:

All the dresses we have come from individuals who have kept their dresses for sentimental reasons. This gives them goodcause to give it to someone who needs it.

For more info on both contact:

Tyleen Caffrey - USM - 601-310-3881
Cindy Whitley - MCCC - cwhitley@mc3.edu

Sexual Responsibility Week - Student Activites Event Idea

Pennsylvania College of Technology News & Information (I know it's a mouth full :) is hosting a sexual responsibility week from Feb 11th to Feb 15th. Here is the flow for the themed week in case it's something you've been thinking about doing on your campus. They also post all their upcoming events online as well.

Monday

Sex Jeopardy Game Show 8-10 p.m., ACC Auditorium Test your sex IQ and win fabulous prizes.

 

Tuesday

Chocolate Photo-Pop Creations 11 a.m.-2 p.m., LEC Lobby Do you still need a Valentine's gift? If so, don't miss the chance to stop by and get your picture put on a chocolate pop. It makes a great gift for that special someone.

Survival Stories 7:30 p.m., Penn's Inn Film, “Breaking the Silence,” and panel discussion about sexual assault.

 

Wednesday

Sexual Health Fair 10 a.m.-2 p.m., LEC Lobby Information, demonstrations and giveaways!

 

Thursday

Self-Defense Demonstration with Dr. William B. Urosevich, associate professor of biology 7-8 p.m., Field House

Speed-Dating Game and Late Night Party 8-11 p.m., Susquehanna Room Facts and fun ... information, demonstrations, games, music, entertainment and refreshments!

Random Acts of Kindness Week on College Campuses Feb 11th - 17th

In case you need to remind someone to do something nice for someone else, or if you are looking for a theme, there's a week coming up dedicated to doing Random Acts of Kindness. The official website  is filled with stories, ideas, and inspiration to get you started. Here are some of the many suggestions it gives for colleges:

• Give another driver your parking spot.
• Give an extra concert or ball game ticket to a stranger. (Hand out free movie tickets)
• Help someone struggling with heavy bags.
• Invite someone new to lunch. (hand out free lunch cards) 
• Compliment a stranger about something he or she is wearing.
• Smile at people you pass on your way to class.
• Bring coffee, donuts, or chocolate kisses/hugs to campus workers who don’t usually get thanked.
• Form a group to help the school staff with activities like clearing cafeteria lunch trays, picking up trash, or cleaning up classrooms for the evening custodian.
• Write anonymous positive notes to one another, saying what makes the recipient special.
• Hand out coffee and hot chocolate to passersby on a cold, wintry morning, or lemonade and water during warm weather.
• Hold a campus-wide kindness story contest.
• Put up blank banners in public areas and invite students and faculty to write their kindness stories for all to enjoy.
• If you have a radio station, ask the radio staff to create Random Acts of Kindness programming, such as listeners calling in their stories of kindness, or the ANNOUNCER reading submitted stories or selected readings from kindness books.
• Hold a campus kindness rally and invite speakers and musicians to give awards to kind students, professors and staff members.
• Hold a teddy bear drive. Deliver the bears to police and firefighters to give to traumatized children.
• Collect kindness stories and create a customized campus kindness book for distribution.
• Post banners with kindness slogans.

Here are some for the staff:

• Praise the work or attitude of a teacher.
• Bring someone a cup of coffee, hot cocoa, or a soft drink.
• At a faculty meeting, talk with teachers about acts of kindness you all have given or received.
• Leave a kind note in the faculty lunchroom with suggestions like, “Take a deep breath and move peacefully through your day.” 
• Post copies of inspirational poems or thoughts for all to enjoy.
• Put a supportive note on teacher’s desk or in his/her mailbox.
• Carry small wrapped candies in your pocket to give as “angel kisses” to someone who needs a lift.
• Attach suggestions for acts of kindness to Hershey Kisses and Hugs. Each administrator, teacher, or staff member takes a candy and then performs the RAK suggested to benefit another administrator, teacher, or staff member.
• Sponsor a kindness drawing or coloring campaign for your staff’s children.
• Put plants in your facility. A study at Washington State University indicates that living indoor plants may increase productivity and reduce stress for employees.
• Boost morale on campus by having your staff submit stories about kindness in the workplace. Start with a memo giving them information about the RAK movement and asking them to submit their stories. When the week is over, distribute the stories as a collection, post them on a Kindness Bulletin Board, or include one or more in each school newsletter. If you don’t have a newsletter, create a weekly or monthly Kindness Bulletin and keep it going throughout the year!
• Create a “good news” bulletin board to fill with upbeat news about teachers (such as write-ups about the teachers’ accomplishments and ideas, or photos of their families or newborn babies).
• Invite someone new to lunch.
• Welcome and get to know new hires.
• Tell a fellow teacher or a principal why you appreciate him or her.
• Walk a colleague to the car or bus at nighttime for safety.
• Leave a treat on the desk of a teacher with whom you normally don’t get along.
• Write, draw, make, or buy something encouraging for a colleague who is experiencing difficulties.
• Place a flower on the desk of each of your team members or fellow teachers.
• Surprise a colleague with a soft drink, coffee, or bottled water.
• Keep a Kindness Journal of kind acts you observe among your students. Read it aloud and discuss it with your students once a week. This will help raise students’ awareness of the impact of their daily actions, and it may encourage you as well.
• Give a compliment.
• Allow a colleague’s teenager to shadow you for a day and learn about your job
• Write a letter commending a colleague who helped you, and address it to your principal.

There's even a PDF guide to start a RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) Club on your campus to keep the idea going throughout the year. Acts of kindness do a lot more than just make someone smile. From their website:

Kindness activities teach students a lifelong interpersonal skill and affirm students who may not be recognized in other ways.

Try the Novelty of Themed Weeks

So often, I have seen my students succeed by planning great events – just single, unrelated events that have some broad, student appeal. One day, a concert. The next day, a movie. The following week, a lecture. And the week after that, a comedian.  But, what I really like is when my students come together to plan events all around some themed week.

This year, my department took this unique approach to some of our programming. We have implemented “departmental” programming. Essentially, this means, all of our Resident Assistants (yes, I am in residence life) work together – collaboratively – to plan around the same departmental theme.

We have planned & implemented four departmental themes this year – Safety & Security Week, Alcohol Awareness Week, Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week, and, in the coming month, we will be doing Multicultural Week.

The idea behind these themed weeks was to create a departmental-wide effort to recognize these various topics/ideas/themes.  Our RAs split into teams, and each of those teams was responsible for planning a program using our theme. Each RA team had a day of the week, Monday through Friday, so that we could offer at least one program per day that week.

Some of our programs were passive, but most were active, interesting, and fun approaches at educating and entertaining our student population.

Alcohol Awareness Week featured everything from an educational spin on Beer Pong to the widely-favorite “Drunk Buggy” program. Hunger & Homeless Awareness featured a pledge to fast for 24 hours and a movie (“Pursuit of Happyness”), among other things. And Safety & Security Week included a casual, sit-down chat with our campus police officers (“Cop Talk & Donuts”), as well as a program on Driving Safely in Winter Weather.

Yes, this may sound like a typical approach to programming from a residence life office; but my experience with Student Activities Boards and other programming bodies are proof that themed weeks work effectively for these students as well. I’ve seen Winter Weeks, Homecoming Weeks, School Spirit Weeks, and more. You can create a themed week around any topic imaginable.

What are the benefits?

Among other things, you hopefully involve more people in the planning and implementing process, which, in turn, increases the number of students to whom your events appeal. Themed weeks also lend themselves to great advertising and publicity. Not only can you promote each, individual event; but you will also have the ability to promote the entire week’s events together.

Themed weeks can be difficult to implement successfully, but they are very rewarding ways to program on a college campus. I hope you will consider implementing a NEW themed week at your institution. If you already use themed weeks to program, tell us about your experiences.

Fifty Low-Cost Program Ideas in Fifty-minutes

It started out with the ambitious goal of soliciting 50 low-cost program ideas in a little less than an hour.  Fifty minutes later, the delegates at the APCA National Advisors' Summit in Las Vegas had suggested 91 ideas!

Ashley captured these for you, and I wanted to make sure they got posted.  If you weren't there, then some of the ideas may sound odd (or make no sense at all).  If that's the case, drop me a note and I'll explain it to you.

Fifty Ninety-One Ideas in Fifty Minutes

1. Grocery Bingo

2. Medallian Hunt

3. Life-Size Monopoly

4. Game Hunting

5. Pot Luck Dinner

6. Video Gaming

7. Iron Chef Dorm Room/Ramen Noodle cook-off

8. Game Show Contest

9. Poetry Slam

10. Day of the Dead

11. Dark Side of Oz (Pink Floyd & film)

12. Walk-in movie

13. Dive-in movie(pool)

14. American Idol

15. Talent Show

16. Bed Race

17. Bean Bag Toss

18. Themed Dances

19. Halloween Contests

20. Live Haunted House

21. Campus Ghost tours

22. Halloween Casino

23. Recycle plastic bottles into planters (Arbor day)

24. Leadership retreats

25. Water World  (slip ‘n slide)

26. Movie on the Lawn

27. Bonfire & S’mores

28. Themed movies

29. Stress-Free Spa Day

30. Chair Massages

31. Oreo Stacking (Guinness Records)

32. Star Gazing (astronomy club)

33. Leap Frog

34. Twister

35. Reflective Movies

36. Commit a Random Act of Kindness

37. Family Fest

38. Canned Food  Sculptures

39. Food Bank Drive

40. Frozen turkey bowling

41. Campus Fear Factor

42. Photos with Christmas mascot

43. Easter Bunny Pictures

44. Dogoween (pet costume contest at Halloween)

45. Scavenger Picture Hunt

46. Campus Idol

47. Parking space lottery

48. Campus Safety (self-defense)

49. Sleep-out

50. T-Shirt relocation (collect rival school T-shirts and take to Salvation Army in another city!)

51. Clothesline project

52. Women’s forum

53. Cultural showcases

54. “Get Into Your Genes”; Too small Blue Jean give away

55. Campaign for real beauty (acceptance of normal bodies)

56. Mary Kay (or Avon) day

57. Financial Education

58. Monster.com (Free financial planning)

59. “Girls” or “Guys” Night out

60. $2 Movies in town

61. Mock weddings

62. YouTube Contest

63. Hillbilly Olympics

64. Human auction

65. Mentoring

66. Study night with pizza

67. Midnight Breakfast   

68. President for a day

69. Parking ticket raffle (pay your fines)

70. Pre-release movies

71. Unhomecoming Faculty King and Queen

72. Kiss the Pig (Spam loaf)

73. Pageant and formal dinner auction

74. Pie a professor

75. Hot topic lunch

76. Glow in the dark easter egg hunt

77. Pie your RA

78. Recycle drive with prize

79. “Big dog on Campus” Fun Olympics (Bulldog is school mascot...)

80. Cinderella project (Prom Dresses for high school girls)

81. Graffiti party

82. Change drive into mosaic

83. Car show

84. Speed dating ideas

85. Cow patty bingo

86. Mardi Gras Sidewalk Parade

87. Art festival/contest

88. Nametag Day (everybody wears a name tag)

89. Parking lot sale (like rummage sale)

90. Pumpkin Carving Contest

91. Holiday Window Decorating

Unique AIDS Awarness Student Program

Westmont college hosted an interesting demonstration this week as part of World AIDS Week which runs from Nov 26 2007 - Dec 2 2007.

"A group of Westmont students brought attention to World AIDS Week by placing hundreds of small signs depicting children on Kerrwood Lawn, Monday and Tuesday Nov. 26-27. The placards represented the 600 children orphaned by AIDS every day."

What I like about this and similar demonstrations, is it's impossible for someone to not pay attention or be curious. It interacts with the "car-to-class" apathetic students who never show up at any campus event. It's also cost effective and easy to host.

Is anyone else doing anything interesting for AIDS Week? Did you know it was AIDS Week?