Are you interested in getting involved in a meaningful way at Williams?
Do you want to work with other students, faculty, and administrators to make a difference?
Do you want to influence College policy and get experience working on a wide range of campus issues?
You should apply to be on a student-faculty or administrative committee!
Every year right around this time, CC solicits applications from the student body to serve on an official College committee. Most committees are made up of a combination of administrators, faculty, staff and students, and they play an integral role in setting College policy in both academic and non-academic areas.
All students are encouraged to apply! If there’s a chance you will be unavailable during the normal committee meeting time (usually 4-5:30pm) for part of a semester due to a sport or other activity, you can still apply–meeting times can be adjusted!–just indicate this in your application. In most cases, we appoint students to serve terms that run the entire academic year. You will be notified by the end of this semester and join your committee in the Fall.
Please contact us if you have any questions about the committee application process.
Apply!
Krista Pickett and Peter Skipper
College Council Presidents
The deadline to apply is next Friday, April 27th, at 11:59pm. The deadline will not be extended.
Applications should not exceed 500 words and should include:
1. Your name, class year, and desired committee position
2. Specific ideas and proposals for the committee to address
3. Relevant previous experience
4. WHY you want to serve on the committee and WHY you think you would do a good job on the committee
5. Study abroad plans
6. Interest in serving as Student Chair
Responsibilities of the Student Chair include
a.) Communicating committee updates on a monthly basis to College Council
b.) Maintaining an attendance record for students on the committee
c.) Informing Council when a student representative to the committee is no longer willing or able to fulfill his or her responsibilities
*** Make the subject of your e-mail NAME COMMITTEE ***
For example: Ephraim Williams CUL
***Email your application to [email protected]***
Students will be selected by the CC Appointments Committee and notified via email before the end of the Spring Semester. You may nominate yourself for as many committees you would like.
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Committees with open positions: (Descriptions are below)
College Council Committees:
• Finance Committee (FinCom)
Mental Health
Student Life Position:
• ACE President
Community Discussion and Life Committees:
• Committee on Diversity and Community (CDC)
• Williams Reads (CDC Subcommittee)
• Grievance Committee
• Campus Environment Advisory Committee (CEAC)
• College and Community Advisory Committee
• Committee on Undergraduate Life (CUL)
Claiming Williams Steering Committee
Academic Life Committees:
• Committee on Educational Policy (CEP)
• Calendar and Scheduling Committee
• Lecture Committee
• Winter Study Committee
Campus Services Committees:
• Dining Services Committee
• Information Technology Committee (ITC)
• Facilities Director Committee
• Library Committee
• Campus Safety and Security Advisory Committee
• ’62 Center CenterSeries programming Committee
Communications Liaison
Other Committees:
• Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility (ACSR)
• Lyceum Dinner Coordinators
• Committee on Priorities and Resources
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Committee Descriptions:
**COLLEGE COUNCIL COMMITTEES**
These committees consist entirely of students and assist the College Council in student governance.
FINANCE COMMITTEE (FINCOM):
Chaired by the College Council Treasurer, this committee aids CC in allocating the revenue generated from the Student Activities Tax and oversees the allocations to all student organizations as well as co-sponsoring all-campus and all-class events. The committee also makes recommendations for the use of the Benefits Fund, the Capital Investment Fund, and the Nationals Fund. Responsibilities include working closely with subgroup treasurers, attending all Finance Committee meetings, and attending Council meetings when your expertise is relevant to Council business. Only students who have served or are currently serving on FINCOM are eligible to run for College Council Treasurer.
Questions? Contact April Jenkins, current Treasurer, at aej1.
MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE:
The Mental Health Committee is a College Council committee comprised of representatives from College Council, Peer Health, Active Minds, and the student body-at large (the size of the committee at the discretion of the Chair). The committee was created to foster a culture of support at Williams and to strengthen resources for those on campus facing challenges concerning their mental health and wellbeing. By facilitating discussion and addressing issues proactively, the committee strives to make Williams a community that does not hide from personal struggle, but faces it head on. The Mental Health Committee is also responsible for the semesterly You Are Not Alone events. The selection of at-large students to be added to the committee will be overseen by the College Council Appointments Committee and the Chair of the Mental Health Committee.
Current Co-Chairs: Matt Piltch ’12 and Francesca Barrett ’12
**STUDENT LIFE POSITION**
ACE PRESIDENT:
The ACE President is the chair of the student organization All Campus Entertainment (ACE). Responsibilities include leading ACE meetings, overseeing General Entertainment, ACE Concerts, and First Fridays, organizing all campus events and parties, working closely with the Office of Student Life, and helping non-ACE students organize large all-campus events. Students applying for the position of ACE President need not have event planning experience, but must be dedicated to improving student entertainment on campus.
ACE Advisor: Ben Lamb, Assistant Director of Student Involvement
**COMMUNITY DISCUSSION AND LIFE**
COMMITTEE ON DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY (CDC):
The Committee on Diversity and Community (CDC) is comprised of faculty, staff, and students and is charged with the responsibility of examining the health of our diverse Williams community and discussing problems and proposing initiatives with regard to the College’s commitment to educate students for engagement
with our increasingly diverse world. The CDC has reviewed topics such as staff and faculty recruitment and retention, discrimination and harassment grievance procedures, admission and financial aid policies and practices, student orientation and advising training, and student retention and academic success. More recently, the Committee sponsored the Williams Reads project during Winter Study and hosted numerous discussion group sessions. The Committee will
continue to explore the intellectual, cultural, and social experiences of the many diverse communities within the wider College community of students, faculty, and staff. The Committee will meet on Mondays from 4 to 5:15 pm. Committee Members will serve two-year terms.
Chair: Mike Reed, Vice President for Strategic Planning and Institutional Diversity
Student Chair 2011-12: Lily Wong ’12
WILLIAMS READS (CDC Subcommittee)
Williams Reads aims to foster new connections among students, staff, faculty, and community members by exploring diversity through a common reading experience. Developed by the Committee on Diversity and Community (CDC), Williams Reads is an initiative offered each January as an opportunity for us to explore a book together that will help us to celebrate and deepen our
appreciation of diversity. It is a goal of the CDC to select a book that will stimulate community engagement and challenging conversation. In addition, related discussions, movies, performances, and presentations will be offered. Free copies of the chosen book are made available during the first week of Winter Study, with the intent that these copies will recirculate throughout the community. Students appointed to the committee will help with all aspects of the Williams Reads program.
GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE:
This committee hears and rules on grievances lodged regarding any form of discrimination. This committee does not meet on a regular basis, but the committee members stand ready to serve as the need arises.
CAMPUS ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CEAC):
CEAC currently has positions open for first year students. Appointed members will serve until the end of their senior year. CEAC
compiles the Environmental State of the Campus report and members work with the College administration to improve the College’s environmental practices.
THE COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
This committee advises senior staff on issues that grow from the College and community’s interdependence with the primary goal of identifying and encouraging efforts of mutual benefit. The ex-officio members include the Director of Public Affairs, the Chaplain, the Coordinator of Community Service, and the Coordinator of Experiential Education.
COMMITTEE ON UNDERGRADUATE LIFE (CUL):
The Committee on Undergraduate Life recommends policy on all non-academic aspects of student life. As a particular concern, the Committee maintains College-wide oversight of the advising services offered to students. The Director of Campus Life, who is a voting member, the Director of the Multicultural Center (or designee), who is a non-voting member, and a representative, also non-voting, appointed by the Dean of the College are all ex-officio members of the committee. The students on the committee are selected to reflect the diversity of the student body, with respect to gender, ethnic and
socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, class year, and
student activities and organizations.
Faculty Chair 2011-12: Professor Mihai Stoiciu, Mathematics and Statistics
Student Chair: Laura Berk ’12
CLAIMING WILLIAMS STEERING COMMITTEE:
Comprised of students, staff, and faculty, the Claiming Williams Steering Committee receives and reviews proposals for events for Claiming Williams Day and for programming throughout the year. The objective of the all-campus programming is to foster discussions on respect and diversity and to work towards building an inclusive community. As a student member, you will have the opportunity to learn about campus programming and to work with a creative, diverse, and dedicated group in planning a day that has a strong and positive impact on our community. The committee’s mission statement is: “Claiming Williams invites the community to acknowledge and understand the uncomfortable reality that not all students, staff, and faculty can equally ‘claim’ Williams. By challenging the effects of the College’s history of inequality that are based on privileges of class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion, we will provoke individual, institutional, and cultural change.” If you are interested in joining the Claiming Williams Steering Committee, please send a brief self-nomination to Professor Carmen Whalen, Associate Dean for Institutional Diversity, at [email protected].
**ACADEMIC LIFE**
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATIONAL POLICY (CEP):
This committee is responsible for approving new courses, contract majors, major requirements, examining all possible changes in the curriculum, and recommending action to the faculty. Please
include your current or intended major (and concentrations, certificates, etc.) on your self-nomination. This committee meets at 4pm on Mondays.
Faculty Chair 2011-2012: Professor Guy Hedreen, Art
Student Chair: Amy Nguyen ’12
CALENDAR & SCHEDULING COMMITTEE:
This committee proposes the academic calendar to the faculty and works to improve class hour schedules submitted by departments.
LECTURE COMMITTEE:
This committee aids in funding lectures proposed by other organizations on campus and plans its own large lecture series to take place the following year. Self-nominations for this committee should include your (potential) major(s) and which lectures at Williams you have most enjoyed in your time at the College.
WINTER STUDY COMMITTEE:
This committee recommends and administers policy on the Winter Study program, including reviews of all faculty and student projects for approval and allocation of funding. The committee also approves 99s and the travel course proposals, and develops ways to streamline the 99 and travel course timetable.
**CAMPUS SERVICES**
DINING SERVICES COMMITTEE:
Students on this committee advise the Director of Dining Services on all food matters, including the dining hall system, the quality and availability of food, and offerings in Paresky. The Student Dining Services committee is an essential part of the success of campus dining. Each month, the committee meets with the managers and chefs from each dining area to discuss the menu, food quality, and service. The Office of Dining Services relies on the DSC’s input for all food related decision making. Round table discussions are held at dinner each month in various dining halls. Our goal is to be the best Dining Services in the nation: one that is recognized for healthy/nutritious meals, sustainable practices, and a professional team providing consistent service.
Contact Bob Volpi, Director of Dining Services, or Chris Abayasinghe, Assistant Director of Student Dining, with questions.
INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE (ITC):
This committee’s past activities have included investigating the possibility of providing computers for all students at Williams, ensuring that there is equal access to the network and all computer hardware, evaluating new purchases, and examining the role of Jesup in campus life.
FACILITIES DIRECTOR COMMITTEE:
The purpose of this committee is to ensure that student opinion is taken into consideration when Facilities makes decisions regarding the policies for residential halls and campus work.
**Newly-reinstated committee, how exciting!**
LIBRARY COMMITTEE:
This Committee advises on matters of general policy for the Williams College Library system. Past activities include advising on improved Science Library facilities. The committee usually meets once a month in the late afternoon, and holds additional meetings when the Stetson/Sawyer architects make public presentations.
Questions? E-mail David Pilachowski, College Librarian.
CAMPUS SAFETY AND SECURITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
This committee meets to discuss student and security relations, safety rules, party regulations, and other security concerns.
’62 CENTER CENTERSERIES PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE:
The Programming Committee meets two to three times each fall to review and select the shows for the following year’s CenterSeries. These shows are some of the highest profile event on campus each year. It is important to the committee that student representatives have the ability to participate in this selection process. In fact, the students are encouraged to talk directly to Rachel Chanoff, the Director of Programming for the CenterSeries, prior to the meetings to offer
input on the shows offered for the selection process.
COMMUNICATIONS LIAISON
Work with Suzanne Silitch of the Office of Communications to determine how best to “tell the Williams story.” Past responsibilities have included providing feedback for the new Dining Services mobile application and integrating WCMA further into the Williams community.
**OTHER**
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SHAREHOLDER RESPONSIBILITY (ACSR):
This committee advises the Board of Trustees on how to invest the College’s endowment in a socially responsible manner. In the late 1970s, the committee considered whether the College should avoid investing in firms doing business in South Africa during the apartheid period. More recently, it studied divestment from tobacco companies.
LYCEUM DINNER COORDINATORS:
The Lyceum Dinner program allows students the opportunity to take a professor or staff member to a free, three-course meal at the Faculty Club. Managers are responsible for working with Dining Services and the Dean’s Office to coordinate the events. In addition, the managers are responsible for assembling an end of year report on the program to be submitted to the program benefactor, the student body, College Council, and the Dean’s Office.
COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIES AND RESOURCES:
This extremely important committee advises the President on the allocation of the College’s fiscal and tangible resources and on long-range financial planning and also considers trends in the annual College budget and other matters relating to priorities in fundraising and resources for capital expenditures. Each division is represented by at least one faculty member. Faculty members appointed to the CPR serve staggered two-year terms. Students appointed to the Committee likewise serve staggered two-year terms beginning as juniors. At least one of the current College Council Co-President serves on the CPR. The Provost, Associate Provost, Budget Director, Vice President for Operations, the Vice President for Alumni Relations and Development, and the Associate Vice President for Facilities and Auxiliary Services, serve as ex-officio, non-voting members. The faculty chair of the CPR normally serves a two-year term.
Current Student Representatives for School Year 2011-2012: Francesca Barrett ’12, Nick Fogel ’12, and Andrea Lindsay ’13.
We look forward to your submissions!
– The Appointments Committee
Krista Pickett ’13 and Peter Skipper ’13
College Council Presidents
Adrian Castro ’14
Secretary
April Jenkins ’14
Treasurer
Kate Flanagan ’14
All-Campus Representative for Diversity and Community
Wen Han ’13
Class of 2013 Representative
Emily Calkins ’14
Class of 2014 Representative
Ben Augenbraun ’15
Class of 2015 Representative