Gayoung Choi Blueprint for Action
Problem 1: There are not enough avenues for compers to meet and interact with members of SCAS."I think I joined looking for community but have come to see it as more pre professional as time goes on. I do kind of wish the community aspect was there."
- Comper, Spring 2019
Solution: Implement monthly all-SCAS meetings.
- I have identified a trend in which compers don't feel like they are already a part of SCAS during their comp. They believe that they will feel a stronger community once they become full volunteers. But because most compers will pass the comp, we should structure SCAS to be more inclusive of compers from the very beginning.
- Monthly all-SCAS meetings would provide a space in which the board members, members at large, and compers can come together to mingle. During this meeting, we would detail any big announcements about SCAS (for example, the launching of our ad campaign on MBTA trains and busses) and go over office logistics and goals for the next month.
Problem 2: Once students complete the comp, there is a lot of isolation for volunteers in their office hour setting."Just by the nature of how office hours are structured, I don't feel like I get to interact with other people in SCAS. I know that there are events we can go to, but those are optional so I feel like if you're not already very involved in SCAS, there isn't any incentive to increase involvement."
- Volunteer
Solution: On top of monthly all-SCAS meetings, reinforce mandatory leading of workgroups and/or committee meeting attendance.
- Currently, our SCAS volunteers only have a mandatory 1-hour commitment to SCAS per week. We realize that this is too low of a time commitment to allow these volunteers to feel like they belong to a community. Also, office hours are conducted either alone or with only one other person. This could be an isolating factor within the organization.
- In addition to all-SCAS meetings, we should require volunteers to lead a workgroup (1 hour commitment per week) and/or attend committee meetings (1 hour commitment per week).
"I wish there was a more structured way of meeting different upperclassmen in class. While there are committee meetings to attend, it does not feel like there is much mentorship happening."
- Comper, Spring 2019
Problem 3: There is a lack of mentorship for freshman compers.
Solution: Continue with implementation of mentorship programs such as SCAS in the Square or foster mentorships within workgroups.
- Our next iteration of mentorship programs should include one or two members from each subgroup: compers, first semester volunteers, and experienced volunteers/board members. This way, everyone feels like they can learn and teach something new.
- Within workgroups, we should encourage workgroup leaders to schedule meals with compers or subsidize outings to cafes in the square from the beginning.
