Honors Open Assembly
Based on the student needs statements we derived from our research, the top innovation choice that fulfilled all of these needs is the Honors Open Assembly (Figure 15). The Open Assembly will occur once every month and will provide opportunities for students to network with faculty, administration, and peers. At the meetings, there will be a maximum of four topics discussed, one of which will be an open topic where any student can propose an idea or present an issue before the Assembly. Additionally, there will be a box for suggestions that will be constantly available in the Honors lobby, from which a topic of discussion will be drawn. Topics for discussion must directly related to an Honors College need, interest, or pending change that needs collaborative input. These Assembly topics, which will be selected by Honors
administration, will be advertised through email, on the Honors College Website, and through various social media prior to the meeting to attract students who may be passionate about the topics discussed.
The Assembly meeting will be run in an open discussion format, with student representatives from ANCHOR and the Mentor Council, faculty, and Honors administration facilitating.
Assembly meetings will follow a standard agenda that encompasses Honors business as well as provide a format for faculty and students to speak about their current Honors classes or projects, which will encourage others at the meeting to become more involved with Honors specific projects or to meet other students who may have the similar interests. A basic agenda for the Honors College Assembly would begin by giving some time before the meeting for attendees to get food and snacks offered and to socialize. The meeting would then begin with opening statements and announcements, including updates from the previous FMHC Assembly and the announcement of upcoming events. Next would be a short 5 to 10 minute presentation. Specifically, Honors students working on their senior projects will have the opportunity to present their hard work at the Assembly. Many students have referred to the senior project as a subject of some mystery. Seeing other students presenting their Honors Senior Project work will be very helpful for students who are nervous or confused about planning their own senior
project. Then, three of the main discussion topics will be announced, and the floor will be open to new topic suggestions. Once all topics have been decided, tables will be designated to each topic and attendees may choose the topic/s they would like to discuss in more detail for the remainder of the Assembly. At these tables, there will be a leader to guide discussions, which may be either the person who introduced the topic or student, faculty, and administration
37
representatives. The tables will also include paper, sticky notes, writing utensils, and other resources that may be helpful to deepening ideas and discussions. With 5 minutes remaining, the leader of the Assembly meeting will end with closing remarks and collect all suggestions and notes from the meeting to enable further discussion and actions to positively impact the future of the Frederik Meijer Honors College. Attendees will be welcome to remain following the closing remarks to continue discussions and conversations.
The meeting style will be informal (drop in/out), with no requirement to stay for the
whole meeting. This will encourage those students to come who would like to attend but have a schedule conflict at the beginning of the meeting or who may have to leave early. Food will also be offered during the meeting to encourage attendance and a relaxed atmosphere.
With the implementation of this prototype concept, our three student needs; 1) student involvement beyond freshman year, 2) the need for a catalyst to bring students together, and 3) the need for students to recognize the power they have in the Honors College, will be fulfilled and recognized. Students do not have to be a certain age or academic year in order to attend, and therefore they can get involved regardless of whether or not they are actively taking Honors classes. The catalyst provided by the Open Assembly is the desire of Honors students to take control and possession of their own education and thus become involved in matters of Honors governance. Finally, students will not only have their roles and responsibilities within Honors better defined through the Honors Assembly, but they will also have a better knowledge of the abilities and power they have to affect change within the Honors College.
In addition to addressing student needs, this prototype will create a reality that is beneficial to faculty and administration as well as students. The administration will gain the student feedback that they have been lacking and faculty will get the opportunity to work with the students and possibly talk about their own research. Solutions to prominent issues within Honors will be addressed and solved through collaboration and teamwork involving all members of the Honors community.
38
Figure 15. A collaborative space to talk about issues within the Honors College and brainstorm solutions
39