Living-Learning Community

Goal 4: Reinvigorate the residential college as a living-learning community and uphold the well-being of all students, staff and faculty.

Objectives

1. Offer a range of extra- and co-curricular opportunities on current issues and topics related to curriculum.
2. Increase collaboration among faculty, staff, students and the wider community.
3. Promote and foster the well-being of staff, students and faculty to create an environment that enables all to thrive in their respective roles.
4. Increase participatory governance of the college and improve faculty and staff morale.

Progress Updates

• In Progress
  • Strategy 4.7: Review procedures for nominating faculty and staff for internal and external awards to ensure transparency and equity.
    • JMC awards committee has been developed. Committee and members listed on JMC website.
• Ongoing
  • Strategy 1.2: Establish a specific and regular time each semester for a “current events” panel discussion to address important issues and events.
    • The Fall 2024 Semester event is a Post-Election Debrief, scheduled for Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. in the JMC Library. Event information will be shared with students on college events calendar, in JMC Connect newsletter and on social media.
    • Spring 2024 Semester event in planning, in coordination with weekly Wednesdays with Madison programming.
  • Strategy 2.1: Hold regular faculty, student, staff coffee hours.
    • Held throughout the academic year as JMC Lunch Chats. Fall 2024 events held on Sept. 4, Sept. 25 and Oct. 24. Information shared with students on college events calendar, in JMC Connect newsletter and on social media.
  • Strategy 3.1 & 3.2: 
    Explore conversations and accommodations that consider the varied and diverse challenges and circumstances experienced by students, staff and faculty.
    Clarify expectations for faculty and staff as they work with students having mental health and well-being issues.
    
    • Sessions for faculty held in August 2023 (with MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities) and Spring 2024 (MSU Care & Intervention Team).
• Completed
  • Strategy 3.5: Enact a consistent, transparent, supportive policy for caregivers, sick leave and parental leave.
    • The college established the JMC Family Leave Policy in April 2023.
  • Strategy 3.6: Support professional development opportunities for staff to attend and present at professional conferences and gatherings.
    • Policy created (PDF). Application form available (PDF).
  • Strategy 4.3: Establish standing committee meeting times.
    • Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC), College Inclusion Committee (CIC), College Curriculum Committee (CCC) are college's three governing bodies, standing meeting times on Fridays.
  • Strategy 4.4: Establish a college advisory committee and a college assembled (in parallel to a faculty assembled) that includes staff representation.
    • CAC established in 2023 Bylaws revision (PDF).
  • Strategy 4.5: Establish policy that includes consultation with faculty and staff on appointments to major administrative posts.
    • Policy established in March 2024 (PDF).
• Next Priorities
  • Strategy 1.1: Formalize a speaker series and events committee.
    • New Alumni & Events Coordinator plans to explore feasibility of this strategy, in coordination with weekly Wednesdays with Madison event programming.
• Not Yet Started
  • Strategy 2.2: Establish a college writing space with dedicated times for writing sessions in collaboration with the JMC Reading and Writing Center.
  • Strategy 3.3: Encourage and increase the availability of information, resources and training opportunities to support and enhance faculty and staff well-being.
  • Strategy 3.4: Institute a process to formally acknowledge above and beyond service.
  • Strategy 4.1: Establish a clear and equitable policy for assigning and evaluating service.
  • Strategy 4.2: Establish a written policy regarding what counts as service under faculty contracts.
  • Strategy 4.6: Explore changing field committees as administrative units