As you've been in touch with us, we've been compiling a list of issues raised. We've divided them into the committees that will work on them and have in some cases updated the status already.
We've published this list of issues in the Useful Links section in the right hand column. Or you can check it here.
We want to accomplish two things with this. The first is to keep you informed about what your colleagues are asking for and what we're doing about it. The second is to create some institutional knowledge for the Mid-Career class next year.
This is all about two-way communication though, so please do send us your comments and thoughts. Come to KSSG meetings, serve on committees, stay involved. We shape our experience of the school to a surprising degree.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Check-In with Dean McCarthy
On Friday, Dean McCarthy and Assistant Dean Kugal invited the class reps for the MPA and MPA/MC classes to a meeting. They were interested in hearing how things are, given that we've been without a Program Director for longer than anyone intended.
Lionel raised the important question, "what does the program director"? They listed out:
- Admissions and recruiting
- Representing the interests of the MPA programs, when academic decisions are made
- Leading advising and providing a bridge between the support we can get from our academic advisers and from careers service's coaches.
- Working on our seminars and other class specific projects
In past years, the program directors have been very available to the students, providing support, guidance, an ear and generally a portal to the administration. Dean McCarthy, Dean Kugel and Edith Stokely are trying to fill those roles today, but they know it is not the same thing.
We communicated that the lack of concrete news has left people wondering. Dean McCarthy emphasized how much time they've invested in the issue and that it is by no means a low priority for them. It's taken longer to resolve than they hoped and when they have news they can share, they will. Given the nature of personnel issues, what they can share is deeply circumscribed.
We discussed some options to provide more advising support. If you've found that your academic adviser isn't a good fit, you should do two things. Reach out to the professors you think are a good fit. Knock on doors, sign up on office hours, reach out. Also, talk with Erin Ward Bibo (erin_ward_bibo at harvard dot edu) about your options. She read our applications and tried to match us with the right advisers, but it's an imperfect process and she's happy to reconsider.
We'll also be making an appointment with Dean McCarthy to review the list of issues you have raised with us and get some guidance on which ones belong in KSSG and which a director might have handled in a more typical year.
It was a very positive meeting and they reiterated their open door policy. They're concerned about how this is impacting our short year at the Kennedy School and want to be creative about finding solutions. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to contact us or go to them directly.
Lionel raised the important question, "what does the program director"? They listed out:
- Admissions and recruiting
- Representing the interests of the MPA programs, when academic decisions are made
- Leading advising and providing a bridge between the support we can get from our academic advisers and from careers service's coaches.
- Working on our seminars and other class specific projects
In past years, the program directors have been very available to the students, providing support, guidance, an ear and generally a portal to the administration. Dean McCarthy, Dean Kugel and Edith Stokely are trying to fill those roles today, but they know it is not the same thing.
We communicated that the lack of concrete news has left people wondering. Dean McCarthy emphasized how much time they've invested in the issue and that it is by no means a low priority for them. It's taken longer to resolve than they hoped and when they have news they can share, they will. Given the nature of personnel issues, what they can share is deeply circumscribed.
We discussed some options to provide more advising support. If you've found that your academic adviser isn't a good fit, you should do two things. Reach out to the professors you think are a good fit. Knock on doors, sign up on office hours, reach out. Also, talk with Erin Ward Bibo (erin_ward_bibo at harvard dot edu) about your options. She read our applications and tried to match us with the right advisers, but it's an imperfect process and she's happy to reconsider.
We'll also be making an appointment with Dean McCarthy to review the list of issues you have raised with us and get some guidance on which ones belong in KSSG and which a director might have handled in a more typical year.
It was a very positive meeting and they reiterated their open door policy. They're concerned about how this is impacting our short year at the Kennedy School and want to be creative about finding solutions. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to contact us or go to them directly.
Friday, November 2, 2007
The Scoop on the Food
There's lots of questions about Sodexho, so let me share what I've learned so far.
Last year there was a bidding process held for the food service in the Forum. A student focus group was brought together and all of their feedback was added directly to the request for proposal that all three vendors responded to. Sodexho was the most responsive to the student requests for things like a lower cost menu for student events, more vegetarian options and greener practices.
However, the process was rushed and there were unaddressed concerns by constituencies other than the full time students, so they were given only a one year contract. Several performance metrics were set to see if they could address the issues raised.
We're working to get more feedback on how Sodexho is specifically addressing the student concerns raised last year so we can pass them on to you. There are also some discounts that might be available to students so we'll get the details to those also.
You do get a discount on coffee if you bring your own cup so lets save some plastic lids!
If you have thoughts or questions on the food service, do let me know.
Last year there was a bidding process held for the food service in the Forum. A student focus group was brought together and all of their feedback was added directly to the request for proposal that all three vendors responded to. Sodexho was the most responsive to the student requests for things like a lower cost menu for student events, more vegetarian options and greener practices.
However, the process was rushed and there were unaddressed concerns by constituencies other than the full time students, so they were given only a one year contract. Several performance metrics were set to see if they could address the issues raised.
We're working to get more feedback on how Sodexho is specifically addressing the student concerns raised last year so we can pass them on to you. There are also some discounts that might be available to students so we'll get the details to those also.
You do get a discount on coffee if you bring your own cup so lets save some plastic lids!
If you have thoughts or questions on the food service, do let me know.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
KSSG Meeting 10/31
We had our second full KSSG meeting on Halloween. Now that the committees are largely formed movement is starting to happen.
Once Valerie Boyd (VP of Communications) gets the KSSG website updated and starts posting the minutes from the meetings, I'll link to them so you can read the details. Keep in mind the meetings are public so you can feel free to attend or ask that something to be added to the agenda.
Manu Tandon (mid-career and VP of Finance) did a great presentation on the deficit. Apparently last year money that the student clubs raised on their own was mixed with the Student Activity Fee money. When it was all said and done, about $16,000 of club raised money was spent by the larger KSSG. This money has to be returned to the clubs somehow.
To prevent a repeat, Manu's instituted a much more robust accounting system. Though I know there's grumbling that the process is too complicated for the clubs, his committee's really struggled with finding a fair but efficient way to distribute Student Activity Fee money to the clubs and doing the accounting properly. There are over 90 student organizations, which adds tremendous complexity.
As for how the deficit gets covered, Manu and Doug Levine (President) are still in talks with the administration.
Ann Hopper presented the budget for the Boston Tea Party and her plans for other events. The prohibitive cost for tickets and the lack of advanced notice were brought up to her. We also emphasized that when you add babysitting it would easily be a $75 or $100 evening out. Even though the tickets were subsidized, it's an open question how to bring the student cost down further while still offering a wide range of events.
A class representative from each class presented very briefly the top issues. Read the minutes when they're posted for details, but it was a huge range from fixing the squeaking chairs in Weiner to getting fresh pens in the Taubman study carrels to updating the curriculum and providing more family services. We listed as our top issues: a variety of academic issues, financial aid, family services, the alumni network and moving Dean Ellwood to support the American College and University Presidents Climate Initiatvie to President Faust.
And finally the VP's presented what their committees are working on. Tobias Vanderhoop (VP Internal Affairs) still needs committee members. Several projects are in motion in the Academic Affairs, International Affairs and Student services committees.
Once Valerie Boyd (VP of Communications) gets the KSSG website updated and starts posting the minutes from the meetings, I'll link to them so you can read the details. Keep in mind the meetings are public so you can feel free to attend or ask that something to be added to the agenda.
Manu Tandon (mid-career and VP of Finance) did a great presentation on the deficit. Apparently last year money that the student clubs raised on their own was mixed with the Student Activity Fee money. When it was all said and done, about $16,000 of club raised money was spent by the larger KSSG. This money has to be returned to the clubs somehow.
To prevent a repeat, Manu's instituted a much more robust accounting system. Though I know there's grumbling that the process is too complicated for the clubs, his committee's really struggled with finding a fair but efficient way to distribute Student Activity Fee money to the clubs and doing the accounting properly. There are over 90 student organizations, which adds tremendous complexity.
As for how the deficit gets covered, Manu and Doug Levine (President) are still in talks with the administration.
Ann Hopper presented the budget for the Boston Tea Party and her plans for other events. The prohibitive cost for tickets and the lack of advanced notice were brought up to her. We also emphasized that when you add babysitting it would easily be a $75 or $100 evening out. Even though the tickets were subsidized, it's an open question how to bring the student cost down further while still offering a wide range of events.
A class representative from each class presented very briefly the top issues. Read the minutes when they're posted for details, but it was a huge range from fixing the squeaking chairs in Weiner to getting fresh pens in the Taubman study carrels to updating the curriculum and providing more family services. We listed as our top issues: a variety of academic issues, financial aid, family services, the alumni network and moving Dean Ellwood to support the American College and University Presidents Climate Initiatvie to President Faust.
And finally the VP's presented what their committees are working on. Tobias Vanderhoop (VP Internal Affairs) still needs committee members. Several projects are in motion in the Academic Affairs, International Affairs and Student services committees.
Harvard Graduate Council
At the KSSG meeting on October 31st, the KSG Harvard Graduate Council representatives gave a presentation about what HGC is and their goals as council members.
You can view a badly copied version of their very nice presentation here.
In short, they sit on a school wide council that encourages interaction between the Harvard Graduate Schools and represents the graduate students to the Harvard wide administration.
You can view a badly copied version of their very nice presentation here.
In short, they sit on a school wide council that encourages interaction between the Harvard Graduate Schools and represents the graduate students to the Harvard wide administration.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Space Review
On Monday, October 29th, Rachel Hicks, VP of Student Services met with architects hired by the KSG to review the school's physical setup and what might be improved, both short term and long term.
They discussed the lack of electrical outlets. Apparently we're at the maximum load the buildings were built to take and adding more outlets will require fairly extensive remodeling.
They also discussed how inaccessible much of the facility is for those in wheelchairs or even on crutches, the broken (and squeaky) furniture, the lack of group work space and meeting space of student organizations, ways to better utilize the library and make it more inviting.
Facilities will do a walk around with Rachel and any other students who want to join her (you don't have to sit on the committee to be involved) to identify quick fixes we could implement this year. Similarly they will work on ways to report broken furniture and other facilities problems like sticky doors.
Ideas and involvement are very welcome. Send your thoughts to Rachel Hicks, or me.
They discussed the lack of electrical outlets. Apparently we're at the maximum load the buildings were built to take and adding more outlets will require fairly extensive remodeling.
They also discussed how inaccessible much of the facility is for those in wheelchairs or even on crutches, the broken (and squeaky) furniture, the lack of group work space and meeting space of student organizations, ways to better utilize the library and make it more inviting.
Facilities will do a walk around with Rachel and any other students who want to join her (you don't have to sit on the committee to be involved) to identify quick fixes we could implement this year. Similarly they will work on ways to report broken furniture and other facilities problems like sticky doors.
Ideas and involvement are very welcome. Send your thoughts to Rachel Hicks, or me.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
KSSG Committees
I know, KSSG seems to have an awful lot of committees. What is with all these VP's and their Committees?! Are there even enough class reps to staff them all?
In brief, here's what each committee is focussed on:
Manu Tandon - VP Finance, manage the funds generated by your student activity fee and maximize the student life experience by disbursing to clubs, pics and KSSG events like the Christmas ball.
Ann Hopper - VP Events, come up with all those KSSG events you keep seeing in your inbox. From Quorum Call to the ball, this committee keeps your student life hopping!
Taufiq Rahim - VP Academic Affairs, makes the case for the student view on all issues academic. This ranges from advising to curriculum to liaising with the school's Diversity Committee.
Valerie Boyd - VP Communications, communicate out to you what KSSG does, host town meetings, publish a newsletter and manage the website.
Alex Alexander - VP International Student Affairs, very new, this committee works on issues specific to the 455 student strong international KSG community.
Jeff Ginsberg - Committee of Public Service, a new, ad hoc committee this year to focus on LRAP and other financial aid opportunities.
Rachel Hicks - VP Student Services, managing all things administrative in the life of a student. From IT, to facilities, from registrar to Sodexho, this committee works to improve services.
Tobias Vanderhoop - VP Internal Affairs, managing the elections, clubs and other internal aspects of student government.
There aren't enough class reps to fully staff all these committees, so many of them reach out to the larger student body for additional help. You get to join in making the Kennedy School fabulous, without having to run for office!
In brief, here's what each committee is focussed on:
Manu Tandon - VP Finance, manage the funds generated by your student activity fee and maximize the student life experience by disbursing to clubs, pics and KSSG events like the Christmas ball.
Ann Hopper - VP Events, come up with all those KSSG events you keep seeing in your inbox. From Quorum Call to the ball, this committee keeps your student life hopping!
Taufiq Rahim - VP Academic Affairs, makes the case for the student view on all issues academic. This ranges from advising to curriculum to liaising with the school's Diversity Committee.
Valerie Boyd - VP Communications, communicate out to you what KSSG does, host town meetings, publish a newsletter and manage the website.
Alex Alexander - VP International Student Affairs, very new, this committee works on issues specific to the 455 student strong international KSG community.
Jeff Ginsberg - Committee of Public Service, a new, ad hoc committee this year to focus on LRAP and other financial aid opportunities.
Rachel Hicks - VP Student Services, managing all things administrative in the life of a student. From IT, to facilities, from registrar to Sodexho, this committee works to improve services.
Tobias Vanderhoop - VP Internal Affairs, managing the elections, clubs and other internal aspects of student government.
There aren't enough class reps to fully staff all these committees, so many of them reach out to the larger student body for additional help. You get to join in making the Kennedy School fabulous, without having to run for office!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
