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COUNCIL OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS (COSO)

PROPOSAL TO ORGANIZE AS A FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY CLUB:

CONTINUING STUDIES STUDENT ASSOCIATION (CSSA)

OCTOBER 20, 2017

CONTINUING STUDIES STUDENT ASSOCIATION (CSSA)

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PROPOSED MISSION STATEMENT�

THE CONTINUING STUDIES STUDENT ASSOCIATION IS A FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY CLUB FORMED TO BUILD FELLOWSHIP AND CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE CONTINUING STUDENT COMMUNITY AND THE GREATER FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY STUDENT BODY. FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF IGNATIOUS (AN ADULT, CONTINUING STUDENT) AND IN THE SPIRIT OF THE JESUIT IDEAL, MAGIS (“THE MORE”), WE PROVIDE PROGRAMS TO FOSTER PEER SUPPORT, SOCIAL INTERACTION, INFORMATION-SHARING AND MENTORSHIP. BY CREATING TRADITIONS AND ENCOURAGING INTERACTION, WE HOPE TO BUILD CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS WHILE PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND DISTINCTIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL OUR MEMBERS.

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PURPOSE

ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORT GEARED TOWARDS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF CONTINUING & NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT
COMMUNICATIONS: REMOVE ISOLATION FROM EVENING, PART-TIME, ONLINE AND OTHER NON-TRADITIONAL STUDY
PEER NETWORK: INFORMATION SHARING (PHONE LIST SHARING, ORGSYNC MESSAGING, PEER STUDY SESSIONS)
CONVERSATION AND MENTORSHIP VIA TRADITIONAL STUDENTS WHO WANT TO NETWORK WITH OUR UNIQUE, DIVERSE STUDENT COMMUNITY
SOCIAL, UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SHARING OUR VAST SKILL-SETS WITH THE LARGER STUDENT BODY
ADVOCACY AND COORDINATION WITHIN LARGER CONTINUING STUDIES COMMUNITY
ASSISTANCE IN NAVIGATING UNIVERSITY RESOURCES FOR NEW STUDENTS
ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AFTER GRADUATION

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FIND US ON ORGSYNC!�SEARCH: CSSA �OR�HTTP://FAIRFIELD.ORGSYNC.COM/ORG/CONTINUINGSTUDIESSTUDENTASSOCIATION169336

ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORT GEARED TOWARDS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF CONTINUING & NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT
COMMUNICATIONS: REMOVE ISOLATION FROM EVENING, PART-TIME, ONLINE AND OTHER NON-TRADITIONAL STUDY
PEER NETWORK: INFORMATION SHARING (PHONE LIST SHARING, ORGSYNC MESSAGING, PEER STUDY SESSIONS)
CONVERSATION AND MENTORSHIP VIA TRADITIONAL STUDENTS WHO WANT TO NETWORK WITH OUR UNIQUE, DIVERSE STUDENT COMMUNITY
SOCIAL, UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. SHARING OUR VAST SKILL-SETS WITH THE LARGER STUDENT BODY
ADVOCACY AND COORDINATION WITHIN LARGER CONTINUING STUDIES COMMUNITY
ASSISTANCE IN NAVIGATING UNIVERSITY RESOURCES FOR NEW STUDENTS
ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AFTER GRADUATION

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WHO WE ARE�

FULL TIME OR PART-TIME EVENING STUDENTS IN TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS
BACHELOR OF LIBERAL STUDIES DEGREE COMPLETION MAJORS
TRADITIONAL STUDENTS WHO WANT TO INTERACT, MENTOR AND NETWORK WITH THE ADULT STUDENT COMMUNITY
TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS WITH FAMILIES
CONTINUING STUDIES STUDENTS (INCLUDING GRADUATE LEVEL) ADULT, PART-TIME OR EVENING STUDENTS

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RATIONALE�

CONTINUING STUDIES: A GROWING STUDENT COMMUNITY

FIRST CLUB FOR EVENING STUDENTS, WORKING ADULTS AND STUDENTS WITH FAMILIES
FUTURE GROWTH POTENTIAL: THE “TRADITIONAL STUDENT” IS EVOLVING
CONTINUING STUDIES IS A FOCUS FOR FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY & NATIONAL ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT = RETENTION
JESUIT IDEAL, MAGIS (“THE MORE”): ENGAGING THE WHOLE STUDENT EVEN WHEN OFF-CAMPUS.
FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF IGNATIUS, THE FIRST CONTINUING, NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT

Our New President, Dr. Nemec and Family, former Dean of The Continuing and Professional Studies School at The University of Chicago

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UNIQUE�

WORKING STUDENTS AND/OR STUDENTS WITH FAMILIES HAVE UNIQUE LEARNING STYLES
SUPPORT FOR ADDRESSING “JUGGLING PRIORITIES”
TOPICS UNIQUE TO NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS: EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, TIME MANAGEMENT, MAKING THE MOST OF THE 2^ND CHANCE, STRATEGIES FOR CAREER CHANGE
TIME AVAILABLE FOR COMMITMENTS VASTLY DIFFERENT, EVENTS TO OPTIMIZE AVAILABILITY
WE EXPERIENCING OUR EDUCATION THROUGH OUTSIDE NETWORKS SUCH AS WORK AND FAMILY COMMUNITY, NEED UNIQUE WAYS TO INCORPORATE THIS TO OUR UNIVERSITY LIFE.

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��INTEREST��

ACHIEVED IMMEDIATE AND ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT FROM INCEPTION

CURRENTLY 30 STUDENTS ARE BLS MAJORS. THIS IS EXPECTED TO GROW.
8 STUDENTS HAVE BECOME ACTIVE AS “STUDY SESSION HOST”
TWO ALUMNI HAVE OFFERED TO MENTOR AND ADVISE
BLS DIRECTOR, DR. MAGGIE WILLS IS OUR FACULTY ADVISOR
NUMEROUS OTHER FACULTY HAVE OFFERED ADDITIONAL IDEAS AND SUPPORT
STUDENTS HAVE VOLUNTEERED FOR “AMBASSADOR” OR “PEER SUPPORT” ROLES TO ASSIST INCOMING STUDENTS IN NAVIGATING THE CAMPUS AND SHARING KNOWLEDGE OF UNIVERSITY RESOURCES.

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��BUDGET:�PROPOSED ITEMS��

DINING: HOST AN ENGAGEMENT DINNER (ON CAMPUS) FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AT THE BEGINNING OF SEMESTER, SPEAKERS WOULD INCLUDE OUR A&S DEAN, DR. WILLS, JESUIT BLESSING, SPEAKER TO WELCOME SUPPORTING FAMILY MEMBERS TO COMMUNITY
BULLETIN BOARD TO POST FLYERS
STIPEND FOR GUEST SPEAKER
ORGANIZING MATERIALS FOR MID-SEMESTER ACTIVITY AS PARTICIPANTS TO LARGER UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING MATERIALS SUCH AS COPIES, BINDERS FOR ORIENTATION/STUDENT AMBASSADOR EVENT FOR NEW STUDENTS

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��THANK YOU!�WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION��

CONTINUING STUDIES STUDENT ASSOCIATION (CSSA)

Melissa Murray, BLS Senior

President

melissa.murray@student.fairfield.edu

Lisa Bond, BLS Junior

Co-President

lisa.bond@student.fairfield.edu

Katie Thomson, BLS Senior

Treasurer

katie.thomson@student.fairfield.edu

John “Luke” Wilson, BLS Sophomore

Secretary

john.wilson1@student.fairfield.edu

Faculty Advisor

Dr. Margaret “Maggie” Wills, BLS Director

Associate Professor of Communications

mwills@fairfield.edu

Unofficial Mentors & Advisors (Alumni)

Jon Vaccarella, BLS Graduate, MBA

Allison Labella, BLS Graduate