StudentLife

On August 10th, 2023, the 62nd Senate of Madison Area Technical College made history by introducing Bill #002-Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator. 

What is Bill 002-Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator? 

Brought forward by the Student Senate of Madison Area Technical College, the following article is proposed: 

Madison College Student Senate establishes a New Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator position. 

IN THE SENATE OF MADISON AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE 

Date Presented-Thursday, November 2nd, 2023 

This legislation is brought to the General Assembly for consideration by the Legislative Affairs and Rules Committee, co-sponsored by VP Brito, VP Crowder, and Senator Malone. 

A BILL 

FORMAL MOTION: 

The bylaws will be amended to add a subsection, Section 7: 

Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator position under Article III [3] Membership. 

SECTION 1: PRIMARY REASONING: 

Whereas: 

1. Madison College’s student population includes 35% of learners identifying as Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), international, and other cultures, creating a truly diverse global community. Madison College is on the brink of becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), as 15% of credit-taking students and another 2% of non-credit-taking students have backgrounds with Hispanic heritage, for which there should also be additional support services for Spanish language speakers. 
2. Madison college has nearly 9% of students who have  disabilities, which is a significant number that should not be ignored.
   
3. Madison College has recently begun gathering data on students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, though according to the “LGBT Data and Demographics” of The Williamson Institute, approximately 4% of Wisconsin’s population identifies and LGBT.
   
4. It is crucial to create an inclusive environment that supports and accommodates all students, including students, from different cultural backgrounds, LGBTQ+ identifying students, English Language Learners (ELL), and students with disabilities to ensure equity, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging on campus. 
5. The Senate strives to cultivate relationships that promote inclusivity and create equitable opportunities for all students, providing a platform for individuals and groups to express their concerns and needs. 
6. The passage of this motion is a sign of progress toward equity, inclusion, and belonging across all Madison College campuses. The Student Senate acknowledges the need for this role to promote each of those values in all aspects of how we interact with students, faculty, staff and the wider community. 

SECTION 2. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP; SUBSECTION 7 

Below is exactly what we would like to add to the constitution and bylaws. 

The primary responsibilities of this role fall into (3) three broad categories: 

1. Student Outreach and Engagement: It is imperative to identify and suggest various outreach programs, engagements, and partnerships to promote inclusion and belonging initiatives for students. These initiatives must be designed to engage the student population and promote an inclusive environment that respects the diversity of all individuals. 
2. Communications and Collaboration:  To develop efficient communication strategies for student clubs, it is essential to collaborate with Student Life, Intercultural Exchange, University Communications and Marketing (UCM), Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and other relevant organizations. Effective communication is critical in promoting principles of inclusion and belonging, and it can only be achieved by working collaboratively and utilizing the expertise of all stakeholders. 
3. Campus Climate and Intergroup Relations: Improving campus climate is a crucial priority, requiring a concerted effort from all stakeholders. Bringing campus issues to the attention of the Student Senate and other appropriate authorities can help promote positive intergroup relations and create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. It is essential to be proactive in addressing issues and to work together to find solutions that promote inclusion and belonging.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. Acting as a liaison between the Student Senate and the Diversity and Community Relations Council (DCRC). 
2. Collaborating with the Vice President of Public Relations and Team Development to advocate for inclusive student programming for the student body. 
3. Collaborating with the Institutional Research and Data Management department to collect and manage survey information about student interests. Our results will be aligned with the Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI) and done in partnership with the Executive Council. 
4. Creating an annual report summary for the Student Senate that highlights the progress of our initiatives in alignment with the college-wide strategic plans. This will be done with the Vice President of Administration and Finance as part of the Senate’s Three-Year Plan. 
5. Working with the Vice President of Legislative Affairs to maintain a library archive of Student Senate Resolutions that recognize identity-based groups on campus, including inclusive cultural practices, disabilities rights, and LGBTQ+ students on campus. 
6. Providing weekly updates on campus climate efforts related to inclusion and belonging at GA meetings.
7. Attending all required Committee and Council meetings regularly as a member of the Senate. 

Application: 

1. Senate Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator is reserved solely for current senators. 
2. Senators interested in the position must submit an application to the Executive Council for review. 
3. The Executive Council will review the relevant information thoroughly before appointing an Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator for the academic year and by the 2nd Executive Council meeting. 

CONCLUSION: 

– Be it enacted by the Student Senate of Madison College, assembled that The bylaws will be amended to add a subsection, Section 7: Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator position under Article III [3] Membership. 

On November 30th, 2023, voting on Senate Bill 002-Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator position took place through a roll call vote which passed 

overwhelmingly by a vote of 13 (Yes), 0 (No), 0 (Abstain) & 3 (Not Present). This resolution is effective as of November 2nd, 2023. Congratulations!