By Karissa Sena-Fadenrecht, Division IV International Vice President
Karissa Sena-Fadenrecht was elected as an International Officer at Catalyst 2024 in Orlando. She is a member of the Beta Beta Epsilon Chapter at Great Basin College in Nevada.
The College Project is designed to develop a supportive relationship between your chapter and the college administration. The first step to planning a winning project is to arrange a meeting between your chapter and the college president (or another appropriate administrator). Ask your administrators to share their vision for a college project before introducing chapter ideas. The College Project should be in alignment with your college mission. Before entering the meeting, ensure that your chapter representatives know their college mission well. The College Project should be tailored to the needs of the college and agreed to by both parties.
Participating in the College Project and making valuable connections with my administration has been a learning and growing experience for me as a charter member and officer. How did it happen? What were my strategies? How did I make it happen?
Getting Started with a Commitment to Connect
Our officers, members, and advisors organized a summer networking retreat before the fall semester began. Holding the retreat in the summer allows participants to build relationships and establish a strong foundation before the semester begins. This timing ensures that everyone is prepared and connected by the time academic responsibilities intensify. It also provides a relaxed environment for networking and team bonding.
Our top task was to meet with Great Basin College administration to discuss the PTK College Project! We made a point to schedule a meeting at the onset of the semester. Being organized and prepared before the meeting was key to ensuring a successful outcome. Key points were discussed in advance, and portions of the talking points were written and rehearsed before the day of the meeting. Early engagement with college administration also allows for better alignment of goals and expectations. Our initial College Project meeting opened up channels for ongoing communication and support throughout the project and beyond. Additionally, professional dialogue and brainstorming demonstrate proactive leadership and commitment, which can foster stronger partnerships and trust.
Things to Keep in Mind
When selecting your College Project representatives, consider a smaller, focused group rather than asking your entire chapter to attend the meeting. This will allow for more effective communication and networking between all parties. Selecting a mix of returning and new members will spark diverse perspectives. Lastly, ensure that your College Project team of delegates is available for the duration of the project, including pre-planning and meetings. For meetings, it is important to practice introductions and to determine the sequence of speakers in advance.
Please remember that our administrators have very busy schedules. If the meeting date or time changes, remain patient and flexible. Ultimately, this flexibility helps maintain a productive and efficient dialogue between officers and the administration.
Identifying our Initiatives
During the initial meeting with my college president and her executive council, we discussed potential College Project initiatives. In the meeting, we asked for “College Project” suggestions based on GBC’s mission “Transforming Lives through Education.” Once again, know your mission! The recurring theme during the discussion was “Revitalization on Three Levels.” Revitalization included enhancing the campus grounds, recruiting students through creating video cameos, and bringing students and the community back to GBC following the pandemic. After a productive brainstorming session, our officers and members continued formulating ideas based on our president’s wishes. We established the plan in three phases as was mentioned above. When presented to our college administrators following the initial meeting, the plan was immediately approved and the wheels were in motion!
Communication is crucial to the success of any project. Follow-up meetings and emails were sent throughout December 2023. PTK Advisors participated in monthly all-campus meetings to discuss College Project updates with the president and all GBC staff.
What We Learned and Accomplished
Passion and purpose were the driving forces behind the work that unfolded during the “Revitalization” College Project. Each phase required a different action plan, which led to the need for a unique skill set. Throughout the process, we communicated weekly to organize each phase and ensure GBC special event policies were followed. The chapter’s subcommittees created advertising materials and cameos. The most significant collaboration was with the GBC administration. We received their support every step of the way. We were grateful for the administration’s unwavering support throughout the entire process.
Working hand-in-hand with our administration has changed my life. We were committed to a cause that mattered immensely to us all. Throughout our united revitalization efforts, our administrators provided our chapter with an array of opportunities to grow as leaders. This collaboration taught us the importance of effective communication and teamwork. We learned that by leveraging each other’s strengths, we could compensate for one another’s weaknesses. We created a team spirit that was focused, unwavering, and invincible. As a result, we brought our College Project vision to fruition as a united front, and our project was selected for publication in Phi Theta Kappa’s student leadership journal, Change Makers. Together we CAN!
Read the Three Phase College “Revitalization” Project by Great Basin College here.
