Service to Students
“CMC cares for the people and communities it serves, and the planet — thoughtfully, intentionally, and with future generations in mind.”
~CMC Commitments to Students
My mother was a middle school language arts teacher who taught me many lessons long before I appeared in front of a classroom. “Mrs. Mikita” would always have snacks and food for her students in case anyone didn’t get breakfast, understanding that students could not pay attention if they were hungry. This level of care I bring to all students. Caring about our students as more than just our customers, but seeing them as people and community members is essential.
The intersection between the community and our students is a multi-directional connection. Community members become students, students then become professionals collaborating with us in the community, and, at least in Summit, students often become colleagues. Everyone is connected. This connection and collaboration is what makes CMC so special. We really are a college by us, for us, serving us. That “us” is students and community members.
Every class I have starts with a check-in, connecting as people and understanding the energy in the room. This is a great opportunity to learn about students and connect, “Student–faculty interactions can be formal or informal… with both playing an important role in determining students’ academic success” (Komarraju et al., 2010, p. 332). Authentic, real, genuine connections matter.
Informal Student Support
Our connections and service to students often begins before someone knows they are a student. I am always singing the praises of CMC and often find myself recruiting students in the community. In fact, I know of at least 5 students I have recruited from chairlift rides in Summit County. Creating an environment where students are welcome even before enrolling is my goal.
Investing in students beyond just the academic setting creates an incredible environment for relating and learning. I have attended numerous student concerts, plays, art shows, and more. Having a relationship that expands beyond class content is a great way to empower and encourage students. I always tell my students, “I am your biggest fan!” That is true in and out of the classroom. Informal student service is less tangible, but it matters as much as the quantifiable formal feedback in building relationships.
Formal Student Support
There are many great ways to serve our students and much of my service has been through more formal avenues. I have run numerous CMC teams, clubs, events, and activities evidenced in the included artifacts. Connecting with students on the volleyball court, in the culinary kitchen, through fundraising, or passing out candy at the Ullr Fest Parade together have been some of my favorite memories at CMC. These connections outside the classroom deepen students’ engagement and increase academic achievement and retention (Bee Wah Tan, et al., 2024).
On campus, I have found effective ways to serve students outside of a traditional classroom. Working with the nursing department to do mental health simulations for the nursing students, offering collaborative cooking classes, and doing workshops for students are just a few of the ways I serve our scholars. The student experience is foundational to everyone thriving, and it starts with our service to students. students.
References
~Bee Wah Tan, Tugiman, N., Ahmad, S. N. H. J. N. N., & Yen Sin Foo. (2024). Listening to the Voices of Undergraduate Students: Exploring
Astin’s Theory of Student Involvement during the Covid-19 Pandemic. ASEAN Journal of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, 16(1), 28–53. https://doi.org/10.17576/ajtlhe.1601.2024.03
~Komarraju, M., Musulkin, S., & Bhattacharya, G. (2010). Role of Student–Faculty Interactions in Developing College Students’ Academic Self-Concept, Motivation, and Achievement. Journal of College Student Development 51(3), 332-342. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/csd.0.0137.