Village Council

Village Council (VC) is a programming board that provides additional opportunities for residents to build community in the village(s) they represent. The VC also partners with other organizations and departments to support larger scale events (such as Siblings Weekend and Seawolf Decision Day). The VC is led by residents of those villages and serves as a voice for what residents would like to see in their areas.

Why join VC

Develop skills such as communication, organization, planning, purchasing, problem-solving, event management, and more.
Strengthen your community connections while being a leader in the community.
It's a good way to build your resume for applying to other leadership opportunities on campus such as Resident Advisor, Peer Mentor, Summer Bridge Leader, etc.

How to get involved

Applications are open from August 15th to August 26th, apply here!
Email your Area Coordinator for more information on how to join your VC.

VC Roles

President

Provides direction to the VC.
Oversees the meetings, delegates tasks, and maintains consistent communication with the VC.
Responsible for advocating for the VC and individual villages by bringing up questions, concerns, initiatives, and ideas to the council advisor(s).
Works with other officers and the council advisor(s) to create the agendas for every meeting.
Assists the VC with programming, events, and other tasks as assigned.
Coordinate VC presence at campus wide events such as Siblings Weekend and Seawolf Decision Day.
Leads the VC in conversations about resident needs and ways to support their Residential Communities.
Assist with other tasks as needed.

Vice President

Serves as the President when the President is not in attendance temporarily/permanently.
Coordinates all educational and social programming for the VC.
Serves as a liaison between campus partners, clubs, and organizations at
SSU.
Submits all necessary paperwork, requests, and event logistics with the council advisor(s) and/or appropriate department.
Works with council members to organize volunteers/support for programs.
Works with the Marketing officer to request marketing materials and distribute all advertising materials for VC related programs.
Works with the Marketing Officer by maintaining and providing all proposals, guides, and paperwork for programs and VC sponsored events to them.
Works with the Resident Advisors (RAs) of the villages to coordinate and implement educational programs in the communities.
Provide guidance for VC programs.
Maintain general awareness of campus programming services and resources.
Assists with other tasks as needed.

Administrator

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the VC budget.
Take minutes at all VC meetings and work with your AC to figure out distribution of notes to Residents.
Take attendance at VC meetings, programs, or sponsored events (as needed).
Will be responsible for managing incoming emails from residents or other departments about VC.
Maintain an accurate VC Officer roster and communication info.
Work with the Marketing Officer by maintaining and providing all of the VC meeting agendas, minutes, and attendance records to them.
Work with the Sustainability officer and Area Coordinators to maintain a clean and organized supply space for the VC and take inventory of the space once per semester.
Approve program supplies list based on supplies the VC already has and the needs of the program.
Assist with other tasks as needed.

Marketer

Works with the RA Liaison to do occasional social media takeovers.
Designs marketing materials such as flyers, posters, table tents, social media posts, etc. for all VC programming.
Works with the Vice President to distribute marketing materials as needed.
Takes photos at VC related programs for use in future social media posts and or end of the year activities.
Works with the President to advertise VC presence at campus wide events such as Siblings Weekend and Seawolf Decision Day.
Assists in the creation of other visual media as needed (powerpoints, newsletters, etc.)
Serves as the VC historian.
Works with the Vice President to collect, maintain, and organize proposals, guides, and paperwork for programs and VC sponsored events.
Works with the Administrator to collect, maintain, and organize the agendas, meeting minutes, and attendance records.
Works with the Sustainability and IDEA Representatives to advertise their initiatives and related events.
Assists with other tasks as needed.

Sustainability Rep

Works with the VC Officer Team to make any VC program or sponsored event as sustainable as possible.
Works directly with the Vice President to create or read, and provide edits to program proposals before they are submitted to the council advisor(s).
Creates and maintains relationships with other sustainability organizations and efforts at SSU such as Students for Sustainability, the Geography, Environment, and Planning Club, etc.
Maintains general awareness of sustainability initiatives, resources, events, and educational opportunities around campus.
Works with the Administrator and advisor(s) to maintain a clean and organized supply space for the VC and take inventory of the space once per semester.
Works with the President to advocate for sustainability ideas and changes in the villages.
Works with the council advisor(s) to have recycling and trash (and composting if possible) bins at programs.
Creates and implements ways to educate the villages on sustainability efforts and ways residents can be more sustainable.
May be asked to take a leadership position if an opportunity arises for the VC to participate in or host programs and initiatives relating to sustainability, depending on availability.
Assists with others tasks as needed.

IDEA Rep

Works with the VC Officer Team to ensure any VC program or sponsored event is as inclusive, accessible, and equitable as possible.
Works directly with the Vice President to create or read, and provide edits to all program proposals before they are submitted to the council advisor(s).
Creates and maintains relationships with other IDEA organizations and efforts at SSU such as The Hub, Identity Based Organizations, Speaker Series, etc.
Maintain general awareness of IDEA initiatives, resources, events, and educational opportunities around campus.
Work with the President to advocate for needs or changes related to IDEA.
Work with the Marketing Officer to ensure that all marketing materials meet the VCs IDEA standard of accessibility and inclusion.
Work with the council advisor(s) and Marketing Officer to celebrate and honor significant days/times for various communities.
Work with the council advisor(s) to create and implement ways to educate the Residential Communities on IDEA and the role residents play in IDEA.
May be asked to take a leadership position if an opportunity arises for the VC to participate in or host programs and initiatives relating to IDEA, depending on availability.
Assist with other tasks as needed.

Council Member

Serves in a volunteer role (meaning Council Members are not expected to attend meetings regularly unless they would like to).
Helps brainstorm ideas and decide on VC programs.
Works with the Vice President to assist in putting up marketing materials.
Works with the Vice President to volunteer for day-of program assistance (ex: setting up, facilitating, taking attendance, tearing down, etc.).
Encourages residents to attend programs, meetings, and other VC sponsored events.
Assists with tasks during meetings as needed.

FAQs

What if I want to join but miss the application deadline?

Reach out to your Area Coordinator! There are always ways for residents to get involved with the VC even after the semester has started.

What if I only want to be a part of the VC sometimes?

Check out our Council Member role!

How will I find out if I am selected for a position?

Via your SSU email. Position updates will be sent out by the end of August.

Can I be a part of a council for a village I don’t live in?

Residents are always welcome to attend other council's events but may not hold a position for a council that they do not live in.

What is the time commitment?

The VC will have weekly meetings. These meetings will be attended by at least the President, Vice President, Administrator, and Marketer. The Sustainability and IDEA Representative(s) are required to attend at least two meetings a month for their roles. Council Member(s) are on a volunteer basis and not required to attend meetings regularly, but are encouraged to attend as often as they can. The VC will put on at least one program per month (3 - 4 per semester depending on the academic calendar). These events will vary in length and attendance requirements depending on the program. All VC members are expected to attend at least one VC program per semester. Academic commitments that interfere with attending meetings or programs are automatically approved as long as the members communicates the conflict with their council.