About the Student Advisory Council

Mission 2010/11 Academic Year

For the 2010/11 academic year Dr. John Guthmiller, Associate Dean, joined the Student Advisory Council leadership team.  On behalf of School of the Arts deans, Dr. Guthmiller is seeking to expand the role of the Student Council to include building a greater sense of community among VCUArts students, as well as preserving the original functions of communicating student needs and ideas and providing feedback for School projects and initiatives.

An effort has been made this year to build a cohort among the current council members.  To this end the council is taking an “arts immersion” field trip in March to strengthen the bonds of common experience and communication among the members from diverse departments and majors.  Each member of the council has also received a copy of the book Group Genius Keith Sawyer, which uses some of the latest research to document the connection between collaboration and creativity.  Following the group’s immersion experience, council members will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire designed to elicit their knowledge about the SAC’s purpose and the efficacy of its function, as well as suggestions for improvement.  Their responses will be used by the deans to help refine the mission of the Student Advisory Council in relation to the needs and aspirations of students throughout the School of the Arts.

Mission History

Academic years 08/09, 09/10 The Student Advisory Task Force (Renamed the Student Advisory Council  2010/2011 academic year) was a body of students that represented each of the 16 departments and programs within VCUarts.  Many departments put forward two students to represent departmental tracks, such as photography and film, and fashion design and merchandising.  The Task Force met three times a year, twice in the fall, and once in the spring.  The committee met with Dr. Richard Toscan, Dean, as well as Carolyn Henne, Assistant Dean.

The committee was led with the idea that the selected students were to bring forward to the Dean ideas and concerns as voiced within their departments.  The Dean would not only hear these ideas but would share upcoming projects and ideas with the Task Force and request feedback.

The committee was built on the belief that each department was internally structured to have a committee of students that was comprised of students that represented each grade level.  This departmental committee met as necessary to assess problems, or create ideas.  Task Force members were to be a part of this departmental committee and would be the communications liaison between the Dean and the Task Force and the Department. 

Historical Issues and Resolutions

·            Recycling

·            Creation of Cross-Disciplinary Courses

·            Creation of head shot book housed in the Photo/Film department

·            Creation of Student Art Exchange (now defunct)