In recent years there has been a large push from post-secondary students to implement a Fall Reading Break into their school’s curriculums. An increasing number of Colleges and Universities in Canada are beginning to explore this for their students, and a few institutions in Alberta (including the U of A) have implemented a version of reading break during their Fall Semesters.

Senior administration at Red Deer College has asked the Students’ Association to gather student feedback regarding RDC’s potential inclusion of a Fall Reading Break in future academic schedules.

Your Students’ Association will be including a plebiscite question regarding this topic on the 2017 Spring Executive Elections ballot.
Students shall be asked to provide a Yes/No/Undecided answer in response to the following statement:
I am in favour of a Fall Reading Break at Red Deer College.

Voting for the question, as well as the 2017-2018 Students’ Association Executive Council, takes place online between 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 14 and 3 p.m. Thursday, March 16.

If you have any questions or require more information on the plebiscite please contact the Students’ Association office at 403-342-3200 or in room 2010 (second floor by the Train Station).

Do you have a passion for making a difference? Are you the kind of person that needs to lead by example? Does representing and advocating for students and their rights appeal to you?

Make your mark by becoming one of the next Executive Council members of the Students’ Association of Red Deer College.

Nominations for the four executive positions — President, Vice President College Affairs, Vice President Operations, Vice President Student Life — open following the Spring General Meeting Tuesday, February 28 at 11 a.m. in the Far Side Bar & Grill. Please note that proposed amendments to Association Bylaw may change the job descriptions of these positions

Each member of Executive Council serves a term of one year (May 1 – April 30) and is paid for their time in office. In addition to the opportunities on campus, executives have an opportunity to travel and work with other student executives from around the province.
Although becoming an executive is a significant time commitment, it is a great learning experience and provides many opportunities to network and grow your skill set. Executives serve as advocates for the students of Red Deer College and try to ensure the student experience at RDC is a positive one.

While the executive team works together to ensure all of the students at Red Deer College are represented fairly and equally, each position has its own role and duties.

President
• Acts as the official spokesperson and CEO for the Students’ Association
• Acts as the official representative of the Association at social, formal and ceremonial functions
• Meets with the College President, senior administration, local politicians, and community leaders on a regular basis
• Leads and motivates Executive Council and assists with establishing long- and short-term goals
• Responsible for overseeing the business affairs of the Association in conjunction with the Executive Director
• Sits on and provides feedback for college committees
The President must be enrolled as a credit student in the fall and winter terms, taking a minimum of three academic credits to a maximum of nine credits per semester. The President must maintain a minimum of 25 office hours per week during the Associations’ regular business hours

Vice President College Affairs
• Assists the President in their duties and assume the responsibilities of the President in their temporary absence
• Assists students with academic and non-academic appeals
• Provide feedback on proposed curriculum and policy changes
• Meets regularly with the Vice President Academic of RDC
• Chairs Academic Council Student Caucus
• Works to resolve issues that students are facing at Red Deer College
The VP College Affairs must be enrolled as a credit student in the fall and winter terms, taking a minimum of three academic credits to a maximum of 15 credits per semester. The VP College Affairs must maintain a minimum of 20 office hours per week during the Associations’ regular business hours.

Vice President Operations
• Responsible for the recruitment and training of Students’ Association Council
• Responsible for communication between the Association and the Donald School of Business
• Chairs the Cultural Activity Trust Fund committee
• Meets regularly with the Vice President College Services
• Works with the Communications manager to promote the Association internally and externally
• Sits on and provide feedback for college committees related to the operations of RDC
The VP Operations must be enrolled as a credit student in the fall and winter terms, taking a minimum of three academic credits to a maximum of 15 credits per semester.  The VP Operations must maintain a minimum of 20 office hours per week during the Associations’ regular business hours.

Vice President Student Life
• Plans and promote student events and awareness campaigns
• Assists with and coordinate the activity all Student Groups throughout the year
• Plays an active role in the development of student life at RDC by working with other groups at the college
• Responsible for the recruitment and training of volunteers
• Meets regularly with the Director of Student Services and the College Student Life Coordinator
• Sits on college committees related to student life and environmental issues
The VP Student Life must be enrolled as a credit student in the fall and winter terms, taking a minimum of three academic credits to a maximum of 15 credits per semester. The VP Student Life must maintain a minimum of 20 office hours per week during the Associations’ regular business hours.

To learn more about the responsibilities of Executive Council or the election process please contact Elections Officer James Hill at 403-342-3200 or email [email protected]

Many students attend post secondary with the desire of getting a career to make a difference in the lives of others and to build towards a sense of community.

I believe post-secondary students often feel as if they are in abeyance where they are not yet feeling accomplished in their goals. The Ambassador Program at Red Deer College helps to eliminate these feelings.

I have found this program’s training in leadership and opportunities for volunteering help students create that desired difference while students can continue to work to complete their academics.

The leadership development can help grow skills in teamwork, communication, assertiveness, problem solving, and innovation. These skills are not only highly important in future careers, but also in everyday opportunities and connections.

I have found the program incredibly student-friendly and its schedule is entirely based on your level of commitment. Team building events with fellow ambassadors have helped me develop relationships I would not have otherwise created, and the volunteer work has allowed for building ties within and outside RDC.

I would highly recommend the Ambassador program to anyone wishing to have a greater sense of purpose and to feel a part of a greater whole.

ARTICLE AUTHOR: SYLVIE M. MASSON, AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

Throughout my past year and a half at Red Deer College I have been involved in many different clubs,  committees and councils — but to me there has always been one that stuck out much more than the others, the Student Ambassador Program.

This program has changed my college experience completely and made it a hundred times better. I have met new friends who are passionate about being involved and who relate to me on a different level.

I have had the opportunity to grow and develop as a leader by attending workshops, volunteering in the community and attending events at the college.

The program has so many different opportunities that every student is bound to find at least one thing they are truly passionate about.

If a first-year student ever asked me what program they should join at the school I would recommend the Student Ambassador Program every time. It has truly changed my college experience for the better.

ARTICLE AUTHOR: CORTNEY YEO, STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM