Below are the responsibilities for the positions on Student Council. Nominations will be accepted through The Foghorn from March 30 – April 10. (Yes, you can nominate yourself). Nominee speeches will take place on April 16 from 12 pm – 1 pm on April 16 at the Samson Center. The election will take place from April 16 – April 24. Finally, winners will be announced on April 24 at 6 pm at Happy Hour at the Samson Center.

President
The President shall have the general responsibility for coordinating the activities of the Student Council and for directing and publicizing the affairs of the Student Association. S/he shall preside at all Student Council meetings. The President shall be the lead representative of the Student Association in dealings with Monterey Institute’s faculty and staff, and with the community. S/he shall be the officially appointed student representative at meetings of the Monterey Institute Boards of Trustees.

Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes and acting as official time keeper of all Student Council meetings. S/he shall ensure that copies of the minutes of all Student Council meetings shall be distributed in a timely manner to all Student Association Officers, the President of the Monterey Institute, the Faculty Senate, the Student Council permanent records, the Student Council Online domain, the Library Reserve, and posted for public reading. S/he shall preside at Student Council meetings in the absence of the President, Vice-President, and the Treasurer.

Program Representatives
Program Representatives shall provide leadership by representing their Programs on the Student Council and coordinating various projects and activities within their Programs that will further the purpose of Student Council (see Article IV of the Constitution). They shall represent the Student Council members of their respective Programs in meetings with the Academic Deans of the Monterey Institute. Program Representatives shall present monthly and annual accounts of their activities to the Student Council and the Student Association. They shall also assist the other Officers in the administration of the Student Association.

For more information on Student Council positions or to read the Student Council Constitution, visit the Student Council First Class conference. Further questions can be directed to Addi Matthews (2nd Year MPA Rep), Luniya Msuku (1st Year IPS Rep) or Ashley Arrocha, Director of Student Affairs.

Last Friday February 6th, a group of over 30 students poured into Morse Room 104 for the MW 580: Digital Media for Change workshop. We gathered under the tutelage of Teaching and Learning Collaborative’s fearless leader Bob Cole, forming the Monterey Institute’s first ever podcast army. Each of us accepted the formidable mission of designing our own podcast features for the Institute’s iTunes U site and of developing individual media portfolios – intersecting with and enhancing our scholarly and academic projects through storytelling and new modes of communication.

To virtually attend our class, read our blog, and contribute to our innovative discussions, join our ning network. Hope to see you there!

The Monterey Institute’s also continues expansion of its Web 2.0 presence on YouTube. See this week’s featured video on effective MBA applications below. For more video conversations about the Monterey Institute and our community, visit the official YouTube Channel.

Welcome back Monterey Institute students!!! (And welcome for the first time to incoming students!)

Here’s a small dose of news for the first week of class:

The Pathfinder – a conflict resolution journal featuring student content – published its first issue last month. Edited by Dr. Pushpa Iyer and alumnus Yasasvin Wijetilleke, the journal can be found at:

www.thepathfinderjournal.com

The Club Activities Fair will be held next Thursday February 12th from 12:00PM to 2:00PM at the Samson Student Center! Don’t forget to bring a pen so you can sign up for clubs like the Environmental Task Force, the Peace Corps Club, Friends of the Middle East, and the Yoga Club.

Kick-off the first Happy Hour of the Spring ‘09 semester this Friday February 6th from 5:00 to 7:00PM at the Samson Center. Conserve resources by bringing your own cup, and don’t forget your ID!

Back on Saturday December 6th, the African Club and Conflict Resolution Club co-sponsored an afternoon conference entitled “Recovering Mauritania,” which examined the political-economic situation of Mauritania in the aftermath of the August 6th military coup. Monterey Institute students had the pleasure of speaking via Skype with the democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, at that time confined to house arrest in Lemden, along with his son Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, a Monterey Institute alumnus. For more current information on Maurtania from BBC News, click here.

Photos from “Recovering Mauritania:”

In other news, two Monterey Insitute students’ have participated in a film project called The Green Dragon, headed by filmmaker Caroline Harrison, about China’s emerging green movement and its ongoing environmental responses to rapid industrialization. To read more, click here.

For more coverage of J-Term Practicum experiences, check out the Cambodia students’ blog here.

Enjoy!

Littlefield Publications recently released Monterey Insitute professor Jan Knippers Black´s newest book, The Politics of Human Rights Protection. Professor Black – our esteemed professor of human rights – has published numerous books, including Latin America: It´s Problems and its Promises(2005), Development in Theory and Practice(1999), and Inequity in the Global Village(1999). Professor Black is currently spending her days in Santiago, Chile with her 20 practicum students, beginning to explore the situation (the problems and promise, if you will) of the indigenous Mapuche tribe under the enlightening guidance of Judge Juan Guzman. Stay tuned for more updates about the Chile practicum experience as we engage the material and move south!

Searching for YouTube videos to watch over winter break with your copious amounts of free time?

Then, mosey on over to the Monterey Institute’s YouTube Channel and its Featured Videos section. Here, you’ll find our latest video series about students’ work study positions and learn how they’re making a difference in the Monterey community! Check out Rebekah Hunt’s position at Global Majority and Alexis Martinovich’s position with The Center for the Future of the Oceans at the Monterey Bay Aquarium among others.

Hope to see you there!

Can’t make it to Winter Commencement in Monterey this year?

Fear not! Follow the link below, and on Sunday December 14th at 1:00PM PST, you can watch the graduation ceremony in real time!  

Monterey Institute Commencement, Ustream.TV

Congratulations Winter 2008 Graduates!

Introducing Coffee Chats!

The Recruiting Office would like your participation in expanding awareness about the Monterey Institute and reaching out to prospective students in other parts of the country and throughout the world by hosting a Coffee Chat.

Who can help?

Continuing students and new graduates who plan to travel or return home during the winter break. The Coffee Chats may take place from January 6 until the beginning of the spring term.

How can you help?
We are looking for students who would like to meet and host a small group of prospective students (usually 3-8) at a coffee shop or similar establishment and share their experiences about what it is like to be a student here at the Monterey Institute. We are calling these meetings “Coffee Chats.” Arrangements will be made by and expenses covered by the Recruiting Department.

Why is this important?
Prospective students exploring graduate schools want to heave directly from current students; who better to help them understand the Monterey Institute experience than you!? This is any informal and meaningful way to increase the visibility of the Monterey Institute, show your school pride and encourage another person to make the same decision you did!

Please indicate your interest in learning more by emailing Alice.villemaire@miis.edu. Alice will send you specific details and answer any questions you have.

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For those of you (if any) looking forward to the second to last week of classes and/or continued opportunities for intellectual stimulation, click on the event flyer posted below!

Happy Thanksgiving, MIIS Community!