A. Rationale

• As a student YMCA, student programs should be a primary focus of the Y’s activities, especially student-initiated, student led programming which, with some guidance, does the single-best job fostering student leadership, civic responsibility, and ethical decision-making.
• The Y has a wonderful range of student programs to work with and (potentially) build upon
  
• Students’ experiences participating in and leading programs (like those offered at the Y) are frequently described as the most valuable, most educational experiences of their college career, especially when supplemented w/ strong advising.
  
• Participants in students programs are promising long-term Y donors
  

• Y program staff currently spend a total of 15-20 hours a week advising Y student programs.
  
• Student programs have their own office space, can make free copies, have a computer, and can reserve space w/o charge.
  

• Increase the time program staff spend working with and advising student programs to 40 hours a week.
  
• Develop a fellowship program, perhaps mirroring the Turner Fellowship in Student Affairs, aimed at developing student leadership and cultivating greater student ownership over Y programs.
  
• Improve the visibility of Y student programs through one or more large, rotating displays on the first floor.
  
• Increased recognition of student programs and student leadership within programs.
  
• Development of an alumni database students could use to keep in touch with alumni from their respective programs and that develop could use to keep better track of potential donors.

2. Focus on Current Events Programs

• Providing a forum for information and dialogue around current events is central to a well functioning democracy and the values the Y embodies.
  
• Few other forums on campus deal immediately and seriously with current events on a regular basis, and the Y has the potential to take some leadership in this area.
  
• Such a focus would complement well the other major program thrusts.
  

• Friday Forum achieves this to the extent that it’s planning committee can anticipate current events 3-6 months in advance.
  
• Y space is always available to rent on short notice
• The beginnings of an “occasional lecture series” are being tentatively tried this semester
  

• The formalization of an “occasional lecture series”—essentially some funding, a small committee, and some staff time—that would allow the Y to regularly host forums on topics with 1-2 weeks notice.
  
• Regular programming around elections including candidate debates (perhaps oriented around a particular theme/issue), an election result events, and post-election dialogues w/ the new officials.
  
• The regular hosting of conferences and/or teach-ins centered on current events
  
• Work w/ student programs to collaboratively develop programs that focus on current issues highly relevant to the missions of their programs.
  
• Revamping of current lecture series offered by the Y: Friday Forum and Know Your University
  

• The University YMCA already has a strong history in this area, with many of the most active environmental programs having been programs of the YMCA for years.
  
• The University recently made the conscious decision not to include an explicit environmental focus in any of its four major focus areas (in its own vision statement).
  
• The importance of environmentalism and sustainable develop is likely to increase in the near term, making such a focus both timely and relevant.
  

• A range of student programs, including: Campus Vegetarian Society (CVS), Environmental Resources (ER), Rainforest Action Group (RAG), Red Bison, Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS), Students Improving the Lives of Animals (SILA), and Alternative Spring Break (ASB).
  
• Dump & Run
  
• Program staff w/ a strong interest/expertise
  
• Occasionally, environmental issues are the theme of Friday Forum
  

• One or more lecture series specifically focused on the environment or sustainable development issues
  
• The installation of native landscaping at the Y
  
• A film series focused on or around these issues, in conjunction w/ student programs
  
• A graduate student forum, where graduate students doing work related to environmental issues could regularly present their work and engage in academic discussion/dialogue.
  
• Conferences or Teach-Ins
  

4. Focus on Dialogue among Diverse Religious & Ethical Perspectives

• This is central to the mission of the Y, especially considering its history.
  
• Programming in this area is the expertise of the executive director, and his weekly radio program “Keeping the Faith” reinforces it, and people naturally associate the Y w/ these issues.
  
• This focus is central to current events, and insufficient dialogue is going on across campus about these issues.
  

• Friday Forum frequently has this or related issues as a theme.
  
• Some student programs have an explicit emphasis on social justice.
  

• A lecture series dedicated to these themes
  
• More open/frequent use of the chapel, perhaps for non-denominational services, at little or no cost
  
• A film series around these issues, perhaps w/ a particular focus on social action/activism
  
• Try and attract student programs to the Y with religious roots
  
• Conferences or Teach-Ins on these issues