VP Communications Platform

Jessica ChambersFor Vice President Communications

Social Science Students’ Council

The Platform: #bigger, #better, #BOLDERI think the phrase ‘bigger, better, bolder’ is what the SSSC needs to strive for, and

this is the philosophy I am going to keep in mind throughout my platform. As a

long time member of the SSSC, I clearly have a lot of love for what we do and how

we do it. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t plan on improving! Obviously, I

used hashtags. This is the communications portfolio after all!

SummaryA few of my favourite things!

• First Year Letters• Large posters in the Social Science Centre• First Year Letters• SSSC Blog• Department Representative Introduction Emails• Moving meetings to new date• Social Science Buttons• Office improvements• Photography Commissioner• Hype Team• Alumni Relations

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Jessica Chambers • [email protected] • @jessxchambers

#biggerThese are some things I want to expand within the communication’s portfolio.

Signage and Posters

• The Arts and Humanities Students’ Council has used giant posters throughout

campus to promote their fantastic speakers and events. In particular, they post

one in the Tim Hortons at Social Science Centre, which I often look at while

daydreaming in that long line... I want to ‘borrow’ their idea by posting our

important events where others wont be able to miss our events. I would of course

work with the AHSC to make sure we don’t fight for that ideal spot.

• Putting posters on the bulletin boards next to the elevators: it’s seen regularly

by many students that need to reach the fourth floor and beyond.

• Utilizing the A-Frame on the second floor is crucial. The blackboard has been

very successful thanks to this year’s executive. I want to make sure this prime real

estate is kept up to date.

Summer Letters to First Year Students

• I really admire Ashley McGuire for her fantastic idea of sending a letter to first

year students in the summer. I want to ensure this continues next year by

moving it to my portfolio and working closely with Matt to ensure that this

remains an important initiative.

Facebook

• I want to look into the feasibility of Facebook advertisements for our events

during key times. I have personally found these advertisements relevant because

it allows the advertiser to reach their key demographics based on school.

• The Facebook Page needs more members! A new feature I stumbled on while

updating the PSA’s page is that you can send invites to email contacts... Once we

grab emails from students during o-week and purple fest, we can easily invite

them to the page.

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Socializer Blog

• In the spirit of the recent change to the members roles and responsibilities, I

will pursue having the communications-at-large create an online blog to update

students on our events.

• The blog will remain separate from the main website and will be hosted on

Wordpress with its own domain name.

Yearbook

• In the event that this year’s yearbook pilot program is successful, I will strive to

continue this initiative by looking into ways to keep costs low.

#betterSome things I think can be done better in the communications portfolio.

Department Representatives

• As the current Political Science Representative, I believe Department

Representatives can do a better job of communicating with their constituents.

• All departments have their own ‘acting 1 email’ that they use to email all

students in their department. I will work with the VP Academic to encourage

department representatives to work with their departments to send out a general

email to their constituents. This way students will know exactly who their

representative is and their role on council.

• However, this will not impede on the communications to be made with

department clubs. The email should only be introductory in nature so that

students are made aware of who their representatives are.

Meetings

• I want to move SSSC meetings to a date that does not coincide with the USC

meetings. I will ensure that a date is picked prior to course selection dates,

preferably before the end of this school year.

• I want to have better Robert’s Rules training.

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Accountability

• I want to post presidential and vice presidential platforms on the website so

that the executive will remain accountable for students at large. Furthermore,

this will aid in the honoraria process at the end of the year.

Cooperation within the Executive

• Merchandise was about seven months too late this year...

• Signage is an important way to communicate, but I personally believe that

walking ‘people advertisements’ are very effective.

• I want to ensure that both faculty and council member merchandise is ready in

September/October so that we may show our presence on council.

• Next years executive should pursue more dry events to include first year

students. First years are council’s biggest resource and a huge investment for the

future.

Buttons

• Other faculty council have them. The UES, HSSC and AHSC Councils have

awesome buttons for their councils and first year students, giving them a huge

presence on campus, and some faculty pride to show off!

• For our council members, I believe we should have buttons with our logo to

increase our presence on campus.

• For first year students, I want to look into the possibility of including a button

with the Soph Social Science logo in O-Kits.

• I also want to distribute our council buttons during purple fest to increase

awareness. I love collecting goodies during purple fest!

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Office Hours

By far, the biggest complaints I’ve heard about SSSC this year is that ‘hole in the

wall’ we call an office. It really is a disgrace compared to what other councils

have ... so I’ve dedicated an entire page for my prescriptions to alleviate our

situation.

Decor: Save trees by moving office hour sign-in onto a white board and have other white boards in the front office to leave notes and reminders. I also want to have a bulletin board in the front to leave interesting gazette clippings or pictures. Department Reps can also leave posters for department events to promote to council.

Clutter: I can barely move when there are more than five people in the office. While having the office packed is an important thing I want to maintain and encourage, I want to make more room in the office. This means moving locker sales into the back room and getting that coffee table out of the way. More clutter leads to split drinks. I’ve done it three times this year. (Sorry everyone...) By getting that clutter out, I know more coffees will be spared in the process.

Garbage: Getting a bigger garbage can to prevent overflow.

Attendance: For those that actually attend every office hour, I will have a small present at the first meeting of the new month. Little incentives help reward those that are dedicated to council!

Attractions: Students don’t typically have a reason to visit the office unless they are looking for a room or want to buy a locker. Health Science has a microwave in their office, but unfortunately there already is a microwave in the basement. So on a similar note, I want to have plastic forks and spoons available in the office for anyone who forgets to bring one. Encounters and Tim Hortons keep theirs hidden behind the counter... SSSC will save the day!

Attractions for Members: A kettle in the back office for tea? Members could also bring a mug to the office and keep it in their cubby while being environmentally friendly. I also want to stock the office with a better stapler, hole punch, and extra pencils. I also want to bring in my old printer. To prevent members from abusing their privileges, I will lock up the ink.

More Awesome Attractions: Chargers in the office for anyone that needs them. I will try to get donations if possible from those that switch brands or have extras lying around. I know its a Forgione rip off, but I think he’ll be ok with it. He is a SSSC Alumni after all.

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#BOLDERSome brand new ideas I have for the communications portfolio!

Photography Commissioner

• I want to create a new position under the Communications portfolio that is

responsible for increasing council visibility via photo and video projects.

• The Photography Commissioner would be responsible for taking pictures at all

events, branding them with our logo, and uploading them to the Facebook page.

Hype Team

• The number one thing I hear about all councils is a desire to have more

involvement opportunities. I believe having a hype team will allow the SSSC to

promote their events while getting more students involved.

• I want to focus on first years. There are a ton of students in residence and off

campus who apply for a First Year Rep position but aren’t successful. The hype

team can help them get involved and promote just like the rep positions with less

commitment. Of course, upper year students would be welcome to join as well.

• Since First Year Representatives are currently under the portfolio of the

president, I would like to work closely with Matt and the President-at-Large to

ensure that more First Year students get involved.

• When we book the kiosk to promote an event, we usually just sit there and chat

like a normal office hour. Instead, lets have music pumping and get a bit more

excited about what were promoting! We need to get the average student’s

attention if we want to have a wider audience.

• With the hype team, I want to do residence tours at residence council meetings

to spread the word. I also want to have inside teams that work with the first year

reps to reach every floor.

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Alumni Connections

• Stephen Yu recently had a conversation on Twitter with a member of the SSSC

from the 1998!

• The USC has an Alumni branch they utilize through Alumni Western, and I

believe the SSSC could do something similar.

• Its obviously very difficult to connect with all SSSC alumni, but we should try

our best to do so to establish some sort of connection for the future. By this I

mean we should try to reach back as far as possible to network with recent SSSC

graduates and maintain this list in the future.

• Most alumni would love to know they are still remembered after they left and to

see their legacy.

These are my ideas for next years council. If you have any questions, comments,

or feedback, please do not hesitate to email me at [email protected]. I believe I

am the best person for the job because I am dedicated to this council and I have

the experience to do great things!

Thanks for your time!

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