Welcome to the 2023-2024 Annual Report
The 2023-2024 academic year at West Chester University was marked by remarkable growth, innovation, and a renewed commitment to academic excellence and community engagement. This year, we continued to strengthen our core values of student success, inclusivity, and sustainability, while introducing new programs and initiatives designed to enhance the educational experience and broaden opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff.
Executive Summary
The2023-2024 annual report for Sykes Union and Student Activities at West Chester University highlights a year of vibrant community engagement, strategic enhancements, and a steadfast commitment to student access and social justice.
Key Achievements and Events:
1)Campus Visits and Improvements:
In July 2023, colleagues from University Student Centers at the University of Delaware visited the campus, leading to collaborative insights into operations and culture. A new enclosed prayer and meditation space was created in August, reflecting student feedback and enhancing campus inclusivity.
2)Welcome Week and Trainings:
The Sykes Union team played a crucial role in Welcome Week, hosting multiple events with high attendance, including an outdoor movie and the revived Ram Rally. The semiannual student staff training in August and January utilized a flipped classroom model, combining online self-paced learning with engaging in-person activities.
3)Hosting ACUI and Homecoming
The ACUI Building Manager Seminar in September and the combined Homecoming and Family Weekend showcased extensive participation and collaboration, with significant events like the WCU Wicked Block Party and performances by Jay Pharaoh.
4)Awards and Conferences
The team received accolades at the NACA Regional Conference in October for “Love is Love Week,” which celebrated LGBTQ+ and cultural diversity. Staff and students participated in several professional conferences, presenting on topics such as student staff training and peer accountability.
5)Cultural and Heritage Initiatives
Permanent murals by Alejandro “Mono” Gonzalez and Lenape artist Ben Miller were installed, honoring Hispanic heritage and Indigenous history. These installations involved educational engagements with
students and the community.
6)Student Activities
Events like the annual Banana Day and Ramboree continued to foster campus traditions, with significant student and community participation. Ramboree 2024, held in May, featured carnival rides for the first time and drew a record attendance.
Operational and Capital Improvements:
• Technological Upgrades: Enhancements included new audio-visual equipment and improved lighting in key event spaces, facilitating better experiences for diverse activities.
• Furniture and Accessibility: New lecterns, vending tables, and inclusive space designs were introduced, ensuring accessibility and functionality for all users.
• Aesthetic Enhancements: Consistent branding and aesthetic improvements, such as new carpets and signage, reinforced a sense of identity and pride.
Commitment to Values and Social Justice:
The report underscores the department’s dedication to its core values: Joy, Integrity, Learning, and Empathy. These values guided operational decisions and staff recognition programs. The team remained committed to creating affirming spaces and promoting equity and social justice, even during challenging times.
Community and Staff Engagement:
The custodial team’s efforts in maintaining a clean and welcoming environment were acknowledged, reflecting a collective mission to enhance the student experience. Staffing changes, including new hires and promotions, were aimed at strengthening the team’s capabilities.
Insummary, the 2023-2024 year for Sykes Union and Student Activities was marked by significant community-building initiatives, operational improvements, and a robust commitment to inclusivity and student success. The department’s efforts in fostering a vibrant campus life and supporting diverse student needs continue to contribute to West Chester
Highlight Reel
--2023--
July
Colleagues from the University of Delaware visited campus to learn more about our operations, campus culture, and traditions.
August
Sykes Union and Student Activities in collaboration with students transformed a space on the 2nd floor of the Sykes Union from the former copy center into an additional enclosed prayer and meditation space for the West Chester community. This space replaced the existing open air third floor prayer and meditation space and was prompted by the feedback and needs from multiple student voices.
The Sykes Union and Student Activities team played an integral role in hosting late-night programming for Welcome Week. Clayton coordinated an outdoor movie for Wednesday evening with 300 in attendance, Barrett chaired the Traditions subcommittee to bring back the Ram Rally which saw over 900 students in attendance, and the Student Activities Council hosted two events: Rams After Hours on Friday evening and a Night Under the Stars on Saturday evening.
Sykes Union and Student Activities conducted its semiannual flipped classroom, hybrid student staff training model from August 20-23. The D2L course served as the first phase of training and provided foundational information in a selfpaced, online format that students completed before inperson training. This allowed staff and students to focus on engaging team-building activities and hands-on learning during the in-person, spy-themed training days.
September
Sykes Union and Student Activities hosted the Association of College Unions International’s (ACUI) Building Manager Seminar on September 26-28, 2023. The seminar brings together both professionals and students working within facilities management to develop skills and learn from one another.
There was representation from 34 professional and student employees, including 2 professionals and 1 student from West Chester University, from over 14 universities across 12 states and Canada.
Sykes Union and Student Activities and Family and Parent Relations professional staff co-chaired the committee who hosted the combined “There’s No Place Like WCU – Homecoming and Family Weekend 2023” from September 29 through October 1. Some highlighted events included:
• Rams After Hours: Emerald City Lights Friday, September 29th with 224 students and 113 family members in attendance.
• WCU Wicked Block Party: Saturday, September 30th with 419 students and 530 family members in attendance.
Student Activities Council, a student organization advised by Sykes Union and Student Activities staff, held: Ram Fam programs included:
• WCU Live featuring Jay Pharaoh on Saturday, September 30th with 900 tickets sold.
• Off-Campus Housing Fair with 700+ attendees on Saturday, September 30th.
The Sykes Union and Student Activities team and Daniela Johannes, director of the Latino/ a/x Communities Conference, coordinated the installation of a permanent mural painted by renowned Chilean artist and activist Alejandro “Mono” Gonzalez on the second floor of Sykes Student Union near room 210. Coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month, the mural serves as an educational monument that honors the heritage of WCU’s Latinx community.
October
National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Regional Conference
Awarded with:
Most Spirited Delegation
Best Cultural Event Marketing for Love is Love Week 2023
November
Sykes Union and Student Activities sent 5 professional staff, 1 graduate student, and 3 undergraduate students to attend the 2023 ACUI Region VII Regional Conference in New Brunswick, NJ. This experience provided various learning opportunities focused through keynotes, educational sessions, and tours. In addition, 4 out of the 9 attendees presented on topics such as peer accountability and best practices in student staff training.
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Sykes Union and Student Activities co-sponsored Be Bold, Be Brave! Critical Conversations about All Things Barbie. This program was held in collaboration with Women’s and Gender Studies, the Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE), the Dowdy Multicultural Center, and the College of Arts and Humanities as a part of the Women’s and Gender Studies Collection. A discussion and book signing of Dr. Emily AguilóPérez’s book An American Icon in Puerto Rico was followed by a screening of Barbie the movie. Then attendees split into breakout sessions that covered various topics including mental health and masculinity.
January
Sykes Union and Student Activities conducted its semiannual flipped classroom, hybrid student staff training model from January 16-18. Centered on a musical theater theme, the in-person training focused on learning outcomes such as job skills training, career readiness, critical thinking, and intercultural fluency. Guest presenters from the Career Development Center and UnScripted Productions, Ltd. Hosted interactive sessions regarding interview and improvisational skills, respectively. After training, 97% of student employees reported feeling ready to implement the job-related skills shared at training to execute their duties professionally and with excellence.
February
Love is Love Week is an annual celebration hosted by the Student Activities Council (SAC) in collaboration with the Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy (CTQA), the Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE), WCU’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) that happens the week of Valentine’s Day to celebrate love, those in the LGBTQ+ community, and communities of other cultures. Events hosted include friendship blanket making, queer sexy bingo, and a drag show to close the week off with a total of 300 attendees. Love is Love Week won the Best Cultural Event Marketing Award at the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) 2023 Mid Atlantic Regional Conference in Syracuse, NY.
Sykes Union and Student Activities sent 6 professional staff to attend the 2024 ACUI Annual Conference in Denver, CO. This experience provided various learning opportunities focused on the challenges faced by college union and student activities professionals through keynotes, educational sessions, and tours. In addition, 4 out of the 6 attendees presented on student employee development. Dr. Clayton Kolb concluded his two-year volunteer commitment as a member of the conference planning team.
April March
The Student Activities Council (SAC) hosted the 28th annual Banana Day on April 17. Banana Day is a long-standing tradition that provides bunches of banana-themed activities throughout the day while students play games to win a coveted Banana Day t-shirt. Over 2,000 shirts and twenty cases of bananas were given away at the Academic Quad, the Residential Quad, Ram Park, and parts of Sykes Student Union. The event was co-sponsored by over twenty student organizations, the WCU Alumni Association, Aramark, and Wellness Promotion.
Sykes Union and Student Activities partnered with the Department of Anthropology and Sociology and hosted Indigenous Lenape Artist Ben Miller on Campus the week of April 22 who created a mural on the 2nd floor of Sykes Student Union. This project included multiple visits with courses across campus, an opportunity for film students to complete a documentary, a reception introducing the new art to the building and went beyond a land acknowledgment element to our campus by including the Indigenous voice as part of the process.
May
Ramboree 2024 took place on May 3, 2024, in Ram Park, as well as parts of K and L Lot. Ramboree is traditionally an outdoor spring festival that features live student performances, novelties, food trucks, giveaways, and various games and activities. This year marked the first time carnival rides were added to the list of attractions including a Ferris Wheel, the Himalya, and Swings. Attendance totaled approximately 3,200 people.
Mission
Mission, Vision, Values
Sykes Union and Student Activities creates vibrant campus community through excellent programs and services.
Vision
To be a leader in intentional community building that prioritizes student success through:
• Creating and sustaining affirming spaces for all
• Providing students leadership opportunieis
• Fostering campus traditions
• Offering meaningful experiences focused on a sense of
• belonging
Values
Sykes Union and Student Activities staff base all departmental efforts on the following shared values:
• Joy - Cultivating a fun, positive, and affirming experience that fosters community and makes you want to return.
• Integrity - Being reliable and trustworthy through our words, actions, decisions, and beliefs; especially when no one is watching.
• Learning - Creating spaces and experiences that allow for personal growth, gaining new perspectives, building skills, and obtaining knowledge.
• Empathy - Taking the perspective of another with compassion and recognize that people are multifaceted indivduals who lead complex lives beyond our brief moments of interaction.
Not only did we use the values to guide our work operationally, but we also used it as a framework for recognizing excellence among our staff. At the End of Year Celebration for the student staff, exemplary students were awarded for their efforts in living the values. Award recipients are featured on pages 34 and 35.
Sykes Union and Student Activities values cultivating affirming spaces in our building and programs for all students and the WCU community. We will continue to do so even in the most challenging and uncertain of times. Sykes Union is a student-centered place that is committed to providing space to gather, unite, and share ideas. Our team is dedicated to the role of the college union and utilizing our resources in the active pursuit of equity and social justice.
Values in Action Commitment to Social Justice Background
Sykes Student Union is the center of community life on the campus of West Chester University. In support of the educational mission of the University, Sykes encourages and provides an environment where everyone on campus can gather to participate and learn through diversity and cocurricular experiences. Sykes provides services, conveniences, and facilities designed to support the needs of West Chester University and the community. The Activities team further strives to maintain a balance of recreational, social, educational, and cultural programs and activities.
Sykes Union and Student Activities promotes the development of the whole student by enhancing the classroom
experience through experiential learning opportunities. This development is often accomplished through leadership opportunities, participatory decisionmaking, and empowerment connected with the operation of the facility and the planning of events.
Sykes Student Union was constructed in 1975 and renovated in 1995 and 2017. The building features approximately 105,000 square feet of space designed for all members of the campus community to come together for a variety of events.
In April of 2017, Student Services, Inc. established a partnership with Sykes Student Union to have student activities professionals report to the Director of Sykes Student Union.
Raekwon Bates
Jayna Suter Assistant Director for Sykes Student Union
Bobby DeMarco Assistant Director for Sykes Student Union
Stacy Houck left her role in the department in July when she was promoted to Director of Dining Services. In August, Jayna Suter was hired as Assistant Director. Later that month, Raekwon Bates began his experience as the Graduate Assistant for Sykes Student Union. Sandi Pachuta joined the team as Administrative Assistant in November.
Staffing Changes Events
By the Numbers
• Supported by 3,344 events in Sykes Students Union, a 1.7% increase from last year. That breaks down as follows: Orgs: 2,165 Departments: 1,139
External: 40
• Unique Clients by Type
103 departments
160 organizations
23 external organizations
• Vending Tables Organizations: 298 Departments: 91 External: 90
• Advance Reservation
Increased 6% from last year
This year 90 requests submitted resulting in 71 confirmed total events:
55 unique events, 16 recurring events
Visitors
Building Visitors
Yearly Visitors from FY19 to FY24
Visitors
Event Attendees
Total - 9,918
Capital Improvements
In the past year, our team achieved several minor enhancements within our facility, all aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and future data collection methods.
Technology
This year at Sykes, we focused on some quality-of-life maintenance and updates. However, we are excited to end the year off with a few changes that are exciting.
First, RamCast was added to rooms 115 and 10A in July. Next, we purchased a brandnew Bose Stick, increasing our inventory of portable speakers to three. Having an additional speaker has proven quite useful for student and professional events. To continue with our portable sound changes, we purchased a new, but more importantly, simpler soundboard that comes with our portable sound cart.
For SAC’s Bingo event this year, we expected too many attendees for them to fit in just our ballrooms. To mitigate this, we set up a satellite room and were able to run the bingo event live in both spaces with the use of Zoom and a little technology.
Last but certainly not least, we are updating room 115, the Ballrooms, and the Theater. Room 115 will get a new speaker and a second microphone. These, along with some less exciting updates, will make the room an even better fit for the types of events our students have in it. The Ballrooms are our largest space, and we often find the lighting in that space lacking brightness and coverage. This summer, we hope to change that by updating the lights and controls we have for them. The Theater will be getting the most work done. Before the end of the summer, we will be looking at an entirely different theater technology-wise.
We are changing out the stage lights. The old lights would heat up the stage when on for extended periods of time. Our new lights will be LED, allowing the room to remain cool for longer event days and creating the opportunity for color. For sound, we will be getting new microphones, amplifiers, and control panels.
Furniture & Equipment
In July, nine new lecterns were delivered to the ballrooms, 115, 10A, and the second floor meeting rooms. Of the nine lecterns, three are thinner, more portable models on wheels which allow the Building Managers to move them around second floor meeting rooms. Five are thicker, more stationary lecterns for permanent use in rooms that frequently request lecterns. The last lectern is portable and features an adjustable height so we can offer it to clients as an accessible option in contrast to those with fixed height. The old lecterns were sent to surplus if they were still in good working condition.
In addition, we purchased three new lower-height student organization vending tables to offer a more accessible option than the high-top tables. Just one more data-driven action we’ve taken to demonstrate our commitment to creating affirming spaces for all.
Aesthetic
In addition to the changes above, we continued to make improvements to enhance the visual appeal of our facility. We painted several more rooms within the building, adhering to a consistent branding strategy that aligns with our university’s color scheme, update signage, and made lighting improvements. This not only improved the aesthetic of our spaces but also reinforced a sense of identity and pride among students and visitors alike.
The second floor of the Sykes Student Union Building now features a vibrant new mural, thanks to the esteemed Chilean artist and activist, Alejandro “Mono” González. In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, WCU has permanently installed this custom mural by González. González, a prominent figure in art and activism, was the keynote speaker for the 15th annual Latinx Communities Conference on September 28, where he discussed the creation and social impact of public art. Assisted by his son, Sebastián González, and a team, González painted the mural on the second floor of Sykes. He also engaged with WCU art students through classroom visits and a printmaking masterclass. Daniela Johannes, an associate professor of languages and cultures originally from Chile, organized González’s participation in the conference and the mural project along with SUSA staff.
She highlighted that September 11, 1973, marks the Chilean coup d’état, a pivotal event during which González was actively involved in clandestine painting as part of the resistance movement. In the late 1960s, González founded La Brigada Ramona Parra, an informal street art school and collective that created impactful visual social messages across Santiago, Chile. Many of González’s murals, initially covered during the dictatorship, have been restored and recognized as national heritage monuments in Chile’s democratic era. Johannes described the mural as an “educational monument that honors the heritage” of WCU’s Latinx community. The mural installation was complemented by “Mono & Mural,” an exhibition of González’s works at WCU’s Baker Gallery in the E.O. Bull Center which ran in October.
In April, Sykes Union and Student Activities was also thrilled to coordinate the installation of a Lenape Mural crafted by the talented Lenape artist Ben Miller. Ben
Scott Miller is a graduate of the Academy of Art University San Francisco, an enrolled citizen of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, and registered Lenape artist. This new mural stands as a tribute to the people of local ancestral homelands, calling for connection and mutual respect.
Miller’s mural tells a vivid story through its use of colors and symbols, drawing the viewer into the rich heritage of the Lenape, also known as the Delaware Tribe of Indians, one of the 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States.
On the left, the black panels honor Lucas Miller, Ben’s brother who passed away in January 2024 from diabetes, which is sadly the leading cause of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Miller complemented the black with green to symbolize the Sacred Oak, a 500+ year old Chinkapin Oak tree located in Oley Valley, approximately 60 miles from West Chester University. The next panel features the colors of the medicine wheel—black, red, yellow, and white—depicting balance and healing. Three eagle feathers appear at the top of the mural symbolizing tradition and prayer. Miller painted three of them in reference to The Three Sisters, a traditional Lenape meal, which also acknowledges the essential role of Lenape women who are the key decision-makers and caretakers.
The installation concluded with an unveiling of the mural and a reception in the ballrooms with 6ABC and NBC10 in attendance. At the unveiling, Miller declared, “We are not victims; we are survivors.” The mural emphasizes respect for the struggles and resilience of the artist’s people. Miller also conveyed a heartfelt message: “I need your help. We need to communicate with one another. And this [mural] is where it starts.”
The mural installation was complemented by a special pop-up exhibition in the Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology located in the Atrium of historic Old Library, guest curated by Mr. Miller, which featured an exciting range of traditional and contemporary style works by noted Lenape artists from across the United States. The exhibition emphasized the persistence and vibrancy of Lenape arts and crafts.
During spring break, we took the opportunity to further enhance our facility by installing new carpet on both the second and third floors. This upgrade was part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a high-quality environment for our campus community, ensuring a comfortable, inclusive, and clean atmosphere throughout our building.
Speaking of clean atmospheres, the custodial team in Sykes Student Union is fully staffed once again! We would like to extend our gratitude to the custodial crew who keeps Sykes Student Union looking clean and tidy.
Steve, Vince, Joel, Carlos, Hunter, Jane Ann, and Tyrrell have been matching our energy of upgrades and improvement this summer to tackle much-needed projects like carpet cleaning, floor polishing, and upholstery cleaning. Together with their supervisors, Maintenance, Moving Services, and Sykes staff, our building is looking better than ever. Amazing things happen when you come together with a shared mission and we are so grateful for their partnership.
Our student graphic designers completed the building map project, which allowed us to print the colorful building maps in large format and place them strategically throughout the building such as near staircases, entrances, and at elevators. We also invested in a large, back-lit map stand to catch the attention of visitors entering the building on the first floor lobby and direct them to the appropriate location.
The Prayer and Medication Space was relocated to the second floor in the area left vacant by the former Copy Center to provide a location with more privacy in comparison to the open floor plan on the third floor. The new Prayer and Medication Space is a space for all community members.
The space was included in the new carpet installation on the second floor and we installed frosting on the glass at the entrance to create privacy in the space. There is a shoe rack at the door for students who wish to remove their shoes and a bookshelf with interfaith reading materials. We also added bean bag seats, string lights, and photographs of local landscapes to enhance the space. The first students who saw the space after spring break were thrilled, taking photos and sending them to their friends.
On the third floor, the open area vacated by the Prayer and Meditation Space was converted into additional lounge space. The partial wall closing off the space was removed and we relocated some of the second floor common area furniture to the third floor.
In conclusion, the past year has been marked by a series of improvements within our facility, all driven by a commitment to enhancing the student experience. From student-led initiatives to visual enhancements and improved signage, we continue to prioritize the needs and comfort of our community members, fostering an environment where learning, social interaction, and personal growth thrive. We look forward to building upon these accomplishments in the coming year and beyond.
Sykes Union Advisory Board
The Sykes Union Advisory Board had a successful year in their ongoing efforts to manage student organization office space within the student union. The board continues to work to create processes and procedures to assign, maintain, and reevaluate office space usage. They drafted rules and regulations for student organizations that hold space. These rules and regulations act as a lease agreement, so that organizations may lose office space if they violate policy. In addition, they created criteria to consider when assigning new space that includes proposed usage of space, level of activity, and inclusivity. The application for assigning the one vacant office launched along with the student organization reregistration process. Applicants were evaluated using a rubric and a successful candidate was chosen. The Sykes Union Advisory Board notified WCU Hillel student organization that they would receive office space for 2024-2025 school year.
Student Activities Highlights
Homecoming and Family Weekend
Due to only one home football game in October falling over Fall Break, the Homecoming Committee combined Homecoming and Family Weekend into one event for the first time ever. Hosting these events together gave our campus an opportunity to share resources, celebrate our community, and create lasting memories for students, faculty and staff, alumni, families, and community members.
Sykes Union and Student Activities and Family and Parent Relations professional staff co-chaired the Homecoming and Family Weekend 2023 planning committee. Events took place from September 29 through October 1. This year’s theme “There’s No Place Like WCU” was chosen by students and incorporates the spirit of coming home while also inviting families to be a part of our WCU community. Many events used The Wizard of Oz for inspiration when planning. Some highlighted events included:
• Student Activities Council programs:
Rams After Hours: Emerald City Lights Friday, September 29th with 224 students and 113 family members in attendace.
WCU Wicked Block Party: September 30th with 419 students and 530 family members in attendance.
• Other programs included:
WCU Live featuring Jay Pharoah on Saturday, September 30th with 900 tickets sold.
Off-Campus Housing Fair with 700+ attendees on Saturday, September 30th.
Inclusive Efforts
This year saw the implementation of our Inclusive Programming Efforts. These efforts were created to support our department’s ongoing commitment to social justice and to provide students with a sense of belonging via programming that is inclusive to all. During Spring 2023, the Student Activities Lead Team developed the early stages of an inclusivity guide and used the summer months to revise for a Fall 2023 launch.
Through collaborating with the Dub-C Autism Program (D-CAP), we received feedback from D-CAP students on our original guide. Through this feedback we identified various improvements such as inclusivity symbols for event programming. Through continuous conversations with D-CAP, we defined and developed eight new inclusivity symbols.
Fall 2023
Our newly created Inclusive Programming Efforts were introduced as part of our Fall training. Through the creation of a new module, all SAC Executive Board members reviewed our Inclusivity Guide and provided the Student Activities Lead Team with questions and takeaways through a discussion board. After Fall Training, the Lead Team clarified information and created additional resources for the team. Throughout the semester, the Student Activities Team continued to utilize the Library’s Relaxin’ Rammies Sensory Cart.
Spring 2024
For the spring semester our focus was on event accessibility. During our Spring 2024 training, the Student Activities Council participated in a session that discussed various event accommodations. They completed a self-reflection exercise to think critically on ways to incorporate universal design and accommodations into their role. During the semester, the Marketing Team focused on developing inclusivity and accessibility standards for any materials created by the Graphic Designers in addition to event directional and accessibility signage. Additionally, the Vice President of Finance & Administration integrated the accommodation requests through our online event registration, thereby streamlining the process. One example of improved event accessibility was having ADA seating at the annual Drag Show during Love is Love Week.
Further Plans
As we move into the 2024- 2025 academic year, the Student Activities Council will enter year two of our Inclusive Efforts. The focus for the start of year two is to continue streamlining and capturing data. To aid in this process, the Student Activities Council has created the position of IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) Coordinator. This position will report directly to the President of the Student Activities Council and the Graduate Assistant for Student Activities. In addition, through a grant from the Innovation in Diversity & Inclusion Grants Council, we received $4,077 to fund our own sensory cart for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Looking into the Future
In the beginning of the Fall semester, Student Activities took on the responsibility of spirit programming that had previously been conducted by the Coordinator of Spirit and Traditions. Student Activities already takes the lead on many campus traditions, so this transition was a natural fit. We continued our previous success during Welcome Week with the Ram Rally, a fall pep rally for new students that features the WCU Marching Band, the Football Team, exciting games and activities, and spirit giveaways. Over 1300 new students attended the event. In the Spring, we held Rammy’s Birthday on February 29 in collaboration with the Rammy Team. This event included cupcakes and large birthday card for students to sign and wish Rammy a happy birthday. At the end of the year, SAC created a new position for the 2024-2025 school year titled Spirit Coordinator to help expand our spirit event programming.
Ramboree
Ramboree is the largest campus tradition executed in collaboration with 15 other departments and student organizations. Ramboree is traditionally an outdoor spring festival that features live student performances, carnival games and rides, food trucks, caricaturists, tarot card readers, lawn games, photo booths, free t-shirts and giveaways, and many other novelties. Ramboree 2024 took place on May 3, 2024, on Ram Park, as well as parts of K Lot behind Sykes Student Union. This year, the planning committee finally welcomed 3 carnival rides, including a Ferris wheel, the Himalaya, and the swings to complete the boardwalk carnival vision! 3200 students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered to enjoy 14 novelties and indulge in 8 food trucks. $23,000 worth of food tokens were given out alongside 2,000 shirts and 4 different Ramboree-branded giveaways. After eight months of planning, the 15 planning committee members were proud to see their hard work come to fruition in a hugely successful event.
This year for Ramboree, Student Activities Council sent out an incentivized feedback survey to gather guest opinions on Ramboree and how to improve for the future. This feedback survey had 498 completed responses out of 3180 total attendees, which is a response rate of 15.66%. Of those who answered the post event survey, we found that 62% of respondents live on campus, while the remaining 38% of
respondents of not live on campus. When comparing the various attractions available, the Himalaya and the Swings were the most popular rides. In terms of games, the Human Claw Machine and Axe Throwing were the favorites. Participants really enjoyed the Caricatures, the Flower Truck, and the Photobooth. Overall, we are pleased to report that 91.5% of survey respondents said that Ramboree met their expectations. Most respondents rated Ramboree at least an 8 out of 10, with the average being 8.27.
Rating out of 10
Student Employment & Leadership
About the Staff
For the fall semester, we were fully staffed with 36 employees, having retained 79% of the staff from last year. Of the 36 employees, 45% were new to the team and 55% were returning staff from the previous academic year, which is the same ratio as fall 2022. We hired 21 Building Managers, two Senior Building Managers, three Graphic Designers, one social media manager, and 15 SAC executive board members. Six of those employees held “dual positions” meaning they worked as both a Building Manager or Graphic Designer and a SAC executive board member. This not only makes onboarding easier, but also allows students who are already familiar with our mission, vision, values, and operations to earn more money to support their financial needs. As we transitioned to the spring semester, 6 (17%) employees left the team due to graduation, resignation, or termination. After the winter hiring process, we were staffed with 34 employees.
The Building Manager job application remained open on Handshake throughout the year so we could capture prospective employees when they inquired at the Information Desk or expressed interest via email. We received 59 applications. At the moments when we were fully staffed, the applicants were notified. They were contacted to gauge their continued interest whenever vacancies arose and again when our hiring for Fall 2024 began.
At the conclusion of the spring semester, twelve students graduated, resigned, or were terminated. Our year-round employee recruitment efforts will help us fill the vacancies.
The Office of Institutional Research shared the following demographic data about our staff so we could compare it to the student body as a way measure if our staff was reflective of the social identities of the student body.
Spring 2024
Race/Ethnicity
Spring 2024
Residence
Spring 2024
First-Generation
Spring 2024
Student Staff Activities Achievements and Engagement Across Campus
According to data collected from the Office of Institutional Research, our student employees’ Fall 2023 GPA (3.545) is higher than the total student body average (3.148) and higher than the average GPA sorted by sex! Our student employees’ average cumulative GPA for Spring 2024 term (3.552) is higher than the total student body average (3.171) and higher than the average GPA sorted by sex. These academic achievements are particularly impressive because we do not have a GPA requirement for hiring.
RamPlan Involvement: 41 student staff members have completed Ram Plan programs. In aggregate, they have 133 programs listed on their co-curricular transcripts. Here’s the list of their programs:
2023 Student Cybersecurity Awareness
2024 Student Cybersecurity Awareness
4-Step Strategy for Evaluating Online Sources
Alcohol Education for Fraternity and Sorority Life
All About Anxiety
American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid Certification
Charge Into Involvement at WCU
Choices About Cannabis
Demystifying Academic Titles
Discovering Well-Being
Fraternity & Sorority Potential Member Orientation
Graduate School Road Map
Introuduction to Disabilities and Accomodations
Introduction to Experiential Learning
Navigating Digital Learning: Discussions
Navigating Digital Learning: GEP Portfolio Basics
Navigating Digital Learning: Quizzes
Navigating Digital Learning:D2L Assignment Folders
New Student Orientation
Nobel Peace Prize Leadership Series
Preparing for the Involvement Fair
Ram Plan Training
Seeking Counseling: When? How? Who?
Sexy Bingo
Sober Monitor Training
Student Research Rights
Writing Your WCU Involvement Story
In an exit survey administered via email on the last day of classes in December and May to students who are graduating or resigning, 100% of the students who voluntarily completed the exit survey agreed they would recommend working for Sykes Union and Student Activities to a friend. Exit survey participants shared they gained skills such as teamwork, collaboration, communication, time management, asking for help, customer services, and conflict resolution.
One respondent said, “Working as a BM greatly enhanced my professional development! I feel like I am now better at communicating, problem-solving, working effectively with others, etc.” Another respondent shared, “Great, my favorite job, made new best friends, very good working environment and very much support provided.” Yet another Building Manager shared, “Working as a BM was a great experience! It was very flexible with my schedule and the pro-staff team is so kind and considerate! The job comes with some frustrations, like large room sets and technical difficulties, but all jobs have moments like that. Overall, it was a super convenient on-campus job that allowed me to make new connections and stay on top of my schoolwork.”
Aside from the exit survey, members of the executive board of the Student Activities Council were asked to reflect on their positions for social media content posted throughout the year. One leader responded, “As a new member of SAC, my experience has been full of many great opportunities to learn and grow both professionally and personally. Everyone in SAC has been encouraging and supportive as I’ve integrated into my new role, making me feel comfortable and confident working as a team. One of my favorite things about SAC is working with a close-knit group of highly creative and inclusive people and seeing ideas come to fruition that really engage our student body.”
We take great pride in creating a positive work environment that supports the student’s personal and professional development. Their qualitative feedback let’s know that we’re achieving that goal.
Fall 2023 Training
Fall 2023 Student Staff Training was the third iteration of our revamped training model. In support of the flipped learning literature, we updated the D2L course that was completed before in-person training. This asynchronous learning model allowed us to teach foundational knowledge, which enabled us to be more intentional during our in-person sessions to focus on konwledge application as well as essential community building. The theme for fall 2023 training was Agents of S.Y.K.E.S featuring “top-secret” spy missions as the basis for the activities. Similar to previous trainings, students were divided up into smaller, cross-service area teams. However, instead of teams receiving points for “winning” the missions, members of the team were given raffle tickets to place in the raffle prize baskets. This leveled the playing field for students to win prizes at the end of training, regardless of how strong their team performed in the various challenges.
Spring 2024 Training
Our Building Managers, Graphic Designers, and Student Activities Council leaders spent time “on Broadway” at our musical theater-themed student staff training entitled “SUSA-cal the Musical.” The team spent three days honing their service area skills, learning and applying the principles of improv to customer service and problem-solving with UnScripted Productions, Ltd., and preparing for their next “audition” with an interview skills presentation from the Career Development Center. Our team was refreshed and ready to shine “on stage” for spring 2024!
RISE Program
2023-2024 was the second year of implementation for the Rams Integrating Skills and Education (RISE) program. This year, we used the previous year’s date to inform our training practices and placed a focus on improving students’ critical thinking skills. In addition, we expanded our Year 2 section to encompass a variety of experiential learning opportunities. Students can choose from internships, field placements, conferences, student teaching, creative endeavors, study abroad, and co-curricular experiences like the Ram Plan.
RISE continues to focus on growth in skill development. After this school year, 90% of students grew or reached the highest level of growth and stayed there in 6 or more learning outcomes.
Future plans for RISE include utilizing the University’s learning management software D2L to create electronic versions of our rubrics. This will streamline the performance evaluation process and lessen the burden on our supervisors.
End of Year Celebration
The staff gathered toward the end of April to celebrate the year’s achievements, congratulate the graduating employees, and recognize the outstanding work of select employees. Raekwon and Irina Milanese, a Building Manager Lead Team member, coordinated a fun picnic in Ram Park that included music, an ice cream truck, lawn games, a sparkling cider toast to the Class of 2024, and a year-end recap video. Based on peer nominations and supervisor selection, Sykes Union and Student Activities awarded the following individuals with values awards:
Joy
Grace Gilmore: One of Grace’s nominees described her as “a fun and comfortable presence. Every time I’m in the office with them, the workday gets a little easier and makes for a fun environment with my peers. They are always radiating happiness and you can tell they put lots of time and effort into their position.” .
Leah Crespy: One of Leah’s nominees said she “constantly has a smile on their face and is ready to help anyone, come to events, and just have a good time cheering people up”
Empathy
Lexy Rodriguez: A nominator wrote: “Lexy has a way about them that pushes me to be better. They are inspirational and do a fantastic job when they are on shift. They are a fantastic problem solver and is truly a rockstar.”
Learning
Madelyn Piemme: Someone who nominated Maddie wrote, “Maddie is always eager to explore new ideas, attend workshops, and seek out opportunities for growth. They create an environment that fosters personal development and encourages others to do the same.”
Integrity
Kalie Mcgowan: One of Kalie’s nominators wrote, “Every day Kalie leads with integrity. This can be seen through their interactions within Sykes. This person is a natural leader who is always doing the right thing even when no one is watching.” Another nominator stated “I fully trust this person and know if she says she will do something it will get done.” and effort into their position.” .
Student Leadership Awards
We would also like to recognize the achievements of our students who received the following awards from the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement at their annual awards ceremony:
• Senior Leader - Princess Ogujiofor, Grace Gilmore, Andrew Rubas
• Diane Devestern Ethical Leadership - Evan Parker
• Golden Ram - Emily Lonergan
• Best Student Club Collaboration - SAC and SAGA for Love is Love Week
Vendor Program
Jayna, Sandi, and Adriane reimagined the vendor program by seeking out new vendors and small businesses to share their work, formalizing the application process, creating thank you cards for the vendors, and launching a satisfaction survey to better understand the vendor experience. Some of our newest vendors, pictured here, enjoyed their time in Sykes so much that they scheduled dates to return again for the spring semester.
From crocheted chickens to vintage clothing, our vendors bring fun energy and creativity to the Sykes lobby. Sandi and Adriane created a calendar on the bulletin board outside of Ballroom A to keep everyone informed on which vendors are coming. Sandi serves as the primary point of contact for the enhanced vendor program.
Building Community with a Puzzle
We’ve placed puzzles in common areas around the building as a mindfulness and community-building tool. As visitors completed the puzzle, staff would rotate to a new puzzle to keep folks coming back for a different experience.
Assessment
Event Satisfaction Survey
In January 2023, SUSA launched the survey to all student organizations and university departments that held events in Sykes Student Union. Questions focused on the quality of the reservation and planning process, staff member’s communication and follow-through, event set up, audio/visual equipment, the cleanliness of the space, the Building Manager’s ability to troubleshoot any issues that arose, and if they behaved professionally to foster a welcoming environment. SUSA staff members reviewed the results of the survey at the weekly Event Logistics meetings, following up on negative reviews, improving communication and skills with the Building Managers, or clarifying procedures based on client feedback as needed. Positive feedback was shared directly with the Building Managers to empower them to continue doing good work.
Sixty-nine responses were collected in throughout the year, resulting in a net promoter score (NPS) of 78.26. An NPS ranging from 40-60 is considered “excellent, nice work.” Another way to consider this score is that 83% of clients are “extremely likely” to recommend Sykes Student Union to a friend or colleague for an event.
Clients frequently praised the building managers for their friendliness and effectiveness in addressing event setup and technology issues.
One client comment, highlighting actionable improvements we later implemented regarding room setup, confirms that our customer service model is being executed successfully: “While the room wasn’t setup to our request when our team first arrived for setup, the building managers on duty were extremely helpful in fixing the setup quickly! Unfortunately I don’t recall who that was, but they were great. The room was otherwise clean, tech worked well, and building managers also checked in again before the event began to ensure the presenters had gotten everything setup the way they needed for their session. Thank y’all!”
This assessment practice will continue into next year.
Vendor Satisfaction Survey
For the 2023-2024 period, we created a vendor satisfaction survey to improve vendor satisfaction with the reservation process and vending experience. We planned to use the collected data to make changes to policies, procedures, services, and more. We planned to share the findings weekly with partners, particularly the assistant directors and building managers to encourage them to modify their policies, procedures, or services. Additionally, we planned to include the data in the annual report as a reflection of our success or areas needing improvement.
However, only one vendor participated in the survey, rating their likelihood of recommending us to a friend or colleague for an event or vending a 9/10. To increase the feedback rate and gather more valuable information from vendors about their experiences, we will explore other methods of survey distribution for next year.
Data Pool
SUSA staff continued the annual practice of collecting data points to maintain the data pool. The data pool included information such as the number of events hosted in the building, event attendance for both SAC and RAH events, the number of work orders submitted, the number of vendors, lost and found entries logged, and other pertinent information from the Information Desk. This data proved invaluable in measuring success, shaping this report, and informing our work on a day-to-day basis.
Program Satisfaction
The Student Activities Council distributed satisfaction surveys after each event. This data was then compiled by the SAC Assessment Coordinator to create summaries of the data collected. From there, SAC students and staff reviewed the results to look for areas of improvement.
Here are some of the highlights of the data we collected:
• Over 9,000 people attended 30 SAC events.
• Attendees rated SAC’s events an average of 8.62 out of 10 with the highest-rated events being the NYC Trip, the Washington Nationals Trip, and Paws and Poses.
• On average, 98.9% of attendees found SAC’s events accessible, and 97.54% found them inclusive.
• Over 1/3 of students who attended SAC’s events were first-year students.
• Over 1/4 of students who attended SAC’s events did not live on campus
University Involvement Committees
Clayton Kolb:
• University Hearing Board
• Student Conduct Policy and Process Advisor
• Campus Master Plan Committee
Adriane Reilly:
• University Strategic Planning Committee Tri-chair, Fostering & Sustaining Community
• SCUPA Representative, Campus Master Plan Steering Committee
• Chair, Office of Student Conduct Search Committee
• Chair, Paraprofessional Supervisors Committee
• JED Committee: Social Connectedness and Help Seeking Behavior Team
Barrett McGee:
• Ramboree Planning Committee
• University Hearing Board
• Fund for Unpaid Internships Committee
• CWGE Scholarship Committee
• Co-Chair, Homecoming Committee
• Welcome Week Planning Committee
• DOSA Paraprofessionals Training Committee
• Student Leadership Awards Judge
• DOSA Graduate Student Development Committee
Megan Waldrop:
• Ramboree Planning Committee
• Co-Chair, Homecoming Committee
• DOSA Graduate Student Development Committee
Bobby DeMarco:
• Student Event Review Committee (SERC)
• Ramboree Planning Committee
• Paraprofessional Supervisors Committee
Jayna Suter:
Ace Walker:
• Co-Advisor, Student Government Assocation
• Ramboree Planning Committee
• New Student Programs Senior Associate Director Search Committee
• Student Event Review Committee (SERC)
• Co-chair, Brothers of Excellence Committee
• Student Leadership & Involvement Assistant Director Search
Sam Botnick:
• Ramboree Planning Committee
Professional Development
ACUI and NACA Involvement
Sykes Union and Student Activities staff are proud to be active volunteers and members in at least two professional associations, ACUI, which is geared toward students and professionals involved in college union operations and student activities, and NACA which is geared toward students and professionals who work in campus activities.
Volunteerism
• Clayton served on the Conference Program Team for the 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, CO.
• Clayton served as the Host and Educational Content Creator for 2023 Building Manager Seminar
• Adriane continued her member-at-large position on to the Board of Trustees for ACUI
• Megan continued serving on the ACUI Regional Leadership Team for Region VII as Membership Experience Coordinator
• Megan completed her term as the Education and Inclusivity Team Lead on the NACA Mid-Atlantic Regional Leadership Team
• Bobby served as Communications Coordinator on the 2023 Conference Planning Team for ACUI Region VII
Conferences
• Megan, Sam, Jayna and eight SAC executive board members attended the NACA Syracuse Conference in Syracuse, NY.
• Ace, Sam, and four SAC executive board members traveled to the NACA National conference in Pittsburgh, PA.
• Clayton, Adriane, Bobby, Ace, Raekwon, Megan, and 3 building managers attended the ACUI Region VII Conference in New Brunswick, NJ in November. There Adriane and Megan gave a presentation on the student staff training program, and Ace and Senior Building Manager Andrew Rubas presented on peer accountability.
• Clayton, Barrett, Adriane, Bobby, Megan, and Jayna attended the ACUI Annual Conference in Denver, CO in March. Adriane and Barrett presented on RISE while Megan and Jayna presented on training.
University of Delaware Site Visit
On Friday, August 4, 2023, the staff of the University Student Centers at University of Delaware visited WCU and Sykes Student Union. We met with colleagues, discussed best practices for union operations and student activities, and gave tours of our facility. The visit inspired action items to enhance our work going forward.
On June 27, 2024, Ace, Bobby, and Adriane visited Houston Hall at the University of Pennsylvania to exchange ideas on Information Desk best practices, student staff training format and content, space use, and performance evaluation programs. The University Life Space and Events staff provided a warm welcome and informative building and campus tours as well as lunch for networking and fellowship. The visit helped us discover we have more in common than expected based only on how different the two institutions are.
The DOSA RJ Award
Every month the Division of Student Affairs awarded the RJ (Rammy Jr.) Award to a person/department/team that went above and beyond to demonstrate their dedication to the division and its students. Ace was a recipient of the RJ Award, and Jayna, Clayton, Sandi, and Bobby were also nominated this year.
Future Goals
Overall, SUSA is in a great position. We received our external review suggestions in 2023 and have been working to integrate them into our goals and projects. As we look forward to new leadership for the Division of Student Affairs, we await the integration of a full strategic plan for the division in which we can fully articulate our own strategic plan to align with that. That being said, one of our main goals this year is to be a strategic partner with divisional leadership to help set these goals and then to create our strategic plan to align with what was created.
Other priorities will include the ongoing development and implementation of critical building maintenance projects and participating in the WCU Campus Master Plan discussion.
Last year we saw the increase in large projects that included upgrading lighting on the ground floor, stairwells, third floor, and Ballrooms to LED, new carpeting in key traffic areas on 2nd and 3rd floors, removal of antiquated furniture elements (i.e. display cases), and updated patio furniture. Moving forward, we will continue to put energy, focus, and fiscal resources into these types of projects. We anticipate needing to update the remaining buildings carpet, address window issues in the newer part of the building and continue to upgrade the furniture to meet the needs of students and users of the building.
Ongoing work around sustainability will continue to be a focus as we strive to engage in the SDGs and find our place in supporting sustainable efforts on campus. Finally, the department has worked hard to create new systems and processes to create efficiencies and more support for our students (for example RISE program). This year, we would like to continue to place effort and energy into supporting these programs in lieu of the ongoing creation of new initiatives and programs.
Celebrating a year of achievement and growth.
We look ahead with excitement to new possibilities and continued excellence in the year to come.
