Student Leader Challenges Roundtable February 27, 2023

OG EQB Chair, Izzie Berthelot, and the Dean of Students office hosted a Student Leader Challenges Roundtable discussion with a sample group of Sewanee's various student leaders and administrators. Students and administrators gathered and shared barriers that they have faced in their role that has hindered their ability to execute their duties and brainstormed ways to work better together and eliminate these barriers. Themes were identified across barriers. The group identified that more regular "roundtable" discussions with administrators and student leaders would allow for more cohesive work throughout the year and provide an outlet to gather communication information for administrators for project collaboration. Students also identified a need for leadership and public relations training. OG has been working with SGA and the Dean of Students office to prepare a leadership training retreat in March as well as a succession training retreat after elections in late April. This succession of knowledge addresses communication that provides for long-term structure and consistency within councils and organizations. In the roundtable, students also voiced a need for an appeal/feedback outlet for administrative decisions and OG and SGA are working with administration to find a proper outlet for this, as well as implement more proactive opportunities for student collaboration.