Tag: ECOS

ECOS Strives to Rejuvenate CNM Clubs

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Story by Mark Graven

Staff Reporter

The Executive Council of Students (ECOS) met with Dean of Students Chris Cavazos to discuss the number of members and officers need to charter, or renew, a club at its June 18th on-line meeting. 

Currently, CNM requires that clubs have at least eight active members, with four of them serving as officers.

ECOS members and Cavazos discussed a proposal whereby five active members and two officers would be sufficient to charter a club.

“Five (members) would be great,” said Cavazos, adding that it would represent an effort by the college and ECOS to get students more engaged.

When students are more engaged, they are more successful, he said.

CNM had more than 25 clubs and organizations in operation before the Covid pandemic shut down in-person activities on campus.  Some clubs were able to stay active but others have fallen off over the last year and a half.  

ECOS, which is in charge of allocating funds for the clubs, which comes out of student registration fees, last year decided to allocate funds at 50 percent of previous levels, until the campus returned to normal operations.

The ECOS  board members discussed with Cavozos, the problem of club continuity, and officers being able to know the proper procedures in obtaining, and using, funds.  

Kristofer Gaussoin, CNM director of student conduct and responsibilities and the official advisor to ECOS, noted that the college is working on an on-line training program for club officers, which could help overcome the problem of getting officers to in-person training.

ECOS President Alex Crossland said that at a community college, there can be more frequent turnover among officers, so clubs might need to lean more on faculty advisors to help maintain continuity.

Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer, noted that faculty advisors tend to have a wide range of involvement.

Cavazos said that the role of faculty advisors in maintaining club continuity was a factor to consider in deciding how to proceed.  ECOS is expected to revisit the question at its next meeting. 

ECOS is meeting every other Friday at 2 p.m. during Summer Semester.

Dean Urges ECOS to Advertise Stipend for Serving on Board.

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Story by

Mark Graven

Staff Writer


CMN Dean of Students Chris Cavazos says that the Executive Council of Students should feel free to advertise that a stipend is available to students who serve on the ECOS board. 

ECOS members met with Cavazos at its regular meeting of March 26th to discuss a range of topics, including how to increase student participation in ECOS, which is charged with parcelling out funding for a host of student activities with a fund that comes out of registration fees.

Cavazos recommended that ECOS frame the advertisement appropriately, noting that a stipend, like a scholarship, could be used by students “to help pay for their education.”  

ECOS is mandated by its constitution to meet with the Dean of Students, when its membership falls below five students.
Currently, the ECOS Board has three members, as it operates in an “emergency” mode:  Alex Crossland, president, Imane Bahji, vice president, and Colin Stspleton, outreach officer.

The three board members are in line to earn a stipend of up to $1,000 dollars, for the fiscal year, through regular participation in ECOS meetings and activities.  
Cavazos lauded the board for its efforts to improve remote learning at CNM, noting they had, among other things, raised student concerns with President Tracey Hartzler; met with the Faculty Senate; and fashioned a plan, in conjunction with Dean Phil Lister of the School of Math, Science, and Engineering  to improve faculty/student interaction within science and math courses.

“ECOS has been very active,” said Cavazos.  “You have been noticeably active, and we want to keep it going.”

ECOS members had been reluctant to emphasize the monetary aspects of board service over concern that students might join for the wrong reasons.  

But board members were ready to proceed with an advertising program, after Dean Cavazos made his point that the stipends serve an educational purpose.

ECOS & Dean to Discuss Future of Online Education

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By

Mark Graven

Staff Writer


Phil Lister, Dean of the School of Math, Science and Engineering at CNM has accepted an invitation to attend the next Executive Council of Students (ECOS) to be held March 19th, according to ECOS President Alex Crossland.
The EOCS board has been searching for a way of obtaining more interaction between professors and students in math and science courses in the remote learning process that has taken over CNM, during Covid times.
To that end the ECOS board members, at last Friday’s meeting, crafted an email inviting Dean Lister to meet with board members this coming Friday.  By the end of the meeting last Friday, Lister replied that he would attend, Crossland announced.
Dean Lister presides over a large amount of academic territory at CNM.  The MSE School offers degree programs in Biology; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Earth and Planetary Science; Engineering; Geography; Mathematical Science; Nutrition; Physics; and Pre-Health Scidnce; and non-degree programs in Astronomy and Natural Science (for teachers).
Physics course have come under particular scrutiny at ECOS board meetings because they lack a lecture component, according to Imane Bahji. ECOS vice-president.  
Bahji said that if difficult science and math courses are not going to offer lecture, or some other reasonable substitute for faculty student interaction, then CNM should say so upfront, so that students know what they are getting into.  
ECOS had previously contacted CNM President Tracey Hartzler, and met the the Faculty Senate, but did not achieve the improvement to remote learning that board members wanted to see.
Students interested in watching ECOS meeting with Dean Lister can go to My CNM and search for ECOS meeting link.  The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., as per usual with ECOS meetings.

ECOS Looking For Answers

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Story By

Mark Graven

Staff Reporter


Frustrated by what it perceives as a lack of a response in its call for improvements to remote learning at CNM,  the Executive Council of Students (ECOS) has decided to target the mid-level of the CNM  bureaucracy to get action. 

At a meeting on February 5th, ECOS decided to contact the Physics Department to try and arrange meeting with its professors to convince them to insert a lecture component in the instructional programs.

Imane Bahji, ECOS vice president, said it was puzzling that the students should be in a situation where “we have to inform educators that we need a lecture.”

Within the last six weeks, ECOS has written to the president of CNM, Tracy Hartzler, and met with the Faculty Senate, about its concerns, but little has changed, according too Bahji, a Math, Science and Engineering (MSE) major.

“All we can do is to keep on trying”  said Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer.

ECOS President Alex Crossland said that it makes sense for ECOS to be persistent in trying to improve remote learning.  “We need to pursue this at various levels” he said.  

Bahji has consistently contended that students need to be able to have real time interaction with professors to clarify difficult concepts in math, science, and computer programming.  

“Otherwise students will just pay a couple hundred bucks more and take the classes at UNM, or elsewhere,”

Bahji

CNM President Tracey Hartzler said in her state of the college address in January that the enrollment for Spring semester showed an 11 percent decline over last year.  She noted that CNM is slightly behind the national average in enrollment decline–which is 10 percent, in this time of Covid.  Most of CNM’s classes have gone remote in this time, with just a few returning to campus under restrictions.

ECOS board members said they would like to meet with Linda Martin of CNM’s Office of Data Strategy, for a more in depth look at the reasons for the enrollment decline.

Bahji said she thought Spring Semester would be different after ECOS raised concerns over remote learning during the fall.

“But it is not (different),”said Bahji, noting that professors had the winter break to make adjustments.  “Now we want to express urgency,” said Bahji.

ECOS Makes Contact with Letter

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Story by

Mark Graven

Staff Writer


The president of the Executive Council of Students (ECOS) Alex Crossland, says he believes that the CNM Administration will respond positively to the ECOS Board’s call for improvements to its remote learning program.
Crossland offered the opinion after the Board’s December 11th meeting– at which it was noted that ECOS had received a response from CNM President Tracy Hartzler to a letter that ECOS had sent out through email the previous week to Hartzler and a half a dozen key people in the administration, calling for reforms to remote learning.
Crossland said he was “encouraged” by Hartzler’s response, but that he did not expect the administration to react precipitously. 
“I believe that our letter was effective, and that the administration is listening to us,” said Crossland, adding that he expected that administrators would give ECOS ideas careful consideration, and not just slap a “bandaid” on the problem. 
He said he is hopeful that the process will result in improved remote learning during the upcoming intercession and the conduct of Spring Semester.
Kristopher Gaussoin, director of student life and discipline at CNM, also the advisor to the ECOS board, said that the ECOS letter has already been taken up at an administrative meeting.  Gaussoin has been urging the board to frame its concerns about remote learning in a constructive manner to get good results with the administration– which he predicted would welcome input from ECOS, the voice of the student body.
Remote learning has been the main topic of discussion for the ECOS board at meetings held over the last two months. The ECOS letter to CNM administrors was drafted by ECOS Vice-President Imane Bahji, and then approved by the full board on December 4th.  
Bahji has consistently criticized the fact that many remote learning classes lack a lecture component, wherein students can ask professors questions in real time, and clarify difficult concepts or processes.  
She has said that there is a danger that when student’s don’t understand, they might quit classes, or even drop out of school.
Crossland said that, in fashioning its letter to the administration, ECOS got input from students through conversations, and through a Suggestion Box, set up on its CNM web page.  The Board also considered information from surveys conducted by CNM that included questions about remote learning.
CNM turned to a largely remote learning format during Spring Semester, after the onset of Covid-19 cases in New Mexico,  although some classs were allowed to meet on campus during the fall.
Linda Martin, a representative of CNM’s Office of Data Strategy, appeared at Friday’s meeting.  She said that the most recent information on student enrollment and retention is still being processed, so that the statistical picture of the impact of remote learning on enrollment numbers and finances is still unclear.
Crossland said that ECOS would not immediately release for publication the letter to the administration, or the administration’s response, although it might do so at a later date.  Such an approach could be more productive in the short run, he said.

ECOS To Explore Ways to Cooperate With UNM

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Story by

Mark Graven

Staff Writer


CNM’S Executive Council of Students decided, at its meeting on November 6th, to initiate an exploration of ways in which CNM might cooperate with its sister school, UNM, for the benefit of the CNM student body.  
Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer, volunteered to take the lead in researching areas of possible cooperation.  Staplton suggested that club activities at CNM could be enhanced through more joint participation with UNM.   
One of the main responsibilities of ECOs is to determine funding levels for the clubs and organization that meet on CNM’s campuses.
Imane Bajhi, board vice-president said that  ECOS, might be able to learn something from the student body government at UNM about how to communicate with students in Covid times, when many students are experiencing isolation.
Bahji has taken the lead for Ecos in drafting a letter to the CNM administration regarding improving remote learning.  CNM is expected to keep most courses online for Spring term, although some course will continue to meet in person under restrictions, according to college officials.  
Language for the draft letter indicated that ECOS would likely ask the CNM administration to encourage professors with classes that traditionally have had a lecture component, to provide that component in the remote learning setting as well. 
Lectures facilitate exchanges between professors and students that can help clarify problems and ideas, Bahji contends.
ECOS members discussed the worthwhileness of discussion board exchanges between students.  Bahji said discussion board exchanges, can amount to “busy work,” and can cost students time better spent on “mastering substance.”
The board is expected to take up the letter again, it its meeting of November 13th.

ECOS Frustrated by Lack of Communication with Students

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Story by

Mark Graven

Staff Reporter
As the CNM Executive Council of Students (ECOS) delayed its project of submitting a letter to the college administration regarding concerns about remote learning, ECOS members voiced complaints about their inability to communicate with fellow students.
ECOS President Alex Crossland said, at a remotely attended meeting on Friday, October 16th, that he sensed that many students  feel “isolated,” but that is hard to substantiate because of a lack of communication.

Board Vice-president Imane Bahji said she knows she is frustrated by remote learning, and the difficulty in having “give and take” with professors,
“I go through my weekly cry sessions,”  said Bahji, adding,  “I might have to finish my degree, never sitting in another classroom.”
Bahji suggested that ECOS should hold an on-line event where students “can vent”  on remote learning, if they want.  
No students from the student body at large attended Fridays ECOS meeting.  The meeting are advertised on  ECOS CNM web page, which provide the remote connection to the meetings.  

ECOS does have a Suggestion Box on their CNM page, set up by ECOS Outreach Officer Colin Stapleton, although this has been rarely used.  ECOS said it did receive one suggestion, in the week prior to last Friday meeting.
Stapleton has emphasized that suggestions can be made anonymously.
ECOS has been discussing ways that it can interact with students, and the many student clubs it funds, in one place, but has yet to settle on a solution. 
ECOS members decided to give themselves to the “end of October” to finish their letter to the administration.

Crossland said it may be difficult to have an impact on remote learning for the current semester, but that the letter could help with the Spring term.

ECOS Continues Work on Remote Learning Message

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Story by Mark Graven

Staff Reporter
CNM’ s Executive Council of Students (ECOS) decided Friday to spend at least another week drafting a letter to the CNM administration regarding making improvements to remote learning at CNM.
ECOS President Alex Crossland said ECOS could use extra time to present as complete of picture as possible of what remote learning is like for CNM students.  He said he has been attending “review meetings” for various departments at CNM, but would still like more information.
ECOS has been soliciting feedback on remote learning through its Suggestion Box, which can be found on ECOS’s CNM web page.  Concerns or suggestions can be submitted anonymously, ECOS says.
Crossland said he was not interested in being better than other institutions on remote learning, if such institutions are setting a low bar.  He said that he wants to ensure that CNM students are receiving the quality education they expect, and are paying for.
Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer says that CNM may be “treating students more like employees than customers.”
ECOS Vice-President Imane Bahji, who did not attend Friday’s meeting, has criticized the “lack-of-lecture” format to remote learning as limiting interchange between students and professors, which she says, could help clarify difficult concepts for students.
ECOS members said they would consider sending a letter to the Faculty Senate, as well as the CNM administration regarding remote learning.

ECOS working on Improving Remote Learning

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Story by

Mark Graven

Staff Reporter

CNM’s Executive Council of Students (ECOS) is working on a letter to CNM administration regarding concerns about remote learning– the primary method of instruction at CNM during  Covid times, although some “hands on” classes have returned to campus on a restricted basis.
ECOS Vice President Imane Bahji. said she would draft a letter taking up concerns and suggestions students might have about remote learning.  
ECOS board members said they would take up the draft letter at their next meeting which will be conducted remotely on October 9.  (See CNM ECOS web page for details.)

ECOS President Alex Crossland said the CNM administration might be under a false impression that the “school is doing well,” with remote learning. 

“It just feels like we are on a downward trend”

Said crossland

Bahji repeated a concern that she voiced at two previous ECOS meetings:  that remote classes lack a lecture component where students can interact with professors, ask questions, and clarify concepts.  Bahji says she fears that students feel frustrated when they don’t understand concepts, so that the may withdraw from classes, and ultimately drop out of school.
Bahji said many students are seeking “outside resources”  to acquire the understanding the expected to get from their CNM course. 
Cleopatra Romero, a CNM student, who wants to join the ECOS board,  ( See ECOS website for information on how to join ECOS.) said students could be more assertive in contacting their professor with questions.  

“We should encourage students to get in touch with their professor, if they are having trouble,”

SAid Romero


Kristopher Gaussoin, director of student life and discipline at CNM, the advisor for ECOS board, said students should be careful about using outside resources, such as UNM course materials, in that there may be legal implications– such as copyright laws involved.
Gaussoin said that ECOS has a “very powerful voice” in how the school is run,  and that the administration “cares about your opinion.” 
“You should use your power positively,” urged Gaussoin, noting that how ECOS packages its message could play an important part in getting results.
Meanwhile ECOS continues to seek input from students through its Suggestion Box on it CNM web page.  That input can be made anonymously, according to ECOS outreach officer, Colin Stapleton.
Crossland said that he was hopeful that ECOS could improve remote learning in the future, but also effect some change in the current fall semester.

File Your Complaints Under ECOS

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Story by

Mark Graven

Staff Reporter
After its last two board meetings were dominated by discussion of complaints about remote learning at CNM, the Executive Council of Student (ECOS) is seeking more input on the subject from the student body.
Board members say they are encouraging CNM students to give anonymous feedback through the suggestion box it has set up on its CNM web page. 
By searching for “Executive  Council of Students ECOS, Suggestion Box,” students can find a place to voice concerns and suggest improvements, according to ECOS board members.
ECOS Vice-president Imane Bahji brought up her cocerns about remote learning at the ECOS meeting of September 18.   She said that her math and science courses lacked a lecture component, so that it was difficult to interact with professors, ask questions, and clarify difficult concepts.  She said that if students don’t understand what is going on in a course, they might be inclined to drop out of class, and even quit school.
“It is frustrating to students, when they expect lectures, and don’t get them,” said ECOS President Alex Crossland, after discusssion resumed on remote learning at ECOS’s September 25 meeting.
Crossland said that remote learning is beginning to look more like a “self-study” project.
Board members noted that that they, as a board, could not make any decisions regarding remote learning, but they could act as advocates for student concerns to the administration.
Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer., said the ECOS suggestion box allows for anonymity, so student could feel free to express themselves.
Board members said they would be looking at other institutions to see what steps they are doing to make remote learning more palatable and productive.