SACON Meeting Minutes, May 2, 2011

SACON Committee Members Present

• Gracia Roulan- 2011-2012 Incoming President
• Laura Osika-Michales- 2011-2012 Activities Chairperson
• Colleen Bud- General Secretary
• Kathleen McDonnell- Organizing Secretary

Other SACON Members in Attendance

• Shannon Cavedine

CON Faculty in Attendance

• Maria Wheelock- SACON Faculty Advisor

Meeting opened at 1805 by Gracia Roulan.

April 2011 meeting minutes reviewed by Kathleen McDonnell
Next CON faculty meeting - 5/7/11 at 9:00am
Next CON curriculum meeting - 5/13/11 at 1:30pm

SACON Award

• Awarded to a student who has been most involved in SACON within the past year.
• Per Maria, there is a small monetary award included.
• Previously, the award has been given to the SACON president, or a graduating member of the committee.
• Previously, the faculty advisor has chosen the recipient of the award, however, due to the increased activity and participation this year, Maria suggested that the committee select the award recipient.
• Suggestion was made that two SACON awards be given this year, as there has been increased participation.
• Maria will verify at the faculty meeting if more than one award can be given.
• Gracia Roulan will email SACON committee with suggestions of nominees for the award.
• Nominee needs to be selected and submitted to Maria no later than 5/10/2011. Maria will contact Gracia Roulan if the nominee is needed sooner than this date.
• Nominees for the SACON Award:
• Colleen Drenckhahn
• Shelly Peters
• Elijah Dut

Student Dishonesty

• Maria reported that dishonesty issues are being discussed and addressed by CON faculty.
• New policies being implemented (test procedures, etc.) will not be changing.
• Maria reported that several students have informed professors that they have collaborated on various assignments or exams.
• Some professors believe part of the issue is the cultural beliefs of students, who don’t view collaboration as dishonest.
• Maria reported that the issue has led to a decrease in the use of online quizzes, as a way to prevent student collaboration.
• Shannon noted that there is an academic policy regarding student dishonesty
• Reports of academic dishonesty will be brought before the judicial committee
• Recent reports need to be handled according to the academic policy, and be brought before the judicial committee.
• Within the past semester there have been reports of dishonesty/collaboration in Advanced Research, Pharmacology, and FNPI.

Activities of Interest to Nursing Students

• “Lead Where You Stand” webinar
• Being held Tuesday, May 10th at 1 pm
• Offered by the American Nurses Association
• Access to the webinar is free for members of the ANA, $30 for non-members
• Nurses need to advocate
• Special meeting for NP students
• Tuesday, May 10th at 5:30pm at Twin Trees Too
• Offered by the Syracuse Chapter of the Nurse Practitioner’s Association
• Need to RSVP  to rmorse3@twcny.rr.com
• Membership to the Nurse Practitioner’s Association is about $55 as a student.
• CON new student orientation
• Being held on Thursday, June 2nd and Friday, June 3rd.
• Dean Szigeti has suggested that SACON have a table during orientation
• Gracia Roulan suggested that SACON request that there be a discussion of ethics concerns at the orientation
• End of the Semester Bash
• Was held on April 29th at 6pm in the CAB
• During the event, Laura Osika-Michales was told that the ice cream freezer in the CAB lobby was for the SACON event
• Ice cream freezer was locked, however, a CABG student employee had the freezer opened, and then informed Laura that the ice cream was available.
• Laura was contacted today by Chuck Simpson- questioning why the ice cream had been eaten by participants of the SACON event.
• Chuck Simpson also informed Laura that the lock on the freezer had been cut, and that there is a now a police investigation going on.
• COPE (Community Outreach and Prevention Education) Meeting
• Hosted by medical students
• Shannon Cavedine reported that she attended a presentation by the group
• The group presented a model that could be followed by other students
• Groups of five students went into various settings
• Target sites
• Salvation Army
• Booth House
• One group worked with young children
• 1 hour each Friday
• Health lessons (hand washing, cover cough education) paired with activities (word search)
• Booth House group
• Homeless Youth Home  for youth aged 15-18 years
• Past attempts to reach the youth was not effective; this time a much more casual approach was taken.
• Icebreaker- youth were asked to share their favorite curse word
• Effectively broke down barriers and allowed students to begin to form relationships with the youth
• Each week a health lesson was presented and all questions were answered.
• New foods were brought to the youth center for the youth to try (ie. Sushi
• Provided enriching opportunity for youth
• Shannon presented the suggestion that Nursing students/SACON participate in a similar program
• Shannon has contacted Salvation Army and is looking into several other underserved populations in the area for nursing students to work with
• Suggested that groups of 3-5 students be developed, ~2 hr. time commitment from participating students.

SACON Committee Positions

• USG Representative
• Gracia made the suggestion to make it mandatory that USG Representatives attend a certain number of USG meetings each semester
• Suggestion made that five USG Representatives be named to ensure that a representative is present at each meeting
• Committee members
• Suggestion made that all SACON Committee members be required to attend the majority of meetings each semester.
• Important that committee members show commitment, as well as display professionalism and promote the organization.

Curriculum Concerns

• Focus groups
• Meega Wells has requested that students identify two different times at which focus groups could be held to give students the opportunity to work with the professors to develop courses.
• Gracia will email CON students to get suggestions for  focus group meeting times.
• Suggestions to bring to the faculty:
• Pathophysiology
• Gracia recommended to change class to an on campus course.
• Doreen Rogers- has taught Pathophysiology at the associates level.
• Has stated she would be willing to consider teaching the course if offered the opportunity.
• Reported to be a very effective teacher.
• Pharmacology
• Need a professor who is more engaged and involved in the course
• Need more consistency in the course- decrease the number of different lecturers
• Fewer quizzes
• FNP
• Margie Wade inquired if students are interested in having two sections for the FNP II class.
• The recommendation has been made that there be an FNP coordinator who can provide consistency throughout the program.
• FNP coordinator could also provide additional assistance with clinical placement.

Next SACON Meeting

Wednesday, June 1st at 5 pm
Location - Upstate Library

1945 Meeting adjourned.