Student Voice Association (SVA) Officer

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General purpose: This officer position is responsible for advocating for the interests and needs of the undergraduate student community at MICA.

The SVA Undergraduate Student Council serves as the representative body for the undergraduate population at MICA. Their separate duties contribute toward shared goals of advocating on behalf of students, and disseminating accurate information across the college. 
 

Summary of Essential Functions

• The Student Voice Association (SVA) officers serve a 1-year commitment, beginning in late August and ending in early May.
• There are a total of up to 6 SVA Officers every year who are expected to work together as a cohesive advocacy council.
• The time commitment ranges from 4-6 hours per week.

General SVA Officer Responsibilities

• Attend weekly council meetings and monthly joint council meetings
• Participate in SVA retreats and training sessions
• Maintain open and regular communication with the SVA advisors
• Fulfill responsibilities as outlined in respective job descriptions
• Practice equitable teamwork strategies and mutual accountability
• Serve as role models for the student community
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
• Delegate undergraduate students to serve on ad-hoc committees

Specific SVA Officer Responsibilities

Director of Communications

The Director of Communications is responsible for the SVA Undergraduate Council’s communications strategy. This officer should ideally be visible in social media spaces that MICA students frequent, including extending outreach efforts to international student chat spaces where possible. 

Responsibilities:

• Work in collaboration with the Director of Design to share and promote social media graphics, SVA newsletters, and event flyers 
• Moderate the MICA / App
• Respond to student questions
• Relay student issues to appropriate faculty/administrators
• Survey/poll MICA students on issues and concerns via the MICA / App or other appropriate platforms
• Moderate social media accounts including the SVA instagram (@mica_studentvoice) and the SVA YouTube Channel (Student Voice Association MICA)
• Manage SVA email account (sva@mica.edu)
• Reply to emails through the SVA account
• Draft and send out full student body email communications on behalf of SVA. This includes emails for upcoming SVA meetings, events, and surveys
• Maintain SVA website 
• Update the website to reflect current events and information
• Gather and upload meeting minutes from directors and committees
• Take meeting notes at SVA Undergraduate Council meetings

Director of Design

The Director of Design is responsible for the SVA Undergraduate Council’s brand identity. This officer should create visuals that are appealing and informative to keep the student community updated about advocacy work and governance. 

Responsibilities:

• Work in collaboration with the Director of Communications to develop and create social media graphics, SVA newsletters, and event flyers
• Prepare promotional materials for public-facing SVA events such as open forums and town halls
• Coordinate SVA newsletter 
• Gather information from Undergraduate Directors and GSC Officers
• Gather updates from committees
• Gather future event and meeting dates 
• Prepare newsletter for approval from the rest of the council prior to publication
• Maintain SVA website
• Update banners, icons, and other graphics as necessary
• Gather and upload photos and documentation from SVA events
• Design student feedback surveys and polls, as needed

Director of Academic Affairs 

The Director of Academic Affairs is responsible for coordinating the SVA Undergraduate Council’s Academic Affairs Committees and Department Representatives.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as chair of the Undergraduate Studies Committee 
• Fulfill committee chair responsibilities
• Coordinate Fall recruitment for FYE Committee membership
• Maintain updated list of SVA Department Representatives and recruit students to fill vacancies
• Gather Academic Affairs committee meeting minutes and forward to the Director of Communications
• Serve as a student representative on the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees

Director of Student Life 

The Director of Student Life is responsible for coordinating the SVA Undergraduate Council’s Student Life Committees, Chairs, and Membership. 

Responsibilities:

• Serve as chair of one of the following Student Life committees: Accessibility Committee, Culture and Identity Leadership Council, Student Workers Committee, Sustainability Committee
• Fulfill committee chair responsibilities
• Coordinate recruitment for additional Student Life committee chairs 
• Maintain updated list of committee members
• Gather Student Life committee meeting minutes to forward to the Director of Communications
• Serve as a student representative on the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees

Director of Shared Governance 

The Director of Shared Governance is responsible for facilitating Undergraduate council meetings, Town Halls, and serving as a primary student liaison to the MICA administration.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Director of Transitions
• Meet with college leadership committees on behalf of the SVA
• Report back to the SVA council on updates from college leadership 
• Maintain communication between SVA committees, undergraduate directors, and SVA advisors
• Schedule and set agendas for weekly SVA Undergraduate Council Meetings
• Organize and coordinate SVA Town Halls once per semester with GSC Officers

Director of Transitions [Past Director]

The Director of Transitions is an officer who has served on the previous SVA Undergraduate Council. This officer provides continuity between councils, ensuring that existing advocacy work continues into the next academic year. 

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with all undergraduate Directors, most notably the Director of Shared Governance
• Plan and facilitate SVA training sessions and retreats with the Staff Advisor
• Support transitions of SVA’s advocacy work between council terms 
• Provide guidance and background knowledge of the college to the current SVA Undergraduate Council 
• Create constitutional amendments with feedback from the SVA councils as needed
• Coordinate election procedures for the following year’s SVA Undergraduate Council, including developing outreach strategies to international students, transfer students, BIPOC students, etc. 
• Serve as the SVA point of contact for MICA’s Voter Access Initiative

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a currently enrolled MICA undergraduate student at the time of employment
• Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5
• Demonstrated leadership abilities
• A desire to serve the MICA community

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in advocacy/organizing is preferred but not required

Compensation

• Time commitment: 3-4 hours per week
• Semester stipend: $750

Conditions of Employment

• SVA officers are expected to attend mandatory trainings in the fall and spring
• Student employees may work no more than 20 hours per week across all on-campus positions

Application Timeline & Details

• For more information, please contact Vicky Wang (vwang@mica.edu)

Maryland Institute College of Art is committed to its policy of providing equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status (disabled, Vietnam-era, or otherwise). Furthermore, the College does not tolerate any form of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment or sexual violence. This policy applies to all programs, facilities, and activities provided by Maryland Institute College of Art, including but not limited to admission, educational programs, and employment.

Applicants must apply online for each job in which they are interested. You will not be considered for any job for which you have not specifically applied. We do not accept applications via email, U.S. mail, or fax. Successful candidates for any staff or faculty positions will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

MICA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact Human Resources at 410-225-2363.