Board of Trustees / Student Shadowing Program

  1. Program Overview
  2. Questions for Trustees
  3. Questions for Students
  4. Sample Timeline
  5. Feedback Form

Program Overview

The Board of Trustees/Student Shadowing Program has been developed to foster a mutual appreciation and understanding of the work of a member of the Board of Trustees and that of a modern day College of Charleston student. Beyond occasional opportunities during the year when Board Members are on campus, there are few opportunities for Board Members and students to interact with each other.

The student’s challenges and rewards can be far removed from those of a Board Member.  While Board Members may catch glimpses of student life while attending Board Meetings and other occasional campus visits, they generally do not get a lot of exposure to the students’ daily lives unless they have children or grandchildren attending the College.  Even then, the complexities of being a modern day student are not immediately apparent.  Simply put, the main goal of the Student Shadowing Program is to allow Board Members and College of Charleston Students an opportunity to get to know each other better.

This will be accomplished through the one-on-one experience of a Trustee member shadowing a student for a day. This program will be offered during the fall and spring semesters of every year.

Questions for Trustees

  • How did you decide on the College?
  • What is your favorite part about being a student at the College?
  • Are you involved in any organization or activities on campus?
  • What does a typical day look like? How many classes are you enrolled in?
  • What is your major and how did you decide on that major?
  • What is your favorite class this semester and why?
  • What career are you interested in after graduation?
  • Do you feel the College has adequately prepared you thus far to pursue that career?
  • Have you ever used any Academic, Career or Alumni services offered at the College?
  • What is your favorite activity/event that you have attended at the College?
  • What types of things do you do for fun in Charleston?
  • Is there anything that you wish the College provided for students that it doesn't already?
  • Do you live on campus or off?
  • Where is your favorite place to eat on campus?
  • What challanges have you faced as a student at the College?
  • What is your personal background? (hometown, education, professional, experience, hobbies, interests)
  • How do you manage your time between all of your responsibilities?
  • Where is your favorite place to study on and off campus?
  • Where do you see the College in 10 years?
  • What advice would you give an incoming freshman at the College?

Questions for Students

  • How/when did you know you wanted to become a Board Member?
  • Did you attend the College of Charelston? And if so, has the College changed a lot since you were a student?
  • What interested you in serving on the College of Charleston Board?
  • How did you become a member?
  • How long have you been serving on the Board?
  • Are there term limits to serving on the Board?
  • What are your yearly Board Member commitments?
  • How do you prepare for Board Meetings?
  • What are your Board of Trustess member commitments outside of attending Board and Committee Meetings?
  • How do you balance your professional life and your work as a member of the Board of Trustees?
  • How has your role as a Board member changed recently and over time?
  • What do you enjoy most and least about being on the Board?
  • What are some of the challenges you’ve witnessed at the College and in serving on the Board?
  • When was the last time you were in a classroom as a student? Or as a teacher or speaker?
  • What is your personal background? (hometown, education, professional experience, hobbies, interests)
  • What are three things you would like to see the College change or improve in the future?

Sample Program Timeline

September

  • Deadline for interested Board Members to sign up for the Program
  • Program Directors (Executive Secretary to the Board of Trustees and SGA President) meet to match Board Members and Students

October

  • Board and Students are informed of their match and encouraged to contact each other to schedule the shadowing date
  • Deadline for Board and Students to confirm shadowing date with Program Directors
  • Shadowing occurs (one day chosen in accordance with individuals’ October and November schedules)

December

  • Feedback forms sent to participating Board and Students
  • Deadline for feedback forms to be submitted to Program Directors
  • Program Directors and SGA President meet to debrief and review feedback forms

January

  • Program Directors finalize program review to be delivered by the Chair of the Student Affairs Committee at the January Committee and Board Meetings
  • Chair of the Student Affairs Committee delivers program review at the January Committee and Board Meetings

Program Feedback Form

  1. What were the top three benefits of the Board of Trustees/Student Shadowing Program?
  2. Was the length of time (one day) for shadowing appropriate?
  3. What are the top two things you were surprised to learn about the Board Member/Student’s work?
  4. What are three ways you would amend the program for the future?

This information is confidential and will only be shared with the Program Directors.  Thank you for your participation. 

Board Member /Student _______________________________________________ Date _____________