CLA Student Board

CLA Student Board

The CLA Student Board is the official undergraduate student government for the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota. Our members work vigorously to foster academic excellence, build community, promote artistic expression, and prepare students for post-college aspirations.

We act as the bridge between CLA students and administration, prepared to coordinate events and initiatives to ensure that you are both heard and represented. If you have anything you would like to discuss your experience in the College of Liberal Arts, please feel free to reach out to us. Your input could help to positively shape the college for many current and future students.

The CLA Student Board is made up of four standing committees: 

  • Data and Finance Committee: Conducts research on internal (CLASB) and external (CLA) happenings and manages finances. 
  • Internal Affairs Committee: Evaluates and improves CLA Student Board culture, plans professional and team building initiatives/events, and organizes orientation of new members.
  • External Affairs Committee: Builds partnerships with college boards, USG, other student groups, and CLA staff/faculty/administration. Plans advertising and marketing strategies.
  • Events Committee: Plans and executes CLASB events! 

Members of the student board can join whichever committee they would like! In addition to these committees, we have several Director and Officer positions that members can run for:

  • President 
  • Vice President
  • Treasurer 
  • Secretary (leads Internal Affairs Committee)
  • Communication Director (leads External Affairs Committee)
  • Event Officer (leads Events Committee)
  • Alumni Relations Officer 
  • Data Analyst (collects data and conducts research on internal and external happenings)
  • Undergraduate Student Government Representative

Our board meets every Wednesday to plan events for the student body and organize initiatives to promote our four pillars: 

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Holistic Wellness
  • Sustainability

We incorporate these pillars into everything we do!

To learn more about our composition, mission, or the application process, check out our GopherLink website!

Please contact us with any questions, concerns, comments, or ideas you may have! We want to hear from the students of the College of Liberal Arts and address your concerns. We answer on all social media platforms and our email. 

Email
Instagram
Facebook 
Twitter 
LinkedIn

The CLA Student Board hosts various events each academic year that students from the university can attend! Here are some of our past events:

  • Campus Safety Panel: In October of 2021, the CLA Student Board organized a campus safety panel where UMN students were invited to ask a panel of speakers about campus safety and public safety. The speakers included Jeremiah Ellison (MPLS Council Member), Professor Marizen Ramirez (PhD, MPH), and Professor Christopher Uggen (PhD). Watch a recording of the panel here.
  • Public Health Speed Networking Event: In December of 2021, the CLA Student Board organized a speed networking event where UMN students were invited to network with alumni about their professional journey, general advice/guidance, how to build a resume, etc. 
  • Mental Health Resource Fair: In November of 2021, we hosted a mental health resource fair where groups such as the Disability Resource Center, Aurora Center, Center for Spirituality and Healing, RecWell, De-Stress, etc. joined us to discuss the importance of mental health.
  • Gender Violence Panel: In March of 2021, the CLA Student Board hosted a gender violence panel where students were invited to ask a panel of speakers questions regarding gender-based violence. Speakers included Alexa Paleka (Prevention Program Coordinator at the Aurora Center), Tina Marisam, J.D. (EOAA Director), Alicia Leizinger (Prevention Advocates program leader), and Carly Duran (Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life).
  • Sustainability Resource Fair: In March of 2022, we hosted a sustainability resource fair where groups such as the Environmental Student Association, the Food Recovery Network, UMN Sustainability, Sisters Camelot, etc. were invited to discuss the importance of sustainability and how students can get involved with sustainable organizations in Minneapolis.
  • Mental Health Panel: In December of 2021, we hosted a mental health panel where students were invited to ask a panel of speakers questions regarding mental health. Speakers included Matt Hanson, Ph.D. (Interim Director, Boynton Mental Health), Jennifer Krzmarzick, M.D. ( Interim Assistant Vice Provost), Bronte Stewart-New (Legal Advocacy Coordinator, Boynton Mental Health), and Vesna Hampel-Kozar, Ph.D. (Student Counseling Services). View a recording of the panel here.
  • Driven to Discover U Speaker Series: In April of 2021, we hosted a speaker series where students were invited to listen to speakers discuss the value of a liberal arts degree and how they have found meaning in their life. Speakers included Tai Mendenhall (Professor in the Couple and Family Therapy Program at UMN) and Lulete Mola (social change strategist). The event also featured performances by the Choreos and MinnesoTAP.”

The CLA Student Board accepts applications every Fall and Spring. We encourage all College of Liberal Arts Students to apply. If you are interested in applying, stay tuned for more information! Sign-up for our newsletter to be notified when we are accepting applications. Applications open August 1st.

Want to know what being on the board is like? Click here.

What is an initiative? 
An initiative is a project or venture intended to assess progress and improve the experiences of the student body within the College of Liberal Arts. Initiatives are flexible, so they are liable to change based on the structure, personnel, interests, and values of the Board. Often, a CLASB initiative will involve both a qualitative component (e.g. outreach and advocacy) and a quantitative component (e.g. survey data on student opinion).

How does the Data Analytics Committee support initiatives?
The Data Analytics Committee provides quantitative support for CLASB initiatives by constructing and disseminating surveys to gauge student opinion on CLA-related issues. After analyzing these survey data, the Committee consolidates its findings and presents any significant takeaways or recommendations to the rest of the Board (and in some cases to the CLA community more broadly).

Why does the CLA Student Board pursue initiatives?
The Board is dedicated to serving the needs of CLA students, and to this end, it develops initiatives that aim to raise awareness about these issues and concerns. In other words, it is a priority of the Board to maintain consistent communication with the CLA student body and ensure that student voices are brought to the forefront of conversations on campus. For instance, if students vocalize that they would like to hear more about campus safety, then the Board will take steps to formally gather student feedback, increase access to relevant resources, and bring in prominent members of the Twin Cities community to facilitate a discussion about the topic.

Past CLASB initiatives:

  • Mental Health Initiative: Pledge to Prioritize: The Pledge to Prioritize initiative is a campaign to promote safe and healthy practices for mental health and well-being.
  • CLA Feedback Survey: This survey was designed to identify potential student concerns in areas such as career resources, degree requirements, and diversity and inclusion.
  • Classroom Inclusion Survey: The objective of this initiative was to gauge student perceptions about mental health accommodations and the atmosphere for diversity and inclusion within CLA.
  • CLASB-ESO Department of Economics Survey: In conjunction with the Economics Student Organization, this project elicited department-specific feedback from economics majors and minors.
  • Liberal Education Requirement Survey: This survey was conducted as one component of a Board-wide initiative to address the University’s liberal education degree requirements.

Please contact clasb@umn.edu to access the data from or request more information about these initiatives.

 

  1. Initiatives 
    1. (2021) Pledge to Prioritize Relaunch 
      1. *project not completed, but to be listed on website upon completion*
    2. (2019) Rename Reclaim
    3. (2019) Pledge to Prioritize: A Mental Health Initiative 
      1. Classroom Inclusion Survey
      2. Video 
      3. Pledges
    4. (2019/2016) Economics Department Resolution
    5. (2015) College Resource Aggregator 
    6. (2014) CLA Diversity Initiative – Race, Indigeneity, Gender and Sexuality (RIGS)
  2. Student Guides 
    1. (2021) Transfer Guide
    2. (2020) Freshman Guide 
    3. (2015) PSEO CLA Student Resource Guide
    4. (2015) International Student Resource Guide
  3. Conversations with the University / Feedback
    1. (2020) George Floyd Murder Statement 
    2. (2015) CLA Student Readiness: College Preparation Feedback from the CLA Student Board
    3. (2015) International Student Memo
    4. (2015) CLA Roadmap Project
      1. Presentation from CLA 
      2. Feedback from CLASB

Student Group Funding: Is your student group interested in receiving funding from the CLA Student Board? Apply for funding here.

Humans of CLA Interest Form: Humans of CLA is a collection of portraits and interviews of CLA students. All interviews will be featured on our social media to photoblog stories of education and campus life. Are you interested in being featured? Fill out this form to apply!

Newsletter Sign-Up: Stay up-to-date on the CLA Student Board. Join our newsletter here!

Questions/Feedback for the CLA Student Board: Do you have any questions or feedback you would like to share with us? Leave us comments here!

CLA Student Board LinkTree: Linktree