ACUI - The Role of the College Union
Memorial Union Staff - Guiding Principles - Developed January 2009
Memorial Union Mission Statement
"The Memorial Union advances student success."
Memorial Union Vision Statement
1. To serve the changing needs of our students by developing programs and services to meet the global challenges facing students.
2. To be a partner in developing community on campus.
3. To be a leader in developing innovative methodologies and practices for Union's nationwide.
Memorial Union Areas of Focus
Programs and Services Development
Diversity
Communication
Sustainability
Nationally Recognized Union: A nationally recognized Student Union starts from within. On a national level, being nationally recognized means three things:
1) Our work will constantly be focused on raising the bar to better serve students, intentionally developing outcome based programs and becoming experts in our area
2) We will become a clearinghouse of information in terms of team training, team development, service learning/civic engagement, Greek Life, Operational systems, Leadership training, Recreational programs, Service & Hospitality, Campus Programming, Marketing and more!
3) Professionals will want to come to Fargo just for the experience of working here with our team because they have heard how well we collaborate, demand self-accountability, and develop such high quality services and programs;
To help guide us along the way:
Principle I: Work Focus
Feedback based culture
o Utilizes results & outcomes focus during the assessment process
o Asks several peers/students in and outside the Union for feedback
Team, collaboration & open communication
o Collaborate in and outside of the union on programs/services
o As a team, work to better relationships that may be suffering (what we do for us, we mirror in how we work with students!)
o Advocate for each other, don't speak negatively about others (help each other to grow-like we do for students and friends).
Positive conflict
o It is okay to disagree. A decision will be made by the person responsible for that area. Trust and support each other!
o Check perceptions before creating judgments (life is more enjoyable!)
o Be okay with putting yourself out there-be vulnerable in order to create trust
Self-accountability
o Stop blaming and help. Stop judging and lend a hand. Come up with suggestions
o Self-validate yourself by setting and accomplishing your own goalso Contribute, collaborate, and commend everyone for their work (not just friends)
Become an expert in your area
o Read books, articles, take classes, present at conferences-focus on development
o Communicate and share your expertise on our new "NDSU Clearinghouse" website
Raise the Bar
o Don't create more work, just do it even better than before. Evaluate, improve, and evaluate again. Focus on outcomes
Remember FOCUS and challenge your students and each other to increase our level of service and hospitality
Principle II: Values
Relationships
Quality (programs/services)
Balance life and work
Diversity
Respect and supporting each other
Student Focused
Trust and confidence in each other
Principle III: The supervisory atmosphere will focus on the following in order to provide high quality leadership
Reward calculated mistakes and initiative
Focus on outcomes and results
Coach to be the best and to raise the bar
Challenge personal and professional growth
Recognize the results
Push advanced planning and collaboration
Encourage staff to prevent wedging and back talk (work to encourage staff to break down mental models and check perceptions)
How will we enact the above?
The Memorial Union complements the mission of NDSU as a Student Focused, Land Grant, Research University.
Check out our Outcomes and Retention Efforts
