Assessment 23-24: Center for Student Involvement

This event created an opportunity for students to make friends with people they might not have met otherwise. The shared interest in K-Pop provided a safe and welcoming space for building community.

The student learning outcomes were to create a space for students to connect and build community. Students were also able to learn about Korean culture in relation to K-Pop. 

"Stop, Drop, & K-Pop" was a successful event with 163 attendees, who enjoyed activities and connecting with fellow K-pop fans. Students expressed excitement for future events and actively exchanged contact information and photo cards, indicating new friendships. Many wished for a longer event, highlighting a strong interest in more K-pop gatherings that foster community and belonging at Cal State LA.

Based on the analysis, continuing events like Stop, Drop, & K-Pop is essential due to its popularity. Future enhancements could include extending hours, adding more DIY craft activities, and featuring a knowledgeable K-Pop DJ to improve student enjoyment. These suggestions can be applied to the next time the event is held.

Joining a fraternity or sorority can be exciting yet overwhelming. The New Member Symposium helps newcomers navigate this experience by providing essential tools and support for success at Cal State LA. It fosters pride and belonging, enabling new members to understand the significance of Greek life and the importance of being part of a greater community. Through conversations and interactions, they learn to become engaged and purposeful leaders within the Greek community and beyond.

Attending the New Member Symposium helped fraternity and sorority students achieve three key outcomes related to community engagement: 

• Successful Transition: Participants gained clarity on their roles and the expectations of fraternity and sorority life.
• Sense of Belonging: New members connected with peers from different chapters through discussions and learned about the Fraternity and Sorority Life Coordinator's role.
• Leadership Development: Students explored opportunities from the Center for Student Involvement, identified their skills, and recognized their impact on their organizations and the Greek community.

Based on data from new fraternity and sorority members, three key themes emerged:

• Connection: There is a desire for more opportunities to connect during the New Member Symposium.
• Hazing: Students recognize Cal State LA's zero-tolerance hazing policy, with a need for more detailed discussions on hazing examples and reporting processes.
• Similarity: New members discovered shared values across different organizations, emphasizing their part in a larger Greek community rather than being isolated.

CSI’s goal for the New Member Symposium is to focus on values-based leadership and learning. We aim to explore the traits that drive students to join fraternity and sorority life, ensuring the symposium aligns decisions and actions with their organization's core values.

Student leaders had the chance to connect and learn from each other at the LEAD Series workshops, which provided a safe space to enhance leadership skills and gain new perspectives. Those who attended a certain number of workshops in the fall were invited to a leadership retreat at Disneyland's Imagination Campus, while those who attended in the Spring were invited to the CSI student leader banquet.

Self-Advocacy and Allyship: Students learned various methods to advocate for themselves and support others within their professional organizations, academic spaces, and personal lives/communities.
Empathy-Centered Leadership: Students gained an understanding of empathy-centered leadership skills and how to apply these skills within their organizations.
Personal Reflection and Leadership Style: Students reflected on their personal perspectives and how these perspectives can shape their leadership style and interpersonal engagement within their organizations.

Post-assessment surveys show most students agreed with the learning outcomes, gained new skills, shifted perspectives, and appreciated the workshop format and facilitators.

These results support the themes of Wellness, Self-reflection, and Inclusion. The Center for Student Involvement aims to provide leadership and development opportunities that enhance students' professional, academic, and personal growth, focusing on community and people-centered leadership.

This assessment will guide future LEAD Series topics and compare data after each semester. We aim to make the LEAD Series a certification program, allowing students to enroll and attend throughout the academic year to enhance their leadership skills and community-building across majors and academic years.