On Wednesday March 29, 2023, the department of Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE) hosted the 5th Student Town Meeting Day in the Waterman Memorial Lounge. This year marked the restart of the department鈥檚 signature event after having to put it on hold during the height of the pandemic.
Dr. Jane Kolodinsky, chair and professor of CDAE, kicked off the event with a warm welcome to the students and an introduction to the tradition. Sarah Heiss, associate professor of public communications in CDAE, led the discussion by opening the floor and giving students an opportunity to respond to questions related to creating community in the department. The students were asked to share definitions and experiences about how and when they have felt engaged, connected, and valued in CDAE. Students responded by voicing experiences such as when they felt valued by their professors in certain classes, experiential opportunities like service-learning courses that engaged and inspired them and growing supportive connections with their peers. There were also calls to develop certain areas of the department programs to provide students with additional resources for professional and career development.
Students who preferred not to voice their responses were given materials to write their thoughts and experiences anonymously. These responses were collected at the end of the event and are intended to inform future research in improving and developing the department to better understand and serve its students.
A big thank you to the CDAE professional support staff for planning and providing food and drinks, Sarah Williamson for photographing, and Miles Jewel for filming the event.