Living-Learning Communities

We propose the installation of rentable bikes to further aid students in exploration beyond campus walls as they fully immerse themselves within the surrounding community. This initiative would enhance current efforts already available to students, such as shuttles and Zipcars, and provide an alternative method for students to explore off campus in an affordable way. Bikes would expand places students may travel to as existing services do not provide transportation to destinations in close proximity to Endicott’s campus, including Beverly Farms and surrounding beaches. Although installing rentable bikes would require the college to navigate issues of liability and accessibility, these problems can be addressed by implementing a waiver that students would sign prior to the bikes being rented, ensuring the protection of students and the reputation of the institution. This action would help improve students' mental and physical health while adjusting to college life, as well as relieving environmental stress, and further connecting students to the Beverly community. In the short-term, we recommend investing in 4 bikes that can be rented through the booth located in Lower Callahan. This would be a cost efficient addition to the resources provided for students to freely explore beyond Endicott’s “bubble.”

We propose a streamlined template for the Canvas Learning Management System that faculty at Endicott will use across campus to help first-year students acclimate to college life. Currently, freshmen receive training on how to use Canvas at orientation, but it is a very brief introduction to the program, and many students are left confused following the presentation. Creating a streamlined template would establish issues such as unsatisfied faculty, confused students, and potential negative opinions on the template. Through our video showing how the template works and readily available assistance from faculty and students, managing the template for all classes can be easily learned, and the stress that is potentially created when using Canvas can be eliminated. This will positively impact the Endicott community because it will help students redirect their focus to their assignments and studies. A template would also help teachers enter grades and give feedback on assignments in a quicker, more streamlined approach. Finally, the IT staff would have fewer navigation issues since it would be a less complex format, and people would have fewer complaints.

We propose that Endicott College add an additional health care product dispenser with easy access to more to-go products. Currently, the Health Center is open during the school week and has a health and wellness vending machine outside that is available 24/7. However, this vending machine has miscellaneous products that will not help a student when they are sick and unable to travel to the Health Center or the closest Urgent Care. This change will be a gateway for improvement toward Endicott’s health care systems. Even though changing the health center hours or getting a shuttle to go to the closest Urgent Care would be a more ideal solution to the problem of healthcare access, these ideas are too complicated to implement and would need a higher budget. Our approach would be a more cost-effective way to help students at Endicott College who need to receive medical care.

We propose the establishment of “The Feathered Flea,” a sustainable flea market at Endicott to help our diverse student body access affordable second-hand clothing, used textbooks, and other low cost items not readily available on Endicott’s campus. Any leftover items would be donated to local women’s shelters in Essex County. The flea market would complement the existing efforts of the Office of Sustainability, which consists of permanent Red Cross clothing donation boxes in Lower Callahan and a yearly pop-up on campus for sustainable small businesses. “The Feathered Flea” would advance the college’s efforts by the Office of Sustainability by supporting change for our campus and our environmental future. Establishing “The Feathered Flea” could require the college to provide resources in terms of availability of open space for the flea market stalls (ex: The Post Center Parking Lot, Lower Callahan, etc.) and this could present itself as a challenge as space is limited on campus. With precise consideration, however, these challenges can be met, and “The Feathered Flea” can strengthen Endicott’s Community and the surrounding environment. As an initial step, we would recommend piloting this concept through the creation of laundry room drop boxes and a pilot flea market consisting of three stalls. “The Feathered Flea” would allow us to build on already existing programs here on Endicott’s campus by offering more affordable resources for the diverse student body while also supporting the natural environment.

We propose the building of a student-oriented Endicott community app titled “OwnedbyHER,” which will allow female students to post unwanted clothing for sale, helping users to save money and meet new people. As a way to announce the app, we will host a yearly body-inclusive fashion show showcasing some of the donated clothing for sale, which will both advertise the clothes and boost body positivity. This proposal would complement Endicott's existing efforts to recycle and donate clothing, which consists of a donation drop box. While creating the OwnedbyHER app poses certain difficulties regarding budgeting and general appeal to Endicott’s female community, these concerns can be addressed through utilizing campus resources such as employing a computer science major to develop the app. Most importantly, implementing this model will empower women and create community by establishing relationships across different subsets of the female student body. Inspiring students to connect and support each other on OwnedbyHER and on campus promotes self-confidence through body positivity and fashion empowerment, which can help women express their independence and creativity. We recommend piloting this project through a live auction body-inclusive fashion show at the VPAC and approaching the computer science professors at Endicott about implementing a portfolio assignment that could address this issue. OwnedbyHER will allow students to engage in and share a love of fashion by providing an affordable, community oriented resource.

We propose implementing a bike share program at Endicott, called EC Cyclers, to help first-year and returning students gain a sense of freedom while on campus. Students would be able to check out the bikes at the student booth in lower Callahan and be able to take them to run a quick errand or explore the city of Beverly. This program would improve what Endicott has already offered students forms of transportation by giving students easy and reliable conveyance to get to locations on and off campus. Creating this program would pose a few challenges including how to approach bike damages, insufficient bicycle donations, and how to spark interest in students. With careful work, these challenges can be met by detailed planning, and bicycles on campus can empower students by giving them a sense of freedom and individualism. Bicycles can also provide students with another form of sustainable transportation, and access to exercise which will ultimately benefit students' mental health. To start the implementation of this initiative, we recommend using the bike racks outside of Callahan to pilot the program because it would be the most cost-effective option. Students who run the bike share booth will then be instructed how to check out the bikes as soon as possible so that people can start using the bikes and gain a sense of independence, improve mental and physical health, and overall get a breath of fresh air from campus.

We propose bringing in speakers to help the Endicott community learn more about current events in the world that are not heavily discussed on campus. This proposal would bolster the efforts of the Center for Belonging & Inclusion, which already converses about current events and brings in occasional guest speakers to talk about specific matters. Guest speakers would have many benefits: educating students about current events in the world, building connections with students, helping students with self discovery, and exposing the speakers to different atmospheres to see how different communities react to the speeches. Making the guest speaker events optional and not mandatory would benefit students more because it may look more appealing on the student's behalf rather than having it be mandatory. Considering our limited budget, we propose a fundraiser to be implemented to help extend our budget for the fall semester of 2024. There is also the possibility for volunteer speakers, whether that be friends or family.

As developing students in the Endicott community who consider faith to be a part of our identity, we propose a larger focus on religion for students on campus so that first-year students are more aware of what the College is doing and how they can get involved. More specifically, we want to propose 1) providing transportation for students who want to travel off campus to practice their faith, 2) hosting religious events on campus, and 3) publishing and communicating a calendar that helps inform students about religious opportunities on campus. Our proposal would support the efforts of The Center for Inclusion and of Belonging, which is working to continue the push for students to continue the practice of their religion on campus. With our proposal, we might be able to help them even further. The promotion of religion can benefit the school in several ways including the possibility of an increase in student applications once they see that religion is still allowed on the campus of Endicott College. The promotion of religion also benefits the student body by increasing their well-being, which directly relates to the schools push for diversity and belonging. Religion also helps students grow as human beings and with a haven that other students find in activities like sports, or a bookworm finds in reading.

As a group of college students who share a love for animals, we propose incorporating a way for all college students to visit a local animal shelter in order to improve their mental health and engage in meaningful community service opportunities. This proposal would have several benefits. First, it would give students’ a place where they feel comfortable and included. Second, it would benefit students’ mental and physical health. Third, it would benefit the animal shelters by providing them with extra care for the animals. Fourth, it would benefit the community service programs at Endicott due to more opportunities being offered. Animal shelters aren't as accessible as one might think for college students to volunteer at, there are challenges that we face such as required applications in order to volunteer at the animal shelter, and the amount of students that are able to attend. However, a lot can be done with our 1,000 dollar budget, not many shelters around here charge for certifications and the transportation would be the only cost of this program. This parallels the existing partnering with local animal shelters and would fill the need for volunteers at the shelters.

Solar energy is an effective way to make Endicott even more sustainable. Endicott College has solar panels installed on several structures, including parking garages, residence halls, and academic buildings. To help make solar energy more accessible and beneficial to students in their everyday lives, we must allow students access to small-scale solar energy. The small-scale ideas we focused on are solar benches and small-scale solar charging stations. Using small-scale solar will help Endicott save money in the long run. We propose installing charging stations or a solar bench in convenient and high-traffic areas. This ensures maximum impact with minimal investment. This promotes sustainability awareness and fosters a sense of community engagement in renewable energy practices.

Being a college student, especially a first-year, brings a significant change in environment, academics, and social life, so becoming familiar with campus resources can help with a smoother transition. Endicott already helps support this transition with a range of resources in place, such as orientation, counseling in the Wellness Center, and the Department of Academic Success; however, Endicott trails are hidden gems on campus yet to be added to this list. Currently, Endicott’s XC team and environmental science classes utilize the trails for training and course work; however, Endicott College campus trails do not have a high percentage of students utilizing them on a daily basis. Reinforcing the trails as a part of the Endicott student experience will benefit their physical and mental health. Supporting this conclusion, we analyzed multiple outside sources, and interviewed Carly Thibodeau, the Associate Director of Sustainability at Endicott College, to find a solution. Our team proposes we produce and distribute a limited number of informational trail pamphlets to be located in the Wellness Center and Center for Belonging, as well as create laminated, reusable campus posters to promote student trail usage.

When you think of “Go Green,” you automatically think of recycling and sustainability. Endicott College does a fantastic job of promoting sustainability initiatives on campus, but the college's athletics could promote green practices more effectively. Endicott College could hold “Green Game Day”. The sustainability office should hold this event on homecoming weekend because that is when most people will be on campus for an athletic event. We propose having announcements reminding fans to recycle the right way in the recycling bins, bringing knowledge to student-athletes, coaches, and fans. We also propose organizing experiences for fans to engage in sustainability in a fun way during halftime of the game. For example, kids can have the opportunity to come onto the field and play in a game that revolves around recycling. Our proposal will be fun and engaging while also spreading awareness. We think our “Green Game Day” will help Endicott reach its goals of encouraging fans to cheer on their favorite team and to keep the athletic facilities a sustainable place to watch the Gulls win.