group of young adults talking

Discussion Guide 3: Activities at Campus Institutes (60 minutes)

Instructions: Read the following information. Discussion questions are provided at the end to help start the conversation.

S&I is now authorized to offer more activities, workshops, and other resources in addition to classes at campus institutes that will help YSAs feel a greater sense of community, social connection, and energy. Recent research shows that YSAs want opportunities to associate together, including outside their wards and stakes, and participate in meaningful activities. Campus institutes are a natural gathering place for a YSA community that spans multiple wards and stakes and allows for interactions with a larger group. Campus institutes are encouraged to work with local Church leaders to provide activities on a level that brings together the larger campus community. Examples might include social activities, sports, service projects, clubs, and activities in association with campus events.

Expanding institute offerings will not look the same at every institute. The size of the institute, the interaction between the institute and the local YSA committee, and the availability of resources will be primary drivers in determining the set of options available. Larger institutes may be able to offer a wider variety of activities than smaller ones. Locations with robust local YSA committees may not need the help of the institute to offer activities.

The selection of additional institute activities should be primarily led by the institute council, not the institute director or other staff members. The following list describes steps for approving and planning activities:

1. Meet with the stake leaders who are part of the institute advisory council. Share with them the approved changes and principles described in this document. Seek for a spirit of cooperation and shared vision in implementing these updates.

2. Organize an institute student council following the policies in the “Institute of Religion Student Council” section of the S&I policy manual.

   1. The institute of religion student council should be organized in collaboration with the institute advisory council. In locations where a campus institute is the natural hub of the local young adult community, the institute of religion student council can take the lead in planning and scheduling young adult activities and events in the area.

   2. On the institute council, seek to include individuals who represent local stakes (YSA and geographic stakes), campus communities, and the diversity of individuals in the campus community. Individuals who do not currently participate in the institute may be valuable voices to shape the decisions of the council.

3. Invite the institute council to listen to their peers, particularly those who are not attending institute, and to identify needs in their lives. Formal and informal audience listening activities, as described in the “Audience Listening” section of the S&I website, may be helpful.

4. Empower the institute student council by allowing them to be responsible for activity, scheduling, and budget requests for activities and events. Faculty should also collaborate with the institute council in selecting which courses and workshops to offer.

5. Help the institute council share their activity and event calendar with local wards and stakes. Seek to work together in a spirit of unity.

Funding Institute Activities

The authorization to offer more activities, service projects, and workshops in addition to classes at campus institutes may generate experiences that require funding. Existing student activity funds are to be used as effectively as possible. As activities are brought from the ecclesiastical units to the institutes, there should be close collaboration and coordination between the institute and the ecclesiastical unit. Funds should not be transferred from one entity to another, but expenditures may be split between the units. For example, the institute could pay for food while the stake pays for the venue for a particular activity. Please refer to the Institute of Religion Policy Manual under “Institute of Religion Operations, Funding Institute Activities.”

After using existing funds as effectively as possible, if additional funds are required, a detailed request should be submitted through your area director to S&I Financial Services at Church headquarters. The request should be accompanied by a thorough analysis and explanation of why the funds are needed, how they will be used, and what intended outcome is expected. Requests should be made before funds are committed and with sufficient time to allow for analysis, review, and approval by the central office. While S&I is required to operate within approved budgets, every effort will be made to accommodate well-supported requests.

FAQs

Which institutes can begin to offer activities in addition to classes?All campus institutes can begin to offer additional activities if doing so supports the YSA program of the Church in the area. Counsel with local Church leaders about how to work together in providing activities.

Further, this model will apply differently in different locations, depending on local circumstances. For example, larger campus institutes may have sufficient participation to host sports tournaments, provide a large variety of workshops, and offer regular access to food. Smaller locations might offer one-time events, a smaller variety of workshops, and occasional food. Institutes that serve only one stake should defer to the direction of the stake YSA committee.

How soon will this be implemented?Begin immediately. A useful first step is to meet with members of the institute advisory council to build a shared vision and strategy.

Who will fund the additional activities at campus institutes?Many of the changes and activities explained in this document will not require additional funds. When funds are needed, campus institutes have access to student activity funds through the 5530 account. Additionally, stakes have access to funds to support YSA activities. Work closely with the institute advisory council to come up with a funding plan. Then if additional funds are needed, contact your area director.

How will campus institutes work with local YSA wards, stakes, and priesthood leaders?The relationship between campus institutes and priesthood leaders has not fundamentally changed. Campus institutes are supervised by an institute advisory council. S&I faculty should seek to build a cooperative relationship with local leaders and should coordinate in planning classes, workshops, service, and other events. Campus institutes are a tool to bring together a group of YSAs on a scale larger than can be provided by an individual ward or stake to teach, socialize, and serve.

How will this affect current job roles and responsibilities at campus institutes?While the core of what our jobs are will remain the same, some job functions may change for employees at campus institutes. Administrators may need to communicate more often with stake and campus leaders and may need to work more closely with local Church department representatives. The institute student council adviser may need to play a more supporting role as institute student councils host a wider variety of events and activities and provide input in the choice of classes and workshops taught at the institute. Teachers may need to adjust the mix of their teaching load and may teach a series of workshops across an academic semester instead of one continuous class. Please communicate regularly with your institute director and region director so that personnel adjustments can be made as needed.

Discussion Questions

The following questions may be helpful in discussing how to implement these changes:

• How do the principles of YSA empowerment, local adaptation, and collaboration apply to this strategic change?

• Has our institute communicated clearly with the stake leaders on the institute advisory council? Are we working with them or independently of them?

• Does our campus institute have a functioning institute of religion student council? If so, does that council have members who represent each relevant stake, campus entities, and the diversity of individuals in the campus community, including those who are not currently enrolled in institute?

• How can we include the voice of individuals who do not currently attend institute on the institute of religion student council?

• How can we support the efforts of the institute of religion student council in listening to the needs of the campus community?

• How and when are we going to allow the institute of religion student council to discuss and decide which activities and events they will offer?

• How can we guard against faculty members stepping in and taking over the selection and implementation of additional institute activities? How can we empower institute council members in their work?

• What resources can we provide to the institute of religion student council to facilitate collaboration with local wards and stakes?

Action Plan

In the space below, write a few things you or your faculty plan to do to empower your institute council to implement additional activities at your campus institute.