By Rachel Emelock
For several semesters, INTO Suffolk has been lucky enough to have a group of student leaders to help us maintain and engage with our student population. These student leaders are part of the INTO Suffolk Peer Leadership Council (PLC). The PLC’s mission is to serve as a bridge between INTO Suffolk staff and students in assisting INTO Suffolk staff in planning, promoting, and leading campus events.
Many members of the PLC are former INTO Suffolk students who have successfully completed their pathway programs. These students know what it means to be a part of INTO and want to give back to their international community. In addition, students who participate in this program develop marketable skills for future careers.
The INTO Suffolk Peer Leadership Council’s mission is to serve as a bridge between INTO Suffolk staff and students.
The PLC is responsible for several events on campus each semester, planning and developing the programming and marketing for each event. These events are student-designed and led, allowing PLC members to improve their communication skills and learn event management. Because of the size of the group, in their chosen committees, students are able to use the skills specific to their major that they are learning in their classes.
The Finance Committee works with the Student Experience team to analyze event budgets. They record and develop strategic planning based on attendance and report back to the PLC on successful events. Under the treasurer’s direction, the committee also works with the Programming committee to ensure that events are planned according to a semesterly budget for PLC-run events.
Through collaboration, the Programming Committee and Finance Committee develop student-centric events hosted on campus in the INTO Center and off campus. The Programming Committee plans, researches, and runs all events created by the PLC and ensures that every PLC member and INTO staff member is prepared for the timeline of the events as they happen. In Fall 2022, the PLC brought INTO Suffolk students to the famous Boston Tree Lighting ceremony at the Boston Common. Participants were welcomed to have hot cocoa and sweet treats before heading to the Common for an outdoor concert and pyrotechnic spectacular. The committees are working toward their big Spring 2023 event happening next month, an event that we are very excited about.
The Marketing Committee promotes these types of events, a group of digital media, marketing, and business majors who use their talents learned in class in real-life applications. The committee has developed a marketing strategy for promoting INTO Suffolk events, PLC-run events, and other activities happening in the city. These activities are promoted through the INTO Suffolk Student Experience’s Instagram and other social media platforms. The committee members also take event photos and create reels to showcase them. They’ve also been known to do an Instagram takeover to share with other students the events happening on campus.
None of these activities could be promoted without the assistance of our Newsletter Committee’s administrative body. These students gather photos and themes for articles in the INTO Suffolk TIMES so that students can share with their friends and family back home what activities they’ve done on campus. They also take notes at meetings and help edit and arrange articles in the newsletter.
Each committee has a representative that meets with INTO Student Experience staff to ensure that all committees know what projects are going on and pass on information as needed. Luckily, many members of the PLC are on more than one committee, helping our student leaders improve their communication skills. Students participate in professional development training on inclusion and biases as well. Our PLC leaders serve as role models for new INTO Suffolk students adjusting to life in a new country through cross-cultural understanding and empathy. One of their core duties is to communicate with INTO Student Experience staff members about student concerns, interests, and their wish list of activities.
International students can only join at the end of their first semester at Suffolk University or later. Any student who wishes to join the PLC must complete an application form with a statement of interest and an interview with INTO Suffolk Student Experience staff members. We are so proud of our Peer Leadership Council and their work to bring quality events to our students and create a fabulous and engaging newsletter for all students at Suffolk University.