Reframing Student Engagement and Resource Decision-Making: Lessons Learned from Cal Poly's ASI Needs and Feasibility Study
Tracks
Breakout Session 1
| Monday, January 13, 2025 |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Tidepool 3 |
Overview
Tidepool 3
Details
Amidst external pressures such as enrollment challenges, rising costs, and reduced funding, institutions—including auxiliaries—must take bold strides to innovate and evolve while continuing to achieve their mission, purpose, and strategic objectives. During the 2023-24 academic year, ASI at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, in partnership with Brailsford & Dunlavey, conducted a campus-wide Needs and Feasibility Study. This study aimed to identify student priorities and assess organizational financial stability over the next 30 years. In this session, we will share the strategies ASI used to garner an over 20% student survey response rate, the lessons learned, and how we are now utilizing the findings to answer fundamental operational questions and consider capital project needs. These insights help us understand the demand for ASI-managed programs, services, and spaces; provide an objective outlook for determining student capacity and demand; and support potential future fee campaigns. In the face of unprecedented changes in higher education, evolving interests of a new generation of students, and a cost-conscious system, we must continue to listen, learn, and adapt. This session will inspire and equip attendees with the knowledge to take bold strides in ensuring the future success of their auxiliaries.
Speaker
Matt Bohannon
Vice President
Brailsford & Dunlavey
Reframing Student Engagement and Resource Decision-Making: Lessons Learned from Cal Poly's ASI Needs and Feasibility Study
Biography
Serving as Brailsford & Dunlavey's Southern California vice president, Mr. Bohannon brings a passion for quality-of-life facilities that empowers clients to create successful projects. His interest in these facilities began while he was a resident advisor and chair of a student union board, and since joining B&D in 2004, Mr. Bohannon has planned more than $2.75B in completed or under construction projects. Leveraging his architectural education with deep market and financial analysis expertise, he is recognized as a trusted advisor who partners with clients to implement projects which maximize benefits to their institutions. Mr. Bohannon’s knowledge of housing, student unions, recreation centers, public-private partnerships, and program management has earned him several industry awards, including recent recognition by Engineering News-Record as one of its California “Top 20 Under 40” honorees for 2017.
Michelle Crawford
Executive Director
Associated Students Inc.
Reframing Student Engagement and Resource Decision-Making: Lessons Learned from Cal Poly's ASI Needs and Feasibility Study
Biography
Starting as a student employee with ASI in 2002, Michelle Crawford rose through multiple roles, culminating in her appointment as Executive Director in 2022. Her career has been marked by a strong focus on fostering student leadership and a dedication to to ensuring student fees are managed responsibly to deliver exceptional programs and services to Cal Poly students.
As Executive Director, Michelle is responsible for the financial, legal, and administrative management of ASI, as well as the general management of all ASI resources, programs, and facilities. She ensures that ASI effectively supports and complements Cal Poly's educational mission.
Michelle holds both bachelor's and master’s degrees in recreation, parks, and tourism administration from Cal Poly.
Laura Kane
Senior Associate
Brailsford & Dunlavey
Reframing Student Engagement and Resource Decision-Making: Lessons Learned from Cal Poly's ASI Needs and Feasibility Study
Biography
Dr. Laura Kane, senior associate at Brailsford & Dunlavey, has over 15 years of experience in higher education, specializing in student engagement, governance, and residential life.
Previously, Laura served as Dean of Student Affairs at Kenyon College, where she led initiatives in residential life, student engagement, first-year experience, student conduct, and governance. Her leadership contributed to key institutional advancements, including governance model overhauls, policy development, and strategic facility planning.
Laura holds a doctorate and master’s degree in higher education administration from Kent State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baldwin Wallace University.
