Student Governance

One of the central features of the Everett Program’s philosophy is the importance of meaningful student shared governance.   The responsibilities of student governance in the program are entrusted to Everett Fellows.  Students in the program can apply or be nominated to become Fellows, and their membership is approved after completion of a formal membership application, a detailed interview with existing Fellows, and a majority vote of existing Everett Fellows.   Everett Fellows perform an average of five hours of unpaid service power week as an equity investment in the Everett Program.  Specific roles and responsibilities of Fellows vary somewhat year to year, depending on evolving program needs, but typically include some combination of the following:

• Fellows coordinator: The coordinator(s) is first and foremost a leadership role. The person(s) in this role is responsible for for knowing what is going on in all areas of the fellowship and creating a liaison between fellows and staff.  The fellows coordinator(s) is in charge of compiling an agenda for and leading each weekly fellows meeting

• Tech Team: Everett Tech Fellows focus on helping students in the program be prepared to implement the technology component of their projects. Tech Fellows help lead technology labs (on topics such as social media, digital storytelling, video production, user-centered design). A central focus on Tech Fellows work is to help break down the barriers and fears people face when learning new tech skills for the first time

• Project Guides:  Everett Project Guides work closely with student teams as they are planning, developing, and implementing their projects with community partners.  They serve in a mentorship capacity, providing suggestions, guidance and feedback in the project development process.

• Leadership Team: The Everett Program’s leadership development component aims to create a culture of co-leadership and co-creation, through class section meetings and other workshops.  Program elements help students: embody and reflect a growth mindset; be self-reflective and interactively aware of power and privilege in interpersonal communication and broader leadership dynamics; and be empathetic in communicating for both collaborative leadership and addressing difference. 

• Engagement team: The goal of our engagement work is to connect with people outside of the program, including amuni, funders, students across the University, and others interested in learning more about the work that we do.  Fellows in this role produce our monthly newsletter, manage social media, contribute to our annual report, help with event planning, and contribute to overall marketing of the program. 

• Alumni and Global Advisory Board Liaison: This liaison position is responsible for regular communication with the Board of the Everett Alumni Foundation, and helps plan and facilitate our quarterly advisory board meetings.  Acting as not only a representative for the fellows in the program, but also to connect the different bodies and help find ways for them to work together towards common goals, including fundraising, technical assistance, and resource development.

• Financial Fellow: The Financial Fellow works with the faculty director on overall financial planning and administration of the program, and is responsible for ensuring that Fellows review annual program budgets

In addition to these key responsibilities in the ongoing management of the program, fellows also have the authority over the Referendum Funds designated for the implementation and administration of Everett projects, as the result of passage of Measure 37 in 2008, a student fee initiative designated to support the Everett Program (formerly the Global Information Internship Program).

As a formal entity within the Social Sciences Division, collaborative governance of the Everett Program also involves:

• Faculty Director: The Faculty Director is appointed by the Dean of Social Sciences, with the advice and consent of the majority of the voting members of the Everett Program. Typically serving a potentially renewable five-year appointment, the Faculty Director is ultimately responsible for all educational, financial and programmatic aspect of the program, within the context of the shared-governance framework of the program and formal governance structures of the University

• Faculty instructors: Formal courses in the program are taught by faculty designated by the Sociology Department in collaboration with the Faculty Director. The Sociology Department oversees course implementation, including the Minor in Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies.

• Executive Fellows: These are recent graduates of UCSC and the Everett Program, who have shown exceptional commitment and work ethic in the program. They stay on in the program after graduating, in a fellowship capacity, to help support all aspect of program development

 Governance of the program is guided by formal By-Laws. The ongoing leadership and engagement of multiple generations of Everett Fellows has been absolutely essential for creating and sustaining the vibrant program that we experience today.