Welcome to WKU's Campus Activities Board Online!
HISTORY OF THE CAMPUS ACTIVITIES BOARD (CAB)
(Information provided by University Archives, Kentucky Building, WKU)
Aug 31, 1971, President Dero Downing appoints a board of students, faculty, and administration to the all new Student Center Board or University Center Board (UCB). The board’s main purpose is to plan and coordinate activities around the university center. Original UCB committees included: Contemporary music committee responsible for concerts, mini concerts, and dances; Lecture committee responsible for celebrity lectures; Recreation committee to handle DUC 4th floor activities; Arts and Exhibits committee kept the stereo listening center, craft center, and cultural center running; Leisure life committee scheduled special events like Halloween, student road trips, and campus movie nights.
For eight years, UCB worked in conjunction and under the supervision of Associated Student Government (ASG). It was not until a proposal in March 1979 that the UCB was allowed to branch off creating its own set of five committees that planned a wide range of student programs. These programs ranged from a night with the National Shakespeare Company to a concert in Diddle Arena with REO Speedwagon.
In 1999, with revisions to the constitution, UCB changed its name to Campus Activities Board (CAB). The name change reflected the emergence of campus wide program compared to past programming which had concentrated on the university centers.
Currently, CAB houses its office on the third floor of the Downing University Center. The twelve member board consists of: President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Public Relations-Print, Public Relations-Media, Comedy Chair, Concert Chair, Lecture Chair, Minority Student Interest Chair, Novelty Chair, Special Events Chair, and Spirit Chair.
CAB programs have included: concerts and lectures from celebrities like Jim Breuer, Rue McClanahan, Morgan Spurlock, Nappy Roots, Carrot Top, and Clayton Miller Band; as well as other programs like monthly comedians, pre DVD-movie nights, Hilloween, Big Red’s Roar, and more.
UCB - CAB bringing quality programming to the Western Community since 1971
CAB Mission Statement:
The Campus Activities Board (CAB) supports the overall mission and goals of Western Kentucky University by offering a wide range of co-curricular experiences for students, faculty, and staff. The primary purpose of CAB is to propose, plan, promote, and present a variety of activities designated to server the cultural, educational, and social interests of the WKU community.
CAB Committee Chair
Job Description
Each committee chair has immediate responsibility for his/her area of programming as well as a responsibility to the organization as a while. Each committee chair, after consultation with his/her committee, presents programming proposals to the CAB Executive Board after reviewing all available dates, venue requests, need costs and feasibility. As a particular program has been approved by the Executive Board, it is the committee chair’s responsibility to coordinate along with the CAB advisor all aspects of the up-coming program, including contractual responsibilities, attendance, promotional requests, and evaluations.
It should be the responsibility of all committee chair’s to provide assistance to each other whenever possible. Attendance at programs should be a very high commitment for each committee chair for this shows how committed individuals on the committee are functioning. The committee chair should discuss various methods of promotion with the PR Chair and the CAB advisor. This, aside from the program, should be the most important aspect of each event. Each CAB committee chair should keep detailed records of membership and changes in membership to turn into the Vice Chair.
Each committee chair is to maintain at least 4 hours of required office duty each week. A regular schedule of weekly meetings is mandatory for total communication to the membership on its commitment to quality and diverse programming. Meetings and office hours will be posted in the CAB office.
CAB Committee Member
Job DescriptionCAB committee members are recruited on a year round basis. Brochures, personal meetings with various student groups, organizational fairs, handouts, and mailings are some of the ways CAB recruits its membership. All registered full-time students at Western Kentucky University are eligible for membership in CAB. The more diverse our membership the better opportunity we have in presenting the kinds and types of programming our student body desires. Potential members should fill out our application and turn it in to us. The Vice-Chair then works closely with the CAB committee chairs in the proper placement of the applicant.
The new committee member, after placement, will be contacted by the committee chair selected and be brought “up to speed” as to meeting times etc. The committee chair should go over with each new member CAB policies, schedules etc. A serious commitment should be evident very early on with each new member otherwise the committee chair should communicate any concerns to the executive officers and the CAB Advisor. All committee members should be involved in all aspects of his/her committee’s programming proposals. Attendance, planning, decision-making, cooperation, commitment, and leadership are attributes of successful committee members, for this is where the future leadership of our organization will come.
Responsibilities For ALL those associated with CABAll persons who serve on CAB are considered student leaders and are expected to maintain a responsible image and follow the code of student conduct outlined in “HILLTOPICS,” as well as all the regulations of the CAB Constitution and the Policy and Procedure Manual. Members are considered representatives of CAB not only during office hours, but at all CAB events and at all sanctioned A.P.C.A. and N.A.C.A. events. Due to the nature of their volunteer services, CAB members should maintain a flexible attitude, but such behavior should not be taken to excess.
CAB Advisor Job Description
The Program Coordinator for University Centers/ CAB Advisor is the chief advisor to CAB. His/her main responsibility is to provide continuity to CAB throughout personnel changes and ensure that all CAB personnel are trained and performing their jobs well. The advisor is available to the executive officers, committee chairs and committee membership to provide advice and consultation when needed. The advisor follows the policies and procedures of CAB and should serve as an example to all CAB membership.
Additional responsibilities include particular public relations functions, personal direct contact with agents, agencies, management, artists and any entity providing potential programming for Western Kentucky University through CAB initial file set up, including all necessary university contracts and documents, contractual oversight, budget oversight, technical/production pre and post oversight, adhering strictly to university policies and procedures and assisting the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of Student Life and the Director of Student Activities and Organizations in any division directives. The advisor’s typical office hours presently are 7am until 3pm daily.
CAB Training Outline
All outgoing committee chairs along with the advisor will train their immediate replacements before they end their respective terms. The incoming committee chairs will begin reviewing the CAB Constitution and Policy and Procedure Manual as soon as he/she is selected. Any questions should be asked during the training period so that he/she can become familiar with the organization as a whole, as well as his/her individual area of responsibility. The outgoing committee chair will review guidelines with the new replacement. As the new chairman becomes familiar with his/her responsibilities, he/she may adjust guidelines to suit his/her needs and abilities. Departing committee chairs should introduce the new chair to his primary contacts and inform him/her who these individuals are and what their functions are. Outgoing committee chairs should remember that what may seem very basic to them is extremely foreign to someone who is new to the position and should take steps to explain (in detail) everything thoroughly. NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING!!
It is the responsibility of the new committee chair to ask questions whenever something is unclear. As soon after the new committee chair is selected, a training retreat will be scheduled at a time that is convenient for everyone. All elected or appointed personnel will be required to attend this retreat and should agree to do so as a condition for being selected. All outgoing chairs are encouraged to attend as well, If the retreat can be scheduled at a time which in convenient for them. The CAB Advisor and Executive Chair will schedule the agenda for the retreat, which shall focus on all aspects of out programming functions, philosophy, and teamwork.
Awards to CAB Personnel
CAB personnel are encouraged to participate in all CAB events. However, if any member or group of CAB members should be declared winners in any CAB sponsored contests or programs, they may not receive any prize or compensation that would have been awarded. It is improper to award such prizes to a member of the sponsoring organization.
Vehicle Reimbursement
On occasion CAB personnel might be asked to use their personal vehicle for a CAB program (arriving/departing plane flights, etc.). In this instance the individual will be reimbursed at the set university rate. Either the CAB Advisor or the Director of Student Activities must approve all trips, in advance. All individuals MUST have a valid driver’s license and insurance verification.
Printing
The CAB Advisor, well in advance of a proposed program, must approve all printing for CAB promotions or business forms. There is quite a lead time in the printing process on campus. We as an organization are prohibited from securing any private off campus printing vendors.
The CAB advisor must approve all advertising material before it is released.