Our By-Laws

Mission

Who We Are: Our mission is to empower students to succeed through collaborative activities that inspire career development and promote passion for the architectural profession. While specific events change each semester, our overall purpose is to provide students with fun-filled educational/social events, museum and firm tours, and other growth opportunities.

Mission Statement: The West Valley College Architecture Club (WVCAC) empowers students to succeed through collaborative activities, and inspires passion for the profession. This goal is accomplished by building on the foundation of education, experience, development, and leadership.

The Architecture Club is the liaison between student life and the professional world.

Member Expectations

To gain college recognition the following club requirements must be met;

Fall Semester

  1. Attendance of Club Meetings: 5 Meetings minimum.

  2. Attendance of Club Events: No mandatory limits for events. Events will be optional for members.

    Spring Semester

    1. Attendance of Club Meetings: 6 Meetings in person minimum.

    2. Attending Construction of Design Village: 8 Meetings in person minimum.

    3. Attendance of Club Events: No mandatory limits for events. Events will be optional for members.

Membership Benefits

Education: Stay connected with American Institute of Architects (AIA) seminars, workshops, and tours that compliment and enhance architectural focused coursework.

Experience: Produce networking opportunities with other students and architecture professionals.

Development: Provide resources that prepare students to become thoughtful and responsible architecture professionals. Coordinate opportunities for internships.

Leadership: Create leadership opportunities amongst peers at West Valley including organizing events, project management, and mentoring.

Breaking the Ice

Icebreakers and “Getting to Know You” exercises develop an environment that reduces anxiety and allows individuals the opportunity to get acquainted with each other. Icebreakers are fun, release tension and are designed for indirect interaction. Icebreakers are not encounter sessions. Icebreakers may be used with any group that exhibits signs of anxiety in any initial stage of development (i.e., first meetings, program boards, etc.).

Icebreakers should not be used to avoid dealing with anxiety but rather to provide your members with a less threatening environment. A non-threatening environment initiated at the start of group club and development may lead to a more open and compatible situation during the entire lifespan of the group.


Icebreaker Benefits:

  1. Could be excellent devices for helping members feel more comfortable with themselves and others in the group.

  2. Break up the "cliques," invite people to form random groupings, and help individuals meet others in a non-threatening and fun way.

  3. Set the tone for the time a group will be together. Icebreakers encourage people to feel "safe" and evoke lots of laughter. When people laugh, tension decreases.


Ice Breaking Activities:

  1. Human Treasure Hunt: Find someone who is a transfer student, owns cross-country skis, has been to Europe, wears contacts, is wild about chocolate ice cream.

  2. Knots: Form a circle by placing hands in the middle of the circle; grab someone else's hands (other than the person on either side of you). Without letting go, try to untangle the "knot."

  3. Coat of Arms: Members create their own Coat•of-Arms by filling in information about themselves using words or drawings. Information can include hobbies, hometown, major, favorite family members, five or ten year goals, favorite book, etc.

  4. Forced Choice: Ask members to stand in the middle of the room and have them move to either side to indicate their choice.

More like the present or the future?

More like a saver or a spender?

More like cake or pie?

5. About Yourself: Share interests, hobbies, likes, favorites, and more.

What is something you are afraid of?

What is your favorite dessert?

Do you have a favorite color(s)?

Favorite living thing? (Other than humans & pets)

Favorite hobby?