Lewis and Clark Adds Student Advisory Council to the President

GODFREY - Lewis and Clark Community College has established a new Student Advisory Council (SAC) to help give students a platform on campus and to provide the college's president and executive team with student input on various matters affecting them.

Student Trustee Jim Eck said the idea was born out of several informal sessions with President Ken Tzraska last fall, during which several students shared their positive learning experiences.

"We are building on that open and collaborative format, promoting the students' input through direct dialogue with Dr. Trzaska," Eck said.

Student members share their perspectives on current learning environments and offer input related to future educational experiences. Trzaska also seeks feedback on potential program and institutional initiatives.

"Engaging with our students and discussing Lewis and Clark and their experiences is energizing," Trzaska said. "It also helps understand how to continually support their learning journey both inside and outside the classroom."

The group's January meeting focused on topics such as artificial intelligence and personal ethics of using it as an educational tool, snow day communications, the enrollment process, self-service progress tracking, Blackboard (LC's learning management system) upgrades, promotion of free in-person mental health counseling, and the graduation application process.

"These student voices and participation are vital to advance learning that aligns with LC's core value of being student-focused," said Eck, who represents the student body as an advisory member of the Board of Trustees serving the community college district.

Faculty are asked to support student attendance at the monthly one-hour meetings throughout the Spring 2026 semester.

Students who are interested in getting involved can contact Eck at [email protected] or Dean of Students Sean Hill at [email protected].