Meet T.J. Barber, Director of Student Activities at Manchester Community College

I met T.J. Barber at a Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce “Meet and Greet” event about two years ago when he first joined . I was impressed with his high energy level and his interest in having the business community get involved with the college. I asked him to share some of his thoughts about his role as Student Activities Director.

Timothy Becker: What are your responsibilities as Director of Student Activities?

T.J. Barber: I supervise the student government, student clubs, co-curricular programs and new student orientation. This past summer we had 1,300 out of 1,600 students go through the orientation program. The longer the amount of time that students spend on campus, the better the academic performance. The more engaged that you are in the campus community, the better your grades become.

Timothy Becker: What do you like best about your job here at MCC?

T.J. Barber: I get to work with students of all ages and backgrounds, and have a positive impact on their lives. Students are here for a reason. They need support. We educate a wide swath of society, from 18 year-old students to a student that is 104, and everyone in between. Everyone is here to improve their lives.

Timothy Becker: How are you getting the MCC Community involved with the local business community?

T.J. Barber: We encourage our students and staff to buy locally. We have created the “” program. Local business agree to offer anyone with a MCC identification at least a 10 percent discount and we advertise those businesses on campus. We have 52 local businesses participating. Every student is given a list of participating businesses. Our 16,000 students, staff and faculty can make a huge economic impact on local businesses. We also offer local businesses the opportunity to provide internships for our students. The business gets 150 hours of free labor in exchange for the real world experience gained by our students. There is a big difference between theory and practice. It is a tremendous opportunity for the students and for local businesses.

Timothy Becker: T.J., what additional areas do you get involved in?

T.J. Barber: I chair the Connecticut State College and Universities Student Activities Director Council. Our organization included the directors of 17 institutions including the 12 Community Colleges. Four State Universities and Charter Oak State College. We work on statewide policies and programing. I also serve on the Student Advisory Committee for the Board of Regents. We plan statewide leadership opportunities for our students.

Timothy Becker: What is a typical day for you like?

T.J. Barber: Every day is different. That is what I like about a college campus. I'm chair of the cultural programing committee. We help to fund a cultural diversity day, a poetry series, and we ran a fundraiser for a trip to New Orleans for .

I'm also a member of the student life committee. We look at co-curricular activities and at the first year experience. We are working on getting peer mentors to get more students engaged on campus. I also meet with club and student government officers, and faculty advisers. I also am in charge of the digital signage that is displayed around the campus.

Timothy Becker: Who do you report to as Director of Student Activities?

T.J. Barber: I report to the Director of Student Life, Cynthia Washborne. She also serves as Athlectic Director at M.C.C. We all wear several hats. We have the same staffing level as we did with 3,000 fewer students. People don't realize that for every one student in a classroom, there are seven to eight staff members that make it possible.

Timothy Becker: What do you like most about your position at the college?

T.J. Barber: I like knowing that I have made a positive impact. I teach on a daily basis, as much as a teacher in a classroom. We are preparing students for life. My goal is to have each student participate in at least one club or student government committee. I expect students to participate in this community.

Timothy Becker: What is coming up on campus this spring?

T.J. Barber: April is our busiest month. We have a overnight trip for students to Washington D.C. We are also building a Habitat for Humanity cardboard city. Students will be living overnight on May 1 in the cardboard structures without their cell phones. Professor Lucy Hurston who chairs the Sociology Department, and is also the Habitat Advisor, and oversees the event. It reminds students of the hardship of homelessness. We are also having a blood drive on April 10 that is open to the public.

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