If you could wave a magic wand and change some things about Moraine Valley, what would you do to improve your college experience?
Velocity set out to find out how students would answer that question. Most said their wishes go beyond the classroom. From more active clubs and cultural celebrations, to more affordable food, quieter study spaces and better access to student resources, students had plenty of ideas about what could make future semesters better.
Many of their wishes shared one common goal: making students feel more connected, supported and involved in campus life. They feel college is more than attending classes and completing assignments; it’s also about discovering new interests, building friendships and having a say in the college community.
Wish: More student clubs and opportunities
Some students say student activities could be more active and engaging. While he likes Moraine Valley’s campus atmosphere and the events it offers, Richard Frederick, 21, would like to see clubs organize more events, especially activities where students can participate instead of simply attending.
He remembers attending a Go Green Club event where students made vision boards using magazine cutouts.
“My major has nothing to do with going green or biology, but it was really fun,” said Frederick, who is interested in IT and business. “Activities where students actually get to do something seem to attract more people.”
Fredrick also believes that Moraine Valley could do more to make students aware of the clubs they can join or even create themselves. Although he thinks the college has many clubs, as a student employee, he sometimes hears students ask about clubs that do not currently exist, such as a dance club or cheerleading club.
“Clubs should definitely advertise more,” Fredrick said. “ You can create a club, but I feel like that opportunity isn’t advertised very much.”
He suggested a “Create Your Own Club ” campaign or a campus event where students with similar interests could meet and possibly start new organizations on campus.
Similar ideas were expressed by Tania Komsiyska, 21, who is studying Health Administration and works as a student employee in the International Student Affairs office.
“I would say more student activities and events, as well as more active clubs,” Komsiyska said.
Many clubs are currently on break, Komsiyska explained, leaving fewer opportunities for students to get involved.
The Clubs and Organizations page on MVConnect currently lists 33 clubs. Seven of them are listed as “on hiatus,” “TBD,” or seeking an adviser, including the Student Government Association, the Arab Student Union, G.A.S.P. (Gender and Sexuality Progress) and Tritones, a club for musicians.
According to the American Association of Community Colleges, clubs play important roles for students, providing leadership opportunities, enhancing academic performance, and reducing “feelings of isolation and anonymity” by creating interactions beyond the classroom.
“This sense of community and belonging is especially useful to community college students, who often feel left out of the ‘true’ college experience because they are more likely to be balancing academic commitments with work and family responsibilities,” the association reports.
“College is not just about coming here and only studying. It’s also about socializing and making new connections that will be important to you later in life.”
Olga Tate, biomedical science student
Komsiyska would like to see more active clubs and more opportunities for students to create their own. Currently, she has two specific clubs in her mind: “I would especially like to see a fashion club and a photography club.”
Like Fredrick, Komsiyska believes creative activities could make students more interested in spending time on campus. She suggested events where students could make bracelets, draw or create other projects, especially when free food is included.
Sadeen Yasin, 21, who is studying to become a physician assistant, also would like to see more student clubs, particularly a science club, art club, photography club, book club or dance club.
“We’re always busy with studying and homework, so we need more activities on campus,” Yasin said. “Students shouldn’t only focus on homework or class assignments. They should also have fun activities.”
Anthony Smith, 18, who is in the computer graphics imagery program, suggested clubs connected to photography, script-writing, film-making and production, as well as a comics club.
Nahn Nguyen, an 18-year-old automotive student, is not currently involved in any clubs, but he said he would be interested in joining a chess club. He used to play chess at Andrew High School and would like to continue that interest at Moraine.
Achill Hinson, 19, is a biomedical engineering major. Hinson, who previously participated in the STEM Club, International Students Club and Asian Diversity Club, would like to see a travel club or field trip club where students could explore new interesting places together.
He also suggested offering regular club presentations, with tables set up every Friday or every two weeks so students can learn about different organizations and how to join them.
Melvin Avohounon, 22, who is studying network administration, is a member of the STEM Club. Avohounon would like Moraine Valley to also offer an engineering club for students who share an interest in the field. Although students interested in engineering often need to transfer to a four-year university to pursue that major, he believes an engineering club could bring them together before they transfer.
“An engineering club would bring together people who share the same interests and dreams,” Avohounon said.
Beyond clubs and events, Hinson believes new students could benefit from additional help navigating campus during orientation. He suggested providing small carts or vehicles to take students around the college, making it easier to discover buildings and campus resources.
Komsiyska also believes Moraine Valley could do more to help students get familiar with campus. Although the college currently offers Welcome Days, she said she would like to see more Welcome Days throughout the semester so staff members can continue helping both new and current students learn more about the campus and the opportunities available to them.
Wish: More socialization and special events
Olga Tate, 20, a Biomedical Science transfer student and international student, emphasized that our campus could do more to help students connect with each other.
“I think the college is doing well with the classrooms and all the subjects and courses,” Tate said. “But for students, I would say we should get to know each other more, come together and make new friends.”
One Moraine Valley that offers these opportunities is the annual Fall Fest. Smith said this year was the first time he had even heard of the event. “I asked someone in the cafe what was going on, and they said it was Fall Fest,” he said. Although he enjoyed the event, Smith said he would like to see more activities where students can gather, including guest speakers in the auditorium.
“This is my first time joining Fall Fest and I think it’s pretty amazing,” Yasin said. She praised the organization, music and opportunities for students to gather and talk.
For Tate, improving campus life means giving students opportunities to build connections outside the classroom: “College is not just about coming here and only studying. It’s also about socializing and making new connections that will be important to you later in life.”
Avohounon believes Moraine Valley could do more to help students connect through campus events and shared interests. Since he takes most of his classes online, he said events give him a reason to return to campus and spend time with other students.
Avohounon also wants to see more cultural celebrations on campus. He recalled attending an event celebrating Latino and Mexican culture last spring 2025, which he had not known about before attending. He enjoyed the experience and believes the college should do more to promote these events so more students can participate.
For some students, campus activities create meaningful friendships and connections that last even after graduation.
“Even though I’ve graduated, I came back to campus to visit Fall Fest,” Hinson said. “I believe it’s an event that brings the right people together.”
Outside of classes, Nguyen said spending time with friends is what encourages him to stay on campus. He often meets friends in the library to study together.For Nguyen, Fall Fest was already a positive experience. He enjoyed the event despite the rain forcing activities indoors.
“If we could have something like this later in the year, that would be great,” he said. “For example, we could have a Spring Fest next semester.”
Wish: More options for food and spaces
Food is also part of Komsiyska’s wishlist. “ The current options are convenient, but they get a bit repetitive if you are on campus every day,” she said.
Komsiyska suggested that Moraine Valley to partner with local businesses and restaurants to offer different types of food and rotating guest vendors. She also said cheaper meal deals and longer hours could help students who stay on campus later.
Tate also wants more affordable food options on campus. Although she enjoys the cafeteria food, she pointed out the prices can make it difficult for students to buy food regularly.
“The food in the cafeteria is expensive,” Tate said. “ Even though it’s very good and the food is very tasty, whenever I get food from there, I like it a lot, but it drains my wallet.” She also shared that the pre-packaged food and baked goods at campus cafés are more reasonably priced and filling.
For De Leon, some of the biggest improvements start with the physical spaces students use every day: “I would say more quiet spaces for people to study, do their work and everything, because there are limited spaces. I wish we could have more of those in the future.”
De Leon also wants improvements to outdoor spaces, especially during warmer weather. She said students who spend time outside need more covered areas where they can sit without being directly under the sun.
“Sometimes I go outside and it’s so hot,” De Leon said. “ I feel like they should have some shelter because it’s so hot, and I’m getting burned from the sun. I feel like they should add a rooftop or covered seating areas.”
Wish: Improving education and resources
Frederick said one of his biggest priorities is giving students more flexibility with their education: “I would like to have more opportunities to test out of classes for things you already know.” He pointed to proficiency exams, such as the CLEP test, as one way students could potentially earn college credit.
Smith proposed creating a small study room where students could catch up only on late assignments with help from one or two professors.
Academic support is also a concern for Komsiyska. Although Moraine Valley has tutoring centers for different subjects, she pointed out that tutoring is not available for every course, making it difficult for some students to find help when they need it. Komsiyska experienced this when she needed help with an economics class and found limited tutoring available. “ I wish Moraine Valley could hire more tutors this semester,” she said.
Beyond tutoring, Komsiyska would like to see more classes connected to her Health Administration major, including additional health-related and administrative courses.
Another one of Frederick’s suggestions for improving campus life is making college more affordable. He said out-of-district tuition is expensive and that he has had to work different jobs, including UPS and campus jobs, to help pay for school. “I would lower tuition for out-of-district students,” he said.
Marco Alesna, 26, is a Computer Science student. He said the college already offers resources such as tutoring, student-led clubs and financial assistance, but many students may not know they exist. He pointed to the student crisis fund as one example of a resource students might overlook.
“The biggest thing is making sure students know about them and giving them more opportunities to explore what the college has to offer,” Alesna said.
Alesna also wants the college to put more emphasis on mental health awareness through student events, flyers or emails that remind students about available support and the importance of their well-being.
“We’re here to learn, connect and grow, but sometimes we forget that because of things we can’t control,” Alesna said. “Having mental health resources and making students aware of them can help a lot.”
Wish: Making student voices heard
Students could become more involved in college decisions if they knew more about student government and the opportunities available to share their opinions, Hinson said.
Fredrick also wants students to have an easier way to make their voices heard. He suggested having a suggestion box where students could submit ideas that could then be reviewed by a student trustee or ambassador.
For Alesna, students should not only be informed about opportunities but also encouraged to take an active role in improving campus life. He suggested that student-led initiatives could grow over time as more students become involved. He suggested creating a way to bring together students opinions and concerns, similar to the college’s Buzz publication but focused more on student voices.
“I would like to see more of a collective student voice,” Alesna said. He believes sharing students opinions and the results of their feedback could bring more attention to their concerns.
How can students make their wishes known?
Dalayna Stevenson, Moraine Valley’s current student trustee, offered insight into how student concerns can reach college leadership. Students can bring their concerns to Stevenson, and she may raise them during a Board of Trustees meeting if they relate to a topic being discussed.
However, reaching out to Stevenson may not be easy for students, as her email address and office hours are not listed on MVConnect. Stevenson said she was unaware of this problem and would reach out to Dean of Students Kent Marshall to ask for the information to be made available online.
She said she wants students to have a clear way to contact their Student Trustee: “Students can definitely email me. If you see me in person, I also have an open-door policy. You can always come to me with a concern. I won’t shy away from it.”
As student trustee, Dalayna Stevenson was elected to represent student concerns to the governing body of Moraine Valley, the Board of Trustees. She can be reached at stevensond34@student.morainevalley.edu
One concern Stevenson has heard from students involves science classes offered in 8-week sessions instead of the traditional 16-week format.
“Some students are concerned,” Stevenson said. “They feel like the courses are very accelerated, and they are concerned that they may not be retaining the information because the classes move so quickly.”
Financial assistance is also a priority Stevenson emphasized during her campaign for Student Trustee.
“If Moraine Valley could promote the financial assistance more to students, they could be more aware of it,” Stevenson said.
Along with these concerns, Stevenson discussed an upcoming change to college email access that students should know about. Students who currently receive a verification code when logging into Outlook will need to use the Microsoft Authenticator app after January 2027, when the current verification-code option is expected to become unavailable.
When asked about new clubs, events or other programs being planned for future semesters, Stevenson said she did not have information about any specific upcoming additions.
As students look ahead to future semesters, their desires offer a reminder that sometimes, even small changes can make a meaningful difference in the college experience.
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