Six+Environments

__**Six Environments:**__

// Geographic: // VCCA is a student society within the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus catering to the students of Visual Culture and Communication program. These students attend classes both at UTM, as well as, Sheridan College at the Oakville Campus, both of which are suited with a vast array of technology available for student use. Furthermore, UTM is located in proximity to the Square One area, where numerous businesses are expanding, offering a number of job opportunities in various industries, some of which are in design which VCCA can take advantage of. Through affiliate program marketing and even word of mouth given the close distance, VCCA can be at a first-to-market advantage with the growing business establishments and job offerings in the design industry. Moreover, UTM itself is expanding with new buildings and technologies that will surely boost the overall popularity and credibility of the campus, thus, making it more attractive to applying students who might in turn expand the community of students in VCCA.

// Competitive: // UTM houses numerous student associations, some related to each other across programs. This makes for a highly competitive environment where the various associations attempt to book events and gain the attention of the university itself, as well as, maintain a level of attractiveness for the various talents who study on campus. The proximity to two Sheridan College campuses and their respective student associations also adds to the number of competitors and level of competition in creating a brand for VCCA. In addition, the well-established student associations will have limited advertisement space within their respective websites for newer student associations such as VCCA to compete for.

// Economic: // Students who attend UTM, particularly in programs such as VCC, DEM, and CCIT fall under the classification of being “deregulated” and required to pay an above average amount of tuition per school term, therefore it is sufficient to say that majority of the students in VCCA will be apart of a certain class of wealth. In other words, it is expensive to be a VCC student, therefore, all planned events or merchandise should attempt to be inexpensive enough so not to add to the large student expenses. Entering the market with affordable events and merchandise will lend to a penetration of the market, which could also lead to a faster rate of brand establishment and recognition. Furthermore, it should be noted that VCCA is a new student society, therefore, initial funding is required to stage certain events and activities. UTM Students’ Union only gives a certain amount of funding to accommodate for other clubs and societies.

// Political: // UTM encourages the creation of student organizations and associations, as a result, there are low barriers to entry in the political environment. It is also not very difficult to establish a student society through UTMSU, since there are only a small number of rules to follow, which pertain to the abstinence of hate crimes such as racism and discrimination, as well as, other crimes including theft. All other provincial laws and university laws apply as well to each member of the student society. All of this means that VCCA is a reflection of UTMSU and UTM itself, thus, all members of the organization must act in accordance.

// Socio-cultural: // UTM has benefited from the fact that it is located in one the most multicultural cities in Canada, as well as, the fact that it bears the crest of a world-renowned educational institution. The attraction of globally dispersed student talents makes an extremely cultural diverse population of students at UTM. In a global market, it has become evident that successful engagement in creating culturally diverse organizations is key to the success of those organizations. It is no question then that VCCA must create an environment for a culturally diverse student society to thrive, which will in turn reflect success upon VCCA itself.

// Technological: // The technological environment at UTM continues to expand upon its established advanced base of equipment it already possesses. Sheridan College Oakville Campus also contains an industry-leading base of technology, and in association with ICCIT and VCC programs, lends to a multitude of innovation for the students of those programs to become acquainted with. A program such as VCC requires the use of certain technologies to be able to do the quality of work that its students produce. It is therefore evident that the availability and growth of the technological environment at both UTM and Sheridan College are beneficial to the students of VCCA. Promoting the fact that VCCA students will have the opportunity to operate such technology will surely increase the population of students in the VCC program and the VCCA student society.