Undergraduate Student Government State of the University Address
Dear NSU Community,
It is with great pleasure and pride that I present you with the 20th Student Government Association (2007-2008) State of the University Address. This year’s SGA started off with a daunting task and responsibility: to rebuild and restructure SGA from the ground up. As is reflected in our goals, this year we have been committed to making SGA student-oriented, collaborative, accountable, professional and the voice of the students. Passion, along with dedication, commitment, good leadership, and hard work, has served as the bottom line of our administration. The administration has experienced a lot of success in achieving its goals and serving as the voice of the undergraduate students. I hope you will take the time to read the address and judge this year’s SGA’s performance for yourself. Following are our accomplishments as per the goals we set down in the beginning of the year.
Goal # 1 Connecting to Students:
NSUSGA is the voice of the students and serves as a liaison between administrators and students. In order to be a true voice and to ensure that all sections are represented equally, NSUSGA will make extensive efforts to connect and reach out to as many undergraduate students as possible. To further build a more positive, professional, and friendly bond with the administrators, image building, more interaction and communication will serve as the key to success.
Accomplishment of Goal 1:
SGA has made huge strides in making a connection with the students and having its presence felt. Following are some of the accomplishments related to the above goal.
- Student Issues and Concerns Meeting: SGA meetings were re-structured to make them more student-oriented. The first and third meetings were re-structured to consist of bill hearing and resolutions, the second meeting, titled “Student Issues and Concerns Meeting,” was designed to discuss student issues on campus, and the fourth meeting was made into a leadership development committee session for SGA members to re-group and plan for the future.
- SGA Tuesdays: The creation of a monthly event on campus for students to meet and greet student government members, as well as express concerns, in a fun and informal atmosphere. This event allowed SGA to better represent student needs.
- SGA Welcome Back Week – SGA hosted the first-ever SGA Welcome Back Week in the first week of school during the winter semester to connect with students. SGA Welcome Back Week was a full week of events designed to assure that students had access to more information about SGA as well as assure that students’ feedback, suggestions and concerns were heard.
- SGA Seal: SGA designed its own logo to give itself an individual identity. The new seal has also helped students recognize SGA and make a connection.
- SGA Board In Parker – The SGA Board on the second floor of the Parker Building was completed, and serves as a stationary location through which students can access information about SGA. The board has been decorated with goals and updated consistently with SGA meeting dates, a contact list, and a calendar.
- Ask Mr. Shark – The SGA president’s column in The Current, the university’s student newspaper, is a bi- weekly column which seeks to answer questions that students might have about anything at NSU.
- SGA at Sharkapalooza – SGA co-sponsored Sharkapalooza with the Office of Student Engagement this year with the goal of helping students network at NSU and get to know different clubs and organizations on campus. SGA also had a booth present at the event with free giveaways and information about SGA for students.
- SGA Campaign “What Has SGA Done for Me Lately?” – A campaign started to promote awareness of various things SGA has done for its students. The campaign has provided a better connection between students and SGA.
Goal # 2 Addressing Project SERVE
SGA realizes the importance of volunteerism among students in building a better campus community, but at the same time realizes that students, clubs and organizations have raised some concerns about Project SERVE. As the voice of the students, NSUSGA needs to address those concerns with their respective groups and help in reaching a win – win solution or a mutual conclusion.
Accomplishment of Goal 2:
- Member on Civic Engagement Board: SGA was able to get one of its members on the Civic Engagement Board started by Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement. The Civic Engagement Board was started to promote volunteerism, as well as to work on any suggestions or feedback for Project SERVE. The Civic Board is currently working on a week of volunteer events to provide organizations with plenty of opportunities to do volunteer work, as well as planned an “alternative spring break.”
- IOC Meeting for Concern: Project SERVE suggestions and concerns were brought up this year at IOC as one of the topics for discussion by clubs and organizations, led by SGA.
Goal # 3 Building a Campus Community / Collaboration:
One of the purposes of NSUSGA is uniting the NSU community. Collaborating events and activities with its constituents as well as the administration, faculty, staff and departments will play a vital role. Organizing and planning with DOSA and Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences would be of great importance. This will also provide NSUSGA with the opportunity to be the students’ voice in matters of importance.
Accomplishment of Goal 3
This year, SGA has worked very hard in collaboration with different clubs, departments, and schools to promote unity and school spirit, and to create a more dynamic and diverse campus.
- SGA collaborated with AVACS and the Student Union Board to host a Halloween party for students in the Flight Deck.
- SGA members are active members of the Food Service Committee with Chartwells, working to improve the dining experience of students and the NSU Community at large.
- SGA is also a part of the Commencement committee. Currently, one SGA member serves as the students’ voice in one of the most important events of their life.
- SGA drafted a resolution, entitled Memo of Understanding, with the goal of creating a partnership with Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences to fund conferences for pre-professional organizations. Although the resolution was passed and supported by Dean Rosenblum, the resolution was not implemented due to some concerns from the Division of Student Affairs.
- SGA co-sponsored the Shark Show with PASA and SUB during Homecoming Week. In addition, SGA also hosted the homecoming dance and the annual SGA raft race.
- For the first time, SGA members assisted with planning and organizing “NSU CommunityFest”, making us the first SGA to receive volunteer hours through Project SERVE.
- SGA collaborated with the Office of Disabilities and passed a resolution requesting the administration to allow the University Center doors to remain on the automatic openers for physically challenged people to use.
- SGA members were also invited to be a part of the university Homecoming Meetings.
Goal # 4 Improving Parking/Transportation on Campus:
Parking has been a major issue with undergraduate students and it’s high time that NSUSGA makes an effort to address the concerns. The NSUSGA would like to research the topic in order to better discuss it with the students as well as faculty, staff and concerned authorities. Finally, NSUSGA would like to present the topic in the PANSGA for further action.
Accomplishment of Goal 4:
- Worked with administrators to open 700-plus parking spots on campus for commuter students.
- SGA members rode the campus shuttles and shared their experiences with administrators.
- Led the parking concern in PANSGA.
- Met with Office of Facilities to discuss the parking situation and get a better understanding of it.
- Created a parking survey that was adopted by PANSGA and sent out to all students.
- Distributed parking surveys at SGA Tuesdays.
Goal # 5 Budget Guidelines/Constitution:
The NSUSGA will be undergoing a transition and will be modifying the ways that money is allocated. The purpose is to be fair and consistent with money allocations. With the changes taking place, NSUSGA will make a special effort to reach out and communicate the changes to its constituents as efficiently and effectively as possible to minimize any inconvenience to its constituents as well as the concerned authorities.
Accomplishment of Goal 5
- Adopted new and modified guidelines for money allocation to clubs and organizations to simplify money allocation.
- Advertised new guidelines through various listservs so that organizations would be well-aware of them.
- Held budget guideline workshops to help organizations adapt to the new guidelines and answer any questions or concerns they might have.
Goal # 6 Promoting Leadership, Campus Life and Development of Undergraduate Students:
Student leadership development is the process of involving students in meaningful ways, both in and beyond the classroom. It is providing opportunities for students to demonstrate their talents, skills and interests while continuing to develop new skills. It is also about giving students more ownership of the programs they attend. Students bring new energy and ideas to the program. Second, student leadership provides opportunities for students to get involved and to learn skills that can be transferable to the workplace or community. Finally, student leadership deepens each student's commitment to adult literacy and increases the chances that the student will continue to learn. Campus leadership has an abiding commitment to the improvement of campus climate, community and diversity and must seek effective ways to translate that commitment into action. NSUSGA respects student/campus leaders and will make a strong effort to produce future NSU leaders and work with the administrators to provide them with training, opportunities, recognition and other necessary tools as needed.
Accomplishment of Goal 6
- Passed a resolution for recognition at the Commencement Ceremony for Leaders
- Secured two seats on the Commencement Committee presented and lobbied the idea to the Commencement Committee for recognition of graduating leaders at the Commencement Ceremony.
- Attended IOC meetings and gave special gifts to IOC leaders for their commitment and dedication to NSU and their organizations.
- This year, SGA could nominate its undergraduate clubs and organizations for Student Life Achievement Awards (STUEYS).
Other Outstanding Achievements for SGA This Year:
- Invited Dean Don Rosenblum and Dean Williams to speak at an SGA meeting.
- SGA worked with Residential Life to provide fax machines for residential students.
- SGA worked with Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences to provide printing stations in the Parker Building.
- SGA sponsored Homecoming Dance witnessed the highest attendance in the history of Homecoming, with over 300 students attending the event.
- SGA nominated for the SGA of the Year at Student Life Achievement Awards 2008.
- SGA led FRAG petition and produced over 400 signatures.
- SGA food court survey received 243 responses.
- SGA Team was the best undergraduate team at the 2007 Ethics Bowl competition at NSU and went on to represent the school at the Southeast Regional Ethics Bowl Debate in St. Petersburg. SGA came in eighth place out of 22 teams. This was the highest rank ever for NSU.
- SGA received 10 volunteer hours for helping with Community Fest, making us the first SGA in the history of NSU to earn volunteer hours.
- First SGA to go technology friendly, as SGA is now on WebCT, making SGA more organized and planned, as well as supporting the SGA Go Green Initiative.
- First SGA to have a full senate in over five years.
- First SGA to hold a presidential debate at Quad Thursday for the election process.
- SGA elections had a voting record, with 486 votes being cast.
We look forward to hearing your comments, suggestions and feedback. Please feel free to contact me at bhargava@nova.edu or SGA at nsusga@nova.edu.
Remember, SGA is always there for you!
Sincerely,
Akshat Bhargava
President, Nova Southeastern Undergraduate Student Government Association