April 8, 2014
Student government completes productive term
Last Thursday, K-State Student Governing Association wrapped up another successful, productive term. Throughout the year, elected and appointed student leaders worked together to accomplish a number of high-priority goals of the student body — many of which are listed below:
• Free student parking at the Rec as of Nov. 1: All privilege-fee paying students can park for free at the rec complex 24 hours a day
• Mobile charging stations in the K-State Student Union, Hale Library and Leadership Studies building: Students can charge their cell phones and tablets with ease and convenience.
• Wireless internet improvements: Students can report wireless internet weaknesses around campus via K-State Online. The Student Governing Association's Student Centered Tuition Enhancement Committee voted to fund substantial wireless internet improvements in the Union, historically one of the weakest wireless spots on campus.
• Manhattan improvements via a City-University Fund: Student Governing Association recommended substantial improvements to City Park, Denison Avenue and McCain Auditorium.
• Communications improvements: Student Governing Association has increased its communication with the student body via social media, a blog, weekly Collegian columns and more.
• Privilege fee review: KSDB 91.9 FM and student activities and services office received privilege fee continuances, and the Student Activity Fee and Recreational Services were also reviewed and funded.
• Teacher Evaluation Task Force: After work throughout the fall with administration, a task force to improve the TEVAL system was launched in January and has begun work on the topic
• Professional mentorship: The Student-Centered Tuition Enhancement committee voted to fun professional mentorship programs in the College of Human Ecology and College of Arts and Sciences
• Funding reform: Student Governing Association voted to have several programs like the Student Governing Association-funded K-State Veteran’s Center and LGBT Resource Center have more long-term, stable funding.
• Kansas Legislative advocacy: Through Cats in the Capitol and State Higher Education Day, Student Governing Association leaders continue to fight for adequate higher education funding in Topeka
• SafeTrek app: In February, Student Governing Association worked to partner with SafeTrek, a campus safety app, to allow K-State students, faculty and staff to download it for free
• Mobile app, K-State Online, iSIS development: The Student Governing Association worked through the term toward a unified mobile app and the next step in the process — a survey of students — was completed in March
• Landlord/tenant relations: Student Governing Association worked to create a "Bill of Rights" for Manhattan area landlords and student tenants, and it will now be distributed around the community.
• K-State Student Union renovation: Work continues on the design of the Union renovation, with construction to begin in 2015.
• Smoking policy: Student Governing Association sent a resolution in support of a cleaner air policy tp campus administration and progress continues on the initiative.
• Tuition Strategies Committee: The group is close to wrapping up its in-depth discussions to ensure that tuition remains comparatively low and the K-State experience affordable.