1. Accountable SGA
After negotiating with SAI and using his own financial knowledge, Tim cut the SGA's operating budget request by over $10,000. By eliminating excess expenses, more money can be allocated to students. By switching from a reactive to proactive mindset, Tim and Jake will hold SGA Members accountable for their required ESO Event Attendance while holding themselves to the same standard. As a result, the SGA will be easier to reach and its members will have a better understanding of students' needs.
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2. Empower Underserved Students
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Tim has already began to collaborate with the Associate Director for International Student and Scholar Success to better discover means to promote the active involvement of our international students. As the SGA liaison to the Residence Hall Association, Jake has identified several accessibility issues in on-campus housing, and also looks to ensure transfers are given options beyond Sylvan. As A First-Generation student himself, Jake understands how isolating it can be to come to college and will be working to provide increased support to these students. By bringing these experiences to the forefront of the SGA's attention, Tim & Jake are prepared to better position all students on this campus for success - not just those that have traditionally been outreached to.
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3. Student Union Oversight
As a member of the Student Union Task Force, Jake has been able to fight for appropriate funding and oversight of the renovation. Both Tim and Jake outreached in support of the project, as the new building will present better amenities for RSOs to achieve their goals. The current Student Union also does not provide significant benefit for Club Sports groups, which Tim and Jake wish to address. As the home for all student activity on campus, all student organizations should be benefitting from the space.
Success during the renovation will rely on proactive communication between the SGA and student organizations, especially Student Businesses. Through their already established working relationships with Facilities, the Physical Plant, Student Activites & Involvement and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs & Campus Life Enku Gelaye, Tim and Jake are the best-equipped ticket to facilitate the changes student organizations actually need. |
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4. University Finances
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Historically, a majority of SGA Emergency Funding has been allocated to Club Sports groups for the purposes of attending national tournaments teams have qualified for. This year, that figure sits at 71% of all Emergency Funding allocations. Jake and the Finance Committee have worked to develop a plan for the Champions Fund: a separate sum of funding sourced jointly from multiple areas including UMass Athletics.
Having overseen and allocated the Student Activities Trust Fund for the past three years, Tim and Jake have worked to ensure this funding is allocated effectively to the most important area of our campus: to the students. Without raising a penny in fees, they last year were able to allocate a record $3.3 million to RSOs and Agencies on the Ways & Means Committee. Their commitment to keeping the only student-controlled fee to a minimum exemplifies their commitment to ensuring college affordability. The funding of our university is largely contingent on the actions of the Board of Trustees. Tim and Jake look to closely collaborate with whoever is elected as Student Trustee to work on maintaining the "affordable and accessible education" we are promised by the university. Tim has lobbied alongside state legislators to develop strategies surrounding this initiative. Tim and Jake remember that administrators work for students, and it's not the other way around. Tim has attended every Advisory Board meeting of the Vice Chancellor of Administration & Finance, where he has worked alongside Andy Mangels to ensure the student voice is being heard while fighting back against all fee increases brought to the Board's attention. Tim is only presidential nominee to ever attend these meetings or work alongside the Vice Chancellor on financial matters since his term as Secretary of Finance began last April. |
5. Value of UMass Degree
Right now, we're all paying a large sum of money to attend UMass. For that price, we should expect just as large a return. While working to ensure university affordability, Tim and Jake have worked to enhance what Student Organizations are capable of. Doing this allows those organizations to offer more to students and the community, enhancing all of our undergraduate career.
Alongside his undersecretary and inspired by the concerns expressed about the resources of sustainable RSOs, Tim has been able to formulate a plan to develop a Sustainable RSO Council. As 21st-century students, we recognize a global awareness to shift our daily way of life into one that supports sustainable activity. By providing the Sustainable Organization Coalition and any other organizations with a sustainable mission a Council, they will gain access to an SAI Advisor, a Budget Recommendation Committee, and the ability to gain increased access to the space on campus that they deserve. Through this, students are able to gain more skills and real-world experiences outside the classroom that can be carried into our lives and careers outside of UMass. Stronger RSOs, while encouraging the involvement of students from all backgroud, will create stronger events which improve our university's reputation worldwide. With a stronger reputation, the value of a UMass degree will rise in accordance. |
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