The central goal of our administration will be to improve the student experience across campus.  We believe that the ASUI has the ability to impact each and every student from Greek row to the Residence Halls to the community at large.  Because we realize that every student’s experiences on campus will be different we have four areas where we believe attention should be focused.

Improving campus life and activities

Student’s time outside the classroom is what keeps them involved and connected to their peers.  ASUI’s greatest strength is its ability to provide outstanding programming.  From Vandal Entertainment to the Center for Volunteerism and Social Action the opportunities available to students are numerous.  In addition to the great programming put on by ASUI, Vandal Athletics and our numerous student organizations provide students to get involved and show off their Vandal pride.  We believe that there is room to grow and improve all of these areas.

OUR REAL SOLUTION: First, we plan reevaluate the ASUI Budget and find the money necessary to properly support our student organizations.  Second, we plan to work with the Volunteer Center to build permanent stability into their Alternative Service Break programs.  By throwing the full support of the ASUI behind this initiative we believe that we can push the Administration to fully recognize the benefits of this program to our students.  Third, we plan to push the administration to move quickly to allow us to build either a new Student Union that will give students more on-campus entertainment options and a place for down time, or move forward with Phase Two of the Rec Center to include more opportunities for students. Finally we plan to see that a bigger, better and safer football tailgate, that is sponsored by ASUI is put in place.  Adding entertainment and more food options, coupled with a better organized layout will enhance the experience of every student. We have seen how much students and alumni enjoy a Saturday afternoon pregame and we have seen what other schools have given their students; we plan to do everything in our power to complete this.

Creating an effective support network and resource center for off campus students

Off-campus students make up the bulk of our student body and their needs are often never met.  We believe that there is more that can be done to support off-campus students.  We plan to address issues that these students encounter daily.  Issues like dealing with landlords, the police, internet and cable providers and how to get to school daily.  ASUI has gone on for too long trying to inform off-campus students about what is going on on-campus, it’s time ASUI worked to help them with issues that occur off-campus.

OUR REAL SOLUTION: First we plan to work with the newly created Off Campus Student Council to create a resource center within the ASUI that provides information on renter’s rights, insurance, dealing with Moscow PD, and information on how to find and choose what sort of rental will be right for them.  Second, we will expand the duties of the Director of Community Relations to seek out issues in the community that are impacting our students that we may not be aware of simply from an on-campus position.

Advocating for students rights

The Greek Life and Residence Hall systems are the back bone of this institution.  They are responsible for bringing new students to our campus and for insuring that they want to continue here at UI.  We have seen a need for some revitalization of the efforts being made to insure that student’s voices are heard.  We have also seen a continued slide in the level of respect and information given to students from the Administration, more specifically the Division of Finance and Administration that directs many of the departments that provide services to our students.

OUR REAL SOLUTION:  We plan to push the University for increased support for Greek Life and ResLife, we believe that at its core this university is a residential campus and we cannot risk losing that allure.  By adding ASUI’s voice to the mix we believe that we can send a unified message that will be taken seriously.  Additionally we plan to challenge the stance of the Division of Finance and Administration that our university should be run like a business with the bottom line at the forefront of its operations.  We strongly disagree that making money should be put above all else and will fight that position with all of our ability. 

Improving the classroom and educational setting

We believe that every student came here to learn and grow as a person, and the university should take an active role in that.   This starts with advising, an area where progress is being made, but more work still needs to be done.  It includes much more though, we plan to develop programs that will reconnect students with their faculty and create a more engaging classroom experience.  Building relationships with that move beyond the classroom will improve not only the educational experience of students, but help to keep students here at the U of I.

OUR REAL SOLUTION: We plan to dust off an old ASUI plan to create a Campus Community Hour, where across campus, no classes would be scheduled so that colleges and departments could meet with all of their students or student organizations could hold meetings that all of their members wouldn’t have to miss because of class.  We believe that this type of initiative will lead to a more engaged and active campus.  We plan to fully support the recommendation of the committee on advising and push a swift implementation changes to the advising system.  We hope that that plan will include advisor reviews, real advisor training and a better student understanding of the advising process.