Student engagement allows universitites to thrive, and it is important to bring campus together as a community. With NISG as a resource and voice for students, we can continue building an engaged and active campus.
Student Engagement Plan
Student Organizations and NISG
UNI has over a 130 student organization for student involvement on campus. Many have grown into substantial organizations that sponsor annual campus-wide events. For student organizations that are just starting or are looking for ways to grow their impact on campus, we want NISG to sponsor a leadership networking event. This could mirror the successful “Major in Minutes” speed dating concept event, where student organization leaders could be given an opportunity to discuss upcoming events, ways to collaborate with other organizations, and how NISG has been successful with supporting events and where NISG can improve its resources. This kind of networking event fosters collaboration, opens new opportunities for student engagement, and highlights NISG as a resource for all student organizations.
Building a network among student organizations is not only beneficial to campus, but also benefits the sponsoring organizations in regards to funding. NISG promotes funding for multi-student organization sponsored events. Within the past two years the budgetary process has seen an increase in submissions from student organizations. Our focus on increasing awareness is not just for each student organization to submit their own budgets, but to encourage collaboration with other student organizations hosting similar events.
One way NISG can improve this awareness is during the required meeting with the Organization and Finance Committee. The Chair can explain the funding opportunities in person and provide a one-page document explaining all the NISG funds available for student organizations. This will cover change in leadership within student organizations and new organizations that missed the budgetary process meetings in the spring semester.
Chief Diversity Officer
The university is currently in a national search process for a chief diversity officer. Since this position is still being developed by the administration, we are not clear on the roles and responsibilities of the CDO. However, we do want to make clear that as Student Body President and Vice President we will make certain that student voices, concerns, or suggestions are being heard and responded to.
We want to build an active relationship between the NISG Director of Diversity & Student Life and the Center for Multicultural Education ambassadors in order to continue providing events that improve cultural competence across campus. CME First Fridays already show the possibilities for UNI students to learn, engage, and enjoy different cultures that make up our campus. This partnership should lead to involvement with the CDO and become a tool for student engagement between, race, gender, sex, religion, ethnicity, ideology, disability, and other forms of diversity.
