From: Student Governing Association Date: September 30, 2024 Subject: The Presidential Post - September Edition
The Presidential Post
Kansas State University's Student Body President's Monthly Update
The September 2024 Edition
Catch the latest on initiatives, current updates, & ways to get involved!
A Message From the President
Wildcats,
"Welcome to the first edition of The Presidential Post! As your Student Body President, I’m excited to share updates from the Executive Branch and highlight some exciting initiatives we’ve been working on within Student Governing Association. From campus events to opportunities for you to get involved and make your voice heard, this newsletter will keep you in the loop about how we’re working to enhance the student experience at K-State. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to making our university an even better place. Stay tuned for more!"
With Purple Pride,
Paige Vulgamore, Student Body President
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT!
Student Request for Proposal (RFP): Enhancing Outdoor Spaces on Campus
Kansas State University and the Next Gen K-State Strategic Plan is excited to offer students, via the Student Governing Association (SGA), a unique opportunity to receive $250,000 in funding to enhance or create new outdoor spaces on campus. This could include innovative study and collaborative areas, fitness and recreational facilities, interactive spaces, or any project that encourages students to spend more time outdoors. This initiative supports K-State's mission to promote student health and well-being as a next-generation land grant university. The application will open on Tuesday, October 1st, and close on Friday, November 1st.
On September 5th, we hosted our cabinet for a retreat out at Tuttle Creek Lake to kickstart the year. We enjoyed pizza, played yard games, and had fun getting to know each other more!
SAC Conference
On September 5th and 6th, I spent two days at the Students’ Advisory Committee (SAC) Retreat in Pittsburg, KS! SAC advises the Kansas Board of Regents on the formulation of policy decisions on student affairs. It was great collaborating with student body presidents from across the state, and I’ll be bringing these new insights back to our campus!
State of Our University
On September 11th, we celebrated Kansas State University as the next-generation land-grant institution at the State of Our University. I had the honor of giving the opening remarks and introducing President Linton, who highlighted K-State’s commitment to innovation, community engagement, and providing an exceptional, unmatched student experience. I can’t wait to see all the incredible things our campus will accomplish moving forward!
On September 13th, our cabinet traveled to the K-State Salina campus to connect with representatives from Salina's Student Governing Association and learn more about their campus. We had a great experience meeting with other student leaders and learning about the exciting initiatives that are happening on the K-State Salina campus.
Kansas Board of Regents
On September 18th, I attended the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) meeting with Bently Taulbert, our cabinet legislative director. The KBOR is a governing board for the state's six universities and acts as the coordinating board for Kansas' 32 public higher education institutions. As student body president, I attend monthly KBOR meetings where the board oversees key aspects such as policy setting, tuition rates, budget allocations, and maintaining educational standards.
Ongoing Initiatives
Extending Hale Library hours to improve accessibility for students
Integrating applied learning opportunities into every student's curriculum
Organizing Wildcat Pause Week events leading up to Wildcat Pause Day
Get Involved With Our Cabinet!
Student Organizations - Apply for Student Allocation Funding! All student organizations have the opportunity to apply for funding for the year 2025-2026 as an affiliated student organization! The Student Allocations Committee (SAC) receives and reviews the funding requests submitted and is responsible for choosing whether to fund these groups based on the merits and educational value of the events. Make sure to check out the requirements and deadlines before applying.
Sports Club applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on October 25, 2024!
Cat’s Cupboard Needs Volunteers!
Cat's Cupboard promotes food security at K-State and accepts volunteer applications on an ongoing basis. Volunteers provide unpaid assistance, undergo training, and commit to a minimum of one semester with the expectation of volunteering 1-3 hours per week. Volunteers stock shelves, verify inventory, monitor food, create social media strategies, etc. If you are seeking volunteer hours with little time commitment or are passionate about food security, apply below.
Join the Flint Hills Food Recovery Initiative!
Flint Hills Food Recovery at K-State is a program of the Food and Farm Council of Riley County and the City of Manhattan, committed to bridging the gap between abundance and need by facilitating the rescue and transfer of edible food that would otherwise go to waste. We work efficiently to connect this food directly to the local community organizations and programs where it can have the greatest impact.
Our goal is to integrate food recovery into every university event so surplus food reaches those in need instead of going to waste. Our network of student and community volunteers has recovered over 45,000 pounds of food in the community in the past eighteen months. Now we seek your support to embed this system into our campus culture!
Student Health Advisory Committee Seeking Applications
The Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) attempts to improve the pillars of well-being (physical, social, purpose, emotional, career, and financial) as they pertain to the student body. Meetings start in October, with commitment only being one meeting per month for at-large member, and one meeting every two weeks for the officer team. If you have an interest in voicing concerns about student health, this is a great avenue to get involved! Apply below:
The Biosecurity Scholars Program is a comprehensive initiative designed to develop the next generation of leaders in biosecurity by focusing on the core values of S.H.I.E.L.D: Students, Health, Education, Leadership, and Defense. The Biosecurity Scholars Program intends to prepare its participants to be at the forefront of safeguarding human health, agriculture, and security through education, innovation, and leadership. Please help us to gauge student interest and insight by completing this survey:
Our cabinet meets on Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekly in the Student Programs and Involvement (SPI) Office Conference Room. The SPI Office is located on the first floor of the K-State Student Union in Room 114. These meetings are open to all students, faculty, and staff members that are interested!