Best Student Government
Community Colleges

Winner: Miami-Dade College—Wolfson
Runner-Up: Pensacola Junior College—Milton

Winner
Miami-Dade College—Wolfson
There’s something to be said for a 12 percent voter turnout at a community college, since all are commuter campuses with students coming and going all hours of the day. But with this number the Student Government Association at Miami Dade College—Wolfson can boast that it represents the student body, and with plans to pilot on-line voting this spring for implementation this fall, that number should only increase.

MDC Snapshot

This SGA also shines with a commitment to a solid transition process—another rarity at a community college. They hold three workshops during the summer, the first one handling the transition from the old to new executive board. The second is for honing leadership skills and more. During the third and final one, they review their mission statement and set goals for the year. This is supported by a new Recruitment Committee which also handles senator orientation.

But that’s not all. “This year’s SGA should be commended for their efforts in keeping not only the campus SGA united, but also creating a strong bond with the other five campus SGAs,” says Rolando Montoya, president. “Some of the joint efforts include college-wide SGA workshops, leadership retreats, and roundtable discussion groups on legislative issues. The campuses even have traveled together for out-of-town trips, not only to economize but also to utilize the travel time for meetings and discussions.”

On campus, SGA uses its Inter Club Council (ICC) to keep the communication lines open between student organizations and to organize joint projects like club fairs and Multicultural Day. Communicating with students is also done through a bi-monthly color newsletter, newly developed SGA brochure, and a web site on which SGA promises to have all newsletter info and a book exchange database, though the site was not active at press time.

To lobby for students, SGA is a member of FJCCSGA and uses a Legislative Committee that conducts forums to keep students informed.

This SGA touches the state, its own students, its campus, joint campuses, and beyond, attracting students from Florida International University and the University of Miami to “the best Halloween party in town,” says Aldo Nahed, editor in chief of the Metropolis, Wolfson’s campus paper. “The students involved are dedicated to bringing the campus community together. This is exactly what a campus located in the center of Miami needs.”

The campus administration agrees. “These students have demonstrated leadership qualities and professional acumen that belie their youth,” says Herbert Robinson, dean of student services. “In short, they’ve given unselfishly to the college and the community, without expectation of compensatory reward. Moreover, they’ve done so while still maintaining a firm commitment to academic excellence.”

Contact SGA at 305-237-7450 or dlopez@mdcc.edu, or visit www.mdcc.edu/wolfson/studentlife/sga.

Runner-Up
Pensacola Junior College—Milton
With a 500 percent increase in its membership, the Student Government Association at Pensacola Junior College—Milton is on a roll. “I’ve been amazed at both the quality of the leadership and the quantity of membership of our SGA,” says Dr. Martin Gonzalez, provost.

PJC Snapshot

That leadership shows up in SGA starting monthly midday workshops for students on topics like credit, domestic violence, rape, club drugs, breast cancer awareness, and scholarships. Add to that SGA’s monthly cookouts to help students on the run and a chance for SGA to connect to its constituency. “Our cookouts give us the ability to talk to the students about legislative issues, campus issues, and to recruit new members,” says Tonya Burnett, SGA president. “It’s another way to give back to the student body and also keep in touch with them all at the same time.”

SGA keeps in touch with that student body through a new bi-weekly newsletter, posted in the Life Fitness Center and in places on campus where people can’t miss it—in the restrooms. A men’s version is called the Daily Constituional and the women’s version is the Kitty Litter, though content is the same for both. They also use sidewalk chalk messages. All this is augmented by posters, signs, and info and ads in the school paper. “Whether our student body is in the commons, walking around looking at the columns outside, looking at the ground, or using the restroom, our SGA has found ways to keep in touch with them,” Burnett says.

Students have responded by boosting SGA’s membership five-fold, but with a low voter turnout of only four percent, true student representation is questionable. Plans to implement on-line voting could help remedy that.

This SGA has also touched lives beyond campus, logging 186 hours in community service and raising money for several major charities.

As a member of Florida Junior/Community College Student Government Association (FJCCSGA), they’ve also provided a lobbying effort. “For the first time on the Milton Campus, we have an SGA that’s active in keeping our students informed on both campus activities as well as legislative issues that impact the Florida community colleges,” Dr. Gonzalez says.

The executive board wants to keep this great administration going beyond their term, so members are creating a transition manual for the first time.

 “In my 25 years as an educator, I’m proud to say that this is the finest SGA with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work,” says Anthea E. Amos, curriculum coordinator.

Contact SGA at 850-484-4491 or bbranch@pjc.edu, or visit www.pjc.edu.

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