Best Student Government
Private Colleges & Universities

Winner: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Runner-Up: Flagler College

Winner
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Not only does Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Student Government Association have the state’s top guns, but one in particular is the million-dollar man—SGA President Matthew Collier. He was instrumental in getting the board of trustees to reduce tuition increases by a cool mil.

ERAU Snapshot

As reported in The Avion, ERAU’s campus newspaper, “the message is getting through that students aren’t just a bottomless pit…there’s no doubt that Matt is working for the students…he has no problem to speak out,” says Dr. Nancy Parker, board member and chair of the humanities and social sciences department.

In another million-dollar move, literally, SGA is getting students their own lounge. “It’s been a long time coming—a student lounge at Embry-Riddle,” Collier says. “A priority for this year’s administration was to secure space on campus and see it transformed into a lounge space. Plans are currently at the architect, and over one million dollars has been allocated to see this exciting concept come to fruition before classes start next fall. The plans call for the renovation of the current student center; SGA will move downstairs, and be interfaced with a TV lounge, and a recreational room to include pool tables, air hockey, and other gaming options.”

In fact, as Collier notes above, another big move that speaks to this SGA’s importance on campus is the move to a new, large, highly visible office space. At 1,800 sq. ft., it’s one of the largest and most functional offices in the nation. All SGA officers have their own private offices which circle a large main “lounge” area featuring a big-screen TV and sitting area. Often, ERAU students who aren't even involved in SGA can be found enjoying coffee and watching the tube in the SGA offices. The goal of any SGA office is to become a student hang-out for non-SGA people, and that's what ERAU has—an office housed in a prime space in the Student Union so that any student who comes to the union and cafeteria always sees the SGA office.

One of SGA’s top programs for those students includes Task Force One, “to accommodate the first-year student’s overwhelming interest in SG,” Collier says. It’s an executive council that meets directly with him to advise on a variety of issues, plan and help host events, come up with new ideas, and offer support for the day-to-day issues with which SGA deals.

SGA also established the Flight Line Satisfaction Committee to improve the most visible area on campus, the school’s aircraft fleet and flight training devices. Students utilize this equipment to earn FAA pilot and flight instructor certificates and ratings, and Collier says that issues include outdated equipment and bad policies. ERAU’s “Flight Line is one of the most vital areas on campus—it’s what draws students from around the world,” he says.

Students responded to this SGA’s efforts with a voter turnout that went from a low of eight percent in 2001 to 33 percent this year. In 2002, SGA brought in the Volusia County Elections Commissioner to boost turnout to 15 percent. Now at 33 percent, it’s evident that this SGA truly represents students. Participation also doubled through implementing on-line voting through ERAU’s intranet, driven by Blackboard. Their goal is a turnout of 50 percent, like presidential elections.

“Our objective is to clearly understand the pulse of the student body,” says Kelly M. Austin, SGA advisor and assistant director of student activities. SGA has administered several surveys including attrition and retention studies and satisfaction with food service, the flight line, parking, and library computers.

The task of communicating to students falls to its new Public Relations Committee, which keeps SGA’s web site up-to-date using Blackboard. It also sends out mass e-mails, uses large banners and flyers, and posts news in a university newsletter. In each issue of The Avion, SGA has its own section consisting of ads for upcoming events and two columns written by Collier.

“The Avion newspaper has had wonderful relations with Student Government this semester…I’m happy to say that this semester we’ve been able to work together to make the entire SG a more productive and successful organization,” says Lucas Crouch, editor in chief. “Part of this success can be attributed to the re-structuring of how we use our money. In the past, any extra revenue The Avion generated had to be returned to the SG. This semester, however, we’ve been able to keep all generated revenues. This has been an enormous help to the organization, as we can purchase new equipment with less hassle. We’re also able to request less money from the SG, as we’re able to support ourselves more and more.”

In October, ERAU SGA hosted the Independent College and Universities of Florida (ICUF) SG Leadership Conference, at which Florida Leader Editor in Chief Butch Oxendine was the keynote speaker. Since no statewide organization that lobbies for students really exists for private colleges, SGA spearheaded forming an alliance, for which ERAU will serve as two-year chair, with Flagler College serving as co-chair.

“These student leaders have the important mission of representing the student body to the university administration,” says ERAU Chancellor Irwin Price. “They do this with gusto by clearly communicating student concerns to the appropriate faculty or staff manager. But it doesn’t stop there. This is a group of energetic young people who work tirelessly for the needs of the student body and the university as a whole.”

To make sure that this SGA administration continues its good work when a new team is elected, a transition manual was developed—a binder of policies and procedures for each representative, finance board member, and executive. They also use shadowing, and a weekend-long retreat provides leadership training and a time to set the direction and goals for the year.

An important boost to consistency in any SGA’s success is the hiring of a permanent office manager. Hired years ago, ERAU’s coordinator oversees daily operational activities of running the SGA office, including updating the budget, delegating student requests, overseeing 15 student assistants on staff, coordinating publicity materials printing and duplication, and assisting in planning upcoming student activities and SGA events.

“We’ve worked tirelessly with the faculty, staff, and administration to address the needs of the students,” Austin says. “Our executives have worked extremely hard to ensure that administration is aware of the needs of the student body. Our SGA President, Matt Collier, has served as the student resource, as a voting member of the Board of Trustees. His accomplishments and triumphs are a result of his work ethic and determination to make Embry-Riddle a better place for ERAU students.”

As a result, one such initiative is Blast-off, where SGA brings together clubs, organizations, and student life departments to show freshmen how they can get involved in campus life. A day before classes begin during this orientation week, SGA hosts Afterburn to familiarize the student body with SGA-related programs and services. Then, at the end of the semester, on the first day of finals, it hosts SGA Stress Relief Day, where students can smash computers, piñatas, and other items—then get a free massage to really loosen up.

“From the management and helpful oversight of clubs and organizations to the interaction with staff and faculty at all levels,” says ERAU President George H. Ebbs, Jr., “Embry-Riddle’s SGA has proven itself time-and-again as a resource to the students, and the ERAU community at large.”

Contact SGA at 386-226-6045 or sgastu@erau.edu, or visit www.db.erau.edu/campus/student/sga.

Runner-Up
Flagler College
Flagler College has “the little SG that could,” making it shine both on and off campus. “This year, the SGA, under the strong leadership of its president, Ms. Crystal Hill, has accomplished a number of significant projects and has participated in a variety of campus and community activities,” says Flagler President, Dr. William T. Abare, Jr.

Flagler Snapshot

Off campus, SGA was asked to help facilitate a meeting to form the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) and ended up being asked to serve as supervisors on each of its committees. “They constantly pursue new and exciting ideas to make the relationship between the college and the city a solid one,” says Dr. L. Dirk Hibler, SGA advisor and assistant dean of students. “Furthermore, the SGA is active in community developments, donating many hours to make events happen and happen well.”

On campus, SGA implemented Flagler Recycles, a program for the female residence halls; devised ways to get more student input which led to a parking solution and a college-wide effort to improve dining services; and through its leadership team, SGA boosted membership from 30 to 50 members—not bad for a school of under 2,000 students.

“Due to our increased student involvement, we’ve become much more involved on campus and in our community,” Hill says. “Every annual event we’ve conducted this year has surpassed attendance records; our community efforts have expanded to include working with charitable organizations and the local government; we’ve created new and innovative events, fundraisers, and programs; and we’ve gained more respect from our college administration and students.”

“The SGA at Flagler has worked hard to establish a positive and productive relationship with administration,” Abare says. “The relationship is built on cooperation and communication. The SGA understands what can be achieved when everyone is rowing in the same direction and tries to promote a cooperative spirit among its members. The SGA personally identifies with the success of the college and is committed to helping the college achieve its mission and goals.”

SGA communicates to students through a summary of events and accomplishments in each issue of the campus paper, The Gargoyle, which also highlights upcoming projects and offers space for a “president’s column” as necessary. General session minutes are posted on the web site and on campus. And mass e-mails have spawned an “increase in questions and comments,” Hill says, who provides “immediate feedback.”

Voter turnout is a respectable 15 percent, especially since it’s a five percent increase over last year and plans are in the works to add another 10 percent by providing two days of voting instead of one. They’re also researching implementation of on-line voting in the next few years.

For its lobbying efforts, Flagler’s SGA serves as two-year co-chair alongside ERAU of the new ICUF alliance formed last October to lobby for students at private colleges and universities in Florida.

“In my opinion, I think that the SGA has made amazing progress, especially under the leadership of their president, Crystal Hill,” says Gargoyle Editor in Chief Erin O'Neil. “Since my start at Flagler four years ago, I’ve seen more student activities that were both fun and helpful to the entire student body. The members work hard and have the students’ best interest at heart.”

“Having been involved in SG as an undergraduate, as well as serving as the advisor to SGA at a major institution in Texas, I can honestly say that this group of students is outstanding,” Hibler says. “They never think about themselves and only think about what’s best for the institution and the city of St. Augustine.”

Contact SGA at 904-819-6238 or sga@flagler.edu, or visit www.flagler.edu/student_life/sga.html.

Copyright © 2006 Oxendine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved