Student Government Association’s Recent Actions
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| Pictured from Left: William Leitzke, Dalton Johnson, and Joy Wiggins. (Photo by Caitlin Carroll) |
By Caitlin Carroll
Caitlin.Carroll@mail.umhelena.edu
Every Friday in quiet corners of Donaldson and Airport campuses, unnoticed by most, a small group of students gather to make plans. Most Helena College students do not know the group even exists. Perhaps some members of this mysterious group are in your class, maybe even sitting next to you right now—but do not be alarmed. The Helena College Student Government Association (SGA), an organization for improving the Helena College experience, is open to all Helena College students—and they've just added a lot more to get excited about.
Last semester, the SGA took a big step toward making Helena College students' voices heard statewide: the SGA joined Montana Associated Students (MAS). Broadly speaking, MAS represents students at colleges and universities across Montana—a sort of super club. While it is early in SGA's tenure with MAS, SGA members have already been involved in important developments that affect students across Montana.
Members of SGA have been taking action at the Capitol during this legislative session to ensure that the state budget doesn't cut funding for higher education. As of this writing, there is an $11.8 million shortfall in higher education funding, down from the original $23.1 million. Regardless, if the budget passes with that $11.8 million hole, colleges will need to take extreme measures in order to keep afloat. MAS predicts that it could result in a 12% tuition hike, cuts to program and class availability, and reduced faculty and staff. SGA hopes that with the combined lobbying efforts with MAS, state senators will vote to invest in Montana's future rather than balancing the budget on students' backs.
SGA has also contributed a Helena College perspective on matters ranging from 'budget enhancements' (taxes on alcohol and cigarettes), voting ID laws, and hunting licenses. SGA has consulted with other MAS members about student fees, elections, and student government constitutions, and even worked with MAS to prepare for the Board of Regents meeting at Helena College in March.
Exciting and important things are happening at those now not-so-secret Friday meetings, and SGA is glad for extra help to make life better for HC students.
Where to go: meetings are at 9:30 am, alternating between Airport room 205 and Donaldson room 204; contact caitlin.carroll@mail.umhelena.edu for more information.
Board of Regents and Students Unite
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| Photo by Kiera Marshall |
By Kiera Marshall
Kiera.Marshall@mail.umhelena.edu
Helena College hosted the Board of Regents on March 9-10 on its Donaldson Campus. Representatives from other colleges around the state including University of Montana and Montana State University along with all the community colleges. During the Regent and Student Luncheon, many concerns were brought up including an increase in student fees and tuition and the budget for the Office of Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) for the coming year. $23.1 million was going to be cut from OCHE in Montana, which meant higher tuition for students, but it has since been lowered to $11.8 million.
There are seven members on the Board of Regents with one regent being a student that is appointed by the governor and three campuses have shown interest in having one of their students fill the position.
Recently Helena College Student Government has joined forces with Montana Associated Students (MAS). This partnership will allow the voices of the students of Helena College to be heard at a higher level. MAS is an organization that consists of University of Montana, UM-Western, Montana Tech, Montana State University, MSU-Billings, MSU-Northern, and MSU Great Falls. Joining MAS will allow the students of Helena College to have a say in what happens in the Montana University System.
President of MAS Sam Forstag said that students being more aware of what is occurring in the state legislature would help get them more involved in the schools. When students are more involved in the campus they are attending, more student concerns get heard and the schools get improved. However, there is a turnover every four years, which can make it difficult to get students involved, but it is important nonetheless.
Forstag also stated that “whether college or K12, there is definitely a tendency for education” to have their budgets cut depending whether it’s a good or bad year. The education of people doesn’t have an immediate impact on the economy and it is only seen 10 to 20 years later. Due to this occurrence, education is one of the first budgets to be cut and the money is used elsewhere and 10 to 20 years later, the impact is seen.
Uniting students and regents together is important because both groups have roles in the future of education. By working together, the future generations can have a better education without worrying about it being taken away or cut drastically.
Student of the Month
By Joy Y Wiggins
Joy.Wiggins@mail.umhelena.edu
Most of us have noticed the parking spot marked Student of the Month and probably wondered what that is all about. The Student of the Month parking spot program was introduced in fall of 2014 and was created by Elizabeth Sterns-Simms. A student of the month is picked for both the Donaldson and Airport campuses.
There are a few ways a student can become a part of the student of the month drawing. These ways are that a faculty member raises a flag in Starfish, students are randomly drawn from the list of students who have completed Haven, and the registrar puts in the names of all degree candidates. These students are only put in for the current month except for the degree candidates who will be put in the drawing pot all semester. Students then get an email though Starfish letting them know they have been nominated. Online only students are never put in the drawing pot since they would not need the parking spot which is the only award for student of the month.
The actual drawing process is that the names are separated by campus and then one name from each campus is drawn out of a basket. Students can win student of the month more than once since if a student is nominated several times it is just luck of the draw.
The average pot of students’ nominations is around 30 students but the February pull is usually between 60 to 70 students due to the winter break since there is no January student of the month. There is no summer student of the months and there have been 24 students of the month so far since the program started.
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