In January and February of 2018, the Student Government Association (SGA) worked diligently to communicate and meet the needs of the student body. We received the highest level of student participation and engagement in years. We had over 50 students attends our SGA Senate meeting on January 29th, 2018, and we had over 30 students attend our town hall meeting the next day. As SGA President, I am proud that SGA had an opportunity to facilitate the conversation and communicate the needs, desires, and goals of the student body. We have done something that has not been done in years.
On January 30th, 2018, I, Christian G. Crawford, SGA President, hosted our first town hall meeting of the year. The conversation focused on the Department of Dining Services proposal to bring Chick-fil-A to campus, which, at the time, included an increase to the current dining service meal plan fee for all students. For traditional students, it would increase their meal plan fee from $600 to $800, a $200 meal plan fee increase. For commuter students, it would increase their meal plan fee from $100 to $150, a meal plan fee increases of $50. The conversation also focused on the Department of Athletics proposal to introduce an athletics fee cost that would help athletics transition and compete at the NCAA Division II level. It is also important to note that the proposed athletics fee cost focuses on three core values:
- A Standard of Excellence
- A Commitment to Constant Improvement
- A Student-Centered Experience
This proposal would impact all students on campus with a financial obligation that, at the time, had not been determined.
The town hall meeting was ignited by the SGA Senate’s recommendations during the January 29th, 2018 meeting. The Senate considered both proposals in the forms of resolutions. The SGA Student Senate did not support the Department of Dining Services proposal, but they did support the Department of Athletics proposal by way of a 5-3-3 vote.
Here are some of the concerns and thoughts of the student body that were expressed during the town hall meeting:
Students do not want fee increases PERIOD (original sentiments)
- Students prefer Chick-fil-A over paying an athletics fee
- There are fee increases every year, yet nothing is changing (No return on their investments)
- Students fed up about potentially having to pay athletics fee
Why?
- Students do not believe they will receive a return on their investment
- The fee does not benefit them
- Athletes are not sociable
- Prevalent problems we already face that need to be addressed first
- There is no definite fee number (at the time of the town hall meeting)
- Current students do not want fee increases, especially with the lack of retaining scholarships.
Students further expressed other concerns:
- Lack of accessibility of the administration
- Will there be a student vote for the athletics fee? (What’s the procedural process for students to vote on these kinds of fee increases?)
- Students overwhelming supported being able to vote for an athletics fee as a university
- Does anything we say ACTUALLY MATTER?
All these points are sentiments of those who attended the town hall meeting. Following this conversation, SGA moved quickly to address some of these concerns. As SGA president, I met with our chancellor, Dr. Stockton, twice in a four-day period to communicate the concerns of the student body. I completed the first meeting with the following commitments:
- To set up a meeting with the Athletics Department to discuss the proposed athletics fee cost
- Increase transparency by potentially conducting a state of the university address to inform faculty, staff, and students about the things happening on campus—internally and externally
- To set up a meeting with the provost and others to discuss retention scholarships
- To continue to find ways to augment students’ dining services experience
- AND MORE
I left the first meeting confident in the administration and excited about the events to come.
The next meeting was with the chancellor and Athletics Department. SGA Vice President Taniya Frazier, Chief of Staff Terry Adamson, and I were in attendance for this meeting. We were able to 1) negotiate the LOWEST potential fee cost for an athletics fee, 2) give programming ideas, 3) discuss ways to bridge the gap between student athletes and students, and 4) schedule a SGA & Athletics Department unity town hall meeting. One way we decided to bridge the gap between the students and student athletes was by hosting mixers, an opportunity for student athletes and students to meet and mingle.The town hall meeting would serve as our first mixer.
I am excited about the future of our Department of Athletics and university.
Following the meeting with the chancellor and Athletics Department, I, as president of the SGA, attended an AU/AUM Board of Trustees meeting, where I highlighted my gratitude for Chancellor’s Stockton’s leadership, commitment to the student body, and continued efforts and devotion to the student body.
Next came the unity town hall with the Athletics Department. There, Director of Athletics Jessie Rosa and I welcomed student athletes and students to the meeting to debunk some myths about athletics and proposed fee cost, be transparent about what the athletics fee would go to, and provide students and student athletes a platform to meet and mingle. Some commentary of the unity town hall is located on our SGA Facebook page: Auburn University at Montgomery Student Government Association.
The month of January and February has also been eventful for the Department of Dining Services. The SGA has been a vocal advocate for the student body in this area, and we look forward to continuing to do just that. It is important to note that the Department of Dining Services has worked diligently to address the needs and desires of the student body. Recently, the Department of Dining Services has been in conversations with SGA and students to discuss how they can improve students’ dining experience. The department has informed us of the following updates, improvements, and more:
- The Executive Chef will be available daily from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm to ensure food quality.
- They are committed to improving associate morale and enhancing the dining experience on campus. They have always had a system and a customer service training strategy. They are hiring an associate to be active and, on the floor, engaging students with a focus on guest/client satisfaction. The job was posted on 02/02/18.
- There is a “Text to Solve” system in place, which allows managers to immediately respond to issues in the Café.
- They are focused on improving the speed of service in the Café. They are adding 8 additional staff members and implementing hot and ready items, which will be pizza, chicken tenders, hamburgers and French fries and more, waiting so students can just grab and go. They are increasing grab and go products.
- The flat bread station is a favorite of students. The Department of Dining Services highlighted that it, too, has been a source frustration due to equipment failure. IHS is their local repair company. The Department of Dining Services has spoken to them at length and expressed their unhappiness with continued repairs and failed equipment. IHS has donated a motor and worked to repair the equipment. The Department of Dining Services is also requesting the university purchase a new impinge oven.
- Breakfast will be served until 10:30 AM Monday – Friday, and they will transition to lunch no sooner than 10:30 AM. Breakfast is to remain full and plentiful to improve food presentation.
- They have always conducted daily pre-service meetings and provided associates customer service training as well as conducted classroom training. The Department of Dining Services has scheduled “You First Training” and retraining. The Department of Dining Services has assured me with the following message: “All team members will be trained and failure to meet the expectations [of] students and AUM will result in progressive counseling and termination of associates.”
- Supervisors must remain active and on the floor during non-peak times. Failure to remain on the floor and meet the expectations of the students will result in termination.
I would like to personally thank the Department of Dining Services keeping SGA updates of their progress and commitment to meeting the needs of the student body. They have made progress in many areas, and I look forward to their continued improvement and devotion to providing students with the best dining service experience possible.
As you can see, we have had an eventful start to 2018. I am proud of the work of our Student Government Association. We have been a transparent and accessible student government. We have provided a platform for students to express their needs and concerns. We have accomplished so much, and there is still much work to do. May future administrations know that the events of the past couple of weeks are the events and actions of the 2017-2018 Student Government Association. May we all remain devoted to being the voice and meeting the needs of the student body at Auburn University at Montgomery.
Notes compiled by Christian Crawford, SGA President
