Student Government Association Blog

Your Student Body. Your Student Voice. SGA.

SGA Supports Long-Range Scheduling Database

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Senate has recently passed a resolution supporting the implementation of the periodicity and modality database. This involves a uniform and easily accessible database for students and faculty to view and input long-range scheduling plans for preparation and registration purposes.

The database extends for three years and displays summer, fall and spring intersession course schedules. It also lists the course’s modality (blended, I-NET, seated, etc.).

A team assembled of faculty and staff has been developing the database, with student input, for several years and it is now in the final stages of development. The database will be available to students by the Summer 2013 semester.

 

For information, please contact Riana Sears, Chief Communications Officer, at Riana21@live.missouristate.edu.

SGA Approves Extension of Library Hours during Finals Week

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Student Government Association has approved a resolution in support of extending Meyer Library’s hours of operation during final examination periods to 24 hours per day.

The Student Government Association passed a similar resolution in the spring of 2011 to extend the library’s hours until 2 a.m. throughout the year. Considering that students have used the library heavily during these extended hours, SGA and the Meyer Library staff are excited to see the turnout during “Finals Week.”

After considering student feedback regarding the library’s hours of operation, the library staff and Thomas Peters, dean of library services, will provide 24-hour support during the final examination period this fall.

Instead of its regular hours of 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Mon-Thurs, beginning Sun. Dec. 9 through Thurs. Dec 13, Meyer Library will stay open non-stop.

Students present in the library during these extended hours can expect various promotions from the library staff aimed at keeping students motivated for their exams.

For more information, please contact Riana Sears, Chief Communications Officer at Riana21@live.missouristate.edu.

Wheelchair ramp to be added to Bear Paw

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The Student Government Association has approved a resolution that will provide for a wheelchair ramp to be added to the “Bear Paw” of Missouri State’s “North Mall” in front of the Plaster Student Union.

The addition of the wheelchair ramp exemplifies both SGA’s and Missouri State’s commitment to an inclusive and accommodating environment. This project also places the Bear Paw in adherence with disability guidelines.

The Student Government Association is grateful to the Office of Student Affairs, as Dr. Earle Doman, dean of student affairs, has offered to fund this project in support of a movement towards a continuously diverse campus community.

For more information, please contact Riana Sears, Chief Communications Officer at Riana21@live.missouristate.edu.

SGA Commends Presidential Search Committee

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The Student Government Association recently drafted and sent a resolution to the Presidential Search Committee commending their selection of Clifton Smart III as the 11th president of the university on Oct. 16, 2012.

Smart had been interim president since June 27, 2011. During his term as interim president, Missouri State set an enrollment record on the Springfield campus for fall 2012, broke the record for private gifts in a single year and hired the first permanent vice president for diversity.

The Student Government Association has noted and greatly appreciated the countless hours the search committee devoted to interviewing and discussing applicants for the position, selecting two well-qualified finalists and then selecting Clif Smart as the next university president.

The Student Government Association is excited to continue working and collaborating with President Smart. To express this sentiment, a copy of the resolution was sent to Joe Turner, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee; Gordon Elliott, Chair of the Board of Governors; and Clif Smart, President of Missouri State University.

For more information, please contact Riana Sears, Chief Communications Officer at Riana21@live.missouristate.edu.

More than 1,000 Donor-Funded Scholarships Now Available to Students

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As college expenses continue to rise, Missouri State University donors are generously providing a combined total of more than 1.3 million dollars in scholarships to students for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Students can simultaneously apply for all of the scholarships offered in just a few easy steps by using the Missouri State University Foundation’s online Scholarship Manager. This tool allows students to view all available awards and apply for more than 1,000 scholarships with a single application.

Approximately one in four Missouri State students will receive a scholarship, ranging from a few hundred dollars to $15,000, so all encouraged to apply. The application for 2013-2014 scholarships is now available 2012 and will close on March 1, 2013.

To access the application, students should log in to My.MissouriState.edu, select the Profile Tab and find the Financial Aid Channel Box. Then, choose the General and Departmental Scholarship Application. This will automatically connect students with the Scholarship Manager. There are three different applications–Incoming Freshman, Current Undergraduate and Graduate Student–and students should select their student type as of the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic year.

Scholarship recipients are selected by campus-wide committees for the following academic year between March and May, with a few being selected during the summer months.

 For more information, please contact Riana Sears, Chief Communications Officer at Riana21@live.missouristate.edu.