Student Life Without the Strife
Who
Student Life Without the Strife is a collaborative effort by ASG leadership and Student Affairs leadership. There are 20 committee and advisory members working closely to streamline processes for student organization leaders.
Additionally, there are results from student voices that have been collected, and there is a pilot program for six student organizations currently taking place regarding finances. This fall, there will be an opportunity for students to weigh in related to a new student organization engagement platform.
What
The Student Life Without the Strife program, so named by a student advisory board member, is comprised of projects co-led by students and staff in the areas of banking and finance technologies, contract management, student organization registration, student organization technology, understanding student input through data and how events, contracts, and finances all work together.
When
The efforts kicked off formally in early November with work being done before that and for the months since. ASG co-president Donovan Cusick and Vice President for Student Affairs Susan Davis collaborated with The Daily Northwestern to introduce a priority for the project specifically related to the re-tooling of banking and finance, namely the Student Organizations Finance Office (SOFO). Read The Daily article here.
The projects will develop in phases over time, and there will be regular updates to the student organizations community with opportunities for feedback and input.
Where
With ASG and Student Affairs leadership, the program with its included projects is housed in a new Student Affairs office called Student Affairs Initiatives. This office provides the support for operationalizing strategy for the division. The 20 participants in the projects come together in team meetings, mini-retreats, and in one-on-one meetings to move the initiatives forward.
Why
Student Life Without the Strife exists to streamline processes that students face when trying to lead their student organization, especially BIPOC and FGLI students. Our data show that student leaders in these demographics tend to hold more leadership positions and therefore tend to oversee more of the tasks and processes that happen in student organizations. The aim for this work is to reduce the number of steps, thresholds, and barriers to student leadership so that leaders and organizations can thrive.
How
To learn more about the Student Life Without the Strife, come to SOAcon on Sunday, May 5 from 12-4, or connect with staff in the Strategic Initiatives office in Student Affairs by writing to kelly.schaefer@northwestern.edu and ajdelaire@northwestern.edu. Additionally, we welcome your input as the projects progress in the overall program!