Farewell 2023-24 Term Newsletter – Student Government Association

Dear Auburn Family,

Our 2023-2024 SGA term has come to an end. Projects were completed, initiatives came to fulfillment and relationships have deepened. We can confidently say that we worked hard to leave Auburn better than we found it. We have been honored to spend the past year intentionally serving our campus and we are eager for what is to come within the next term. Given the amount of achievements, the monthly newsletter looks a little different. This month, we aimed to compile our overarching updates over the full term.

Cabinet:

● Throughout the past year, SGA’s cabinet consisted of four branches that serve the student body in various ways: Chief of Staff, Initiatives, Outreach, and Finance.

● Cabinet has worked with various departments across campus during this term such as Athletics, Dining, Financial Services, Academics, and more to push initiatives that enhance the Auburn experience.

● To find more data about specific projects like Hey Day and Safety Walk, navigate to past newsletters here.

Senate:

● Senate created SGA’s International Student Liaison for students from around the globe to have a voice within student government.

Executive Student Council:

● In total, the 13 Councils hosted over 100 events in the past year.

● Student Council is the most local SGA contact. Each college has a President and a Student Council to advocate for students to the Dean and faculty. If you encounter any issues, reach out to your council.

Lobby Board:

● Members were each partnered with a state senator and representative to correspond with throughout the term. Each member has worked to stay up to date on all events concerning Auburn in order to advocate effectively for an increase in state appropriations for our university.

● Hosted “Learning to Lobby Day,” an event where the members of Lobby Board have the opportunity to hear from a panel of key legislators and influential governmental relations professionals in Alabama. They are able to ask them questions about their lives and careers as well as issues facing our state.

● Will soon be attending Higher Education Day in Montgomery where the team will represent the Auburn University student body to members of the Alabama Legislature.

Freshman Forum:

● Received over 500 applications from first-year students which broke the previous application record. From there, the team narrowed down the group to 54 highly qualified and incredible students who serve, promote and unify the freshman class.

● Provided professional development opportunities through True Colors, Enneagram and professional communication. These initiatives set our students up for success as they continue their Auburn journey and beyond.

● Currently working on the SPU (serve, promote and unify) project where the team hopes to gain feedback from first-year students so that information can be sent to administrators to enact positive change on our campus.

Elections:

● Implemented “I Voted” stickers for students during the 2023 Miss Homecoming election and Spring 2024 SGA elections.

● Produced a promotional video to be played at two home basketball games this spring as well as passing out gimmicks to encourage voter turnout.

Miss Auburn:

● Bridged the gap between different branches of the Auburn family through fostering conversations and promoting inclusivity

● Give Thanks Initiative: Students all over Auburn’s campus helped to write 1000+ thank you notes to Auburn staff

We conclude this final newsletter from the ‘23-’24 Communications and Marketing team with a farewell letter from SGA ‘23-’24 President John David Jones.

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Auburn Students,

As my term as SGA President comes to an end, I am left with many reflective thoughts, best described by former Auburn Athletics Director David Housel. Housel described his experience at Auburn: “Unless you have experienced it, you will never know what is, you will never understand it. Once you have experienced you will never be the same. A part of you will, forevermore, be an Auburn man or an Auburn woman.” Auburn is truly a special place, and giving your time to serve it will never lead to regret.

Following last spring’s election, I was overcome with passion and emotion as I entered my term. Our SGA Executive team set lofty goals – goals that we thought could leave meaningful impacts on the Auburn student experience. As we solidified our team, and began to work, I began to experience Auburn in more unique ways. I soon recognized that it was not the accomplishment of completing your goals, but the experiences with people around you that would leave a lasting impression on our beloved Auburn. Truthfully, it is not the buildings that are built, or the programs implemented, but the human touch of the Auburn family that creates the experience that David Housel describes.

Through these relationships, SGA worked to accomplish numerous goals: We sought to provide an improved gameday experience across all sports. We have secured the resources for an interactive campus map and a campus-wide app platform that encapsulates your Auburn experience. We will soon oversee the installation of the Aubie statue outside of the Melton Student Center. We have advocated to provide more space for students across campus amidst recent growth. We have strived to consolidate resources, pushing for a syllabus bank and a more standardized Canvas page. We looked forward, advocating for financial wellness across campus. We were able to add a Mental Health Tab to your Canvas page to connect students to the resources they need. Fortunately, this list is just a start. One thing I have realized is that accomplishing any project comes on the other side of having the right people in the right places. Without these people, my term would have seen very little success.

As Auburn continues to reach new heights, I am consistently reminded of my thoughts and feelings from my freshman year. I undersold what I thought Auburn would do for me. I knew it would give me a competitive degree, but upon my graduation this May, it will have given me more than I could have dreamed. I have experienced Auburn in a plethora of ways, been exposed to life-changing experiences, and encountered mentors, friends, and family. As I leave The Plains, I am challenged to remind others that it is those relationships that will accomplish any goal you set. I have been blessed to experience Auburn, and I too will never be the same.

John David Jones

SGA President 2023-2024

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We thank you for the privilege of serving you.

Sincerely,

SGA

Last modified: February 8, 2024