The document outlines the agenda and platform of Howard University Student Association candidates Leighton Watson and Ikenna Ike. Their platform focuses on increasing graduation rates, improving academic advising and technology on campus, enhancing sustainability initiatives, improving campus safety, and addressing national issues like gun violence. They propose various specific initiatives across these areas such as increasing wireless printing access, installing smart boards and charging stations, improving study spaces, and coordinating discussions on gun violence with members of Congress.
The document outlines the agenda and platform of Howard University Student Association candidates Leighton Watson and Ikenna Ike. Their platform focuses on increasing graduation rates, improving academic advising and technology on campus, enhancing sustainability initiatives, improving campus safety, and addressing national issues like gun violence. They propose various specific initiatives across these areas such as increasing wireless printing access, installing smart boards and charging stations, improving study spaces, and coordinating discussions on gun violence with members of Congress.
The document outlines the agenda and platform of Howard University Student Association candidates Leighton Watson and Ikenna Ike. Their platform focuses on increasing graduation rates, improving academic advising and technology on campus, enhancing sustainability initiatives, improving campus safety, and addressing national issues like gun violence. They propose various specific initiatives across these areas such as increasing wireless printing access, installing smart boards and charging stations, improving study spaces, and coordinating discussions on gun violence with members of Congress.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY AGENDA ACADEMIC RENEWAL Currently, Howard University has a four year graduation rate of 45 percent and a six year graduation rate of 63 percent. It is our goal to increase graduation rates, retention rates and improve our universitys national ranking. 4 YEARS 6 YEARS Academic Advising We will work with Faculty Senate to ensure Advisory Training is mandatory and find a consistent student to advisor ratio to implement across campus. Howard History Curriculum It is vital that all HU students understand the significance of the ground we walk on. We will implement, in each schools freshman orientation, a HU curriculum that sheds light on the history of excellence of our institution. Variety We will be committed to expanding course choices for students who want a more comprehensive, well-rounded academic experience. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS In the academic community we live in today, the marriage between education and technology is ever bonding. Howard University, as the capstone and in her pursuit to endlessly progress, must unite the two on her campus in every beneficial manner that presents itself. Wireless Printers Charging Stations Smart Boards Res-Nets We will place 12 wireless printers on campus; one in each academic hall and two others in either the Blackburn Center or Founders for students who do not reside in on campus dormitories. Students will be able to print from their smart phones, tablets, and laptops to any of the 12 wireless printers on campus. We are committed to continuing the spread of reliable WiFi connections on campus we will not only continuously identify the dead zones, but also fix them. In collaboration with Enterprise and Technology Services, students will be able to access a full service digital printing facility that offers professionally printed materials in the iLab. Computer and printing centers in each of the dormitories will be available. This will ensure that students have a place (that is also open 24 hours a day) to study and complete assignments outside of the iLab. We will place charging stations strategically across campus: focusing on high traffic congregational areas. Students will be able to charge their electronic devices, for free, using a reliable energy source. WiFi HU Graphics & Printing Center in the iLab Removal of Dorm Room Phones We will advocate for the purchase of Smart Board interactive whiteboards in order to help improve learning outcomes. The dorm room phone has become outdated and cost inefficient. Most students that live in dormitories do not use these phones and we will petition to get these phone lines removed from residence halls. In addition this initiative will be saving the university nearly one million dollars. SUSTAINABILITY As an institution with a legacy of leadership, it is once again time Howard takes her proper role leading universities across the country . We must set the bar high in everything sustainable. LEED Certification Construction of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified facilities will be requested of administration. By simply adhering to a checklist provided by the U.S. Green Building Council and ensuring new establishments are registered, Howard University would not only lower its carbon footprint but also save the University money in the long run. Hydration Stations Farmers Market Cost-Efficient Light Bulbs In conjunction with the Office of Sustainability, we are installing 14 Hydration stations across campus and 2 Waterless Bottle Coolers. They will be placed in each academic building on campus. We propose a farmers market to be placed on campus each week providing fresh fruits and vegetables for students looking to make healthier food choices goods will be sold to students at a reasonable price and a percentage of the proceeds would go back to Howard for the continuation of the Howard University Community Garden. We will work with Facilities Management to replace traditional light bulbs with Halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs, LED bulbs and high efficiency incandescents. Motion Sensor Lighting Hundreds of thousands of dollars are wasted, annually, on lights simply being left on in the dorm rooms. We are committed to installing motion sensor lights in the dorm rooms. X Classroom Conditions HU Shoutouts Improve Study Space HU Promotional Videos Whos Next Campaign Internship Emails Improving Workout Spaces Customer Service We will have a comprehensive review of classroom conditions across campus and present our finding to Facilities Management. We will then conduct a restoration initiative: prioritizing the restoration process of each academic hall on campus. If you have a good experience with an administrator, faculty, or staff we think everyone should know about it. We will publish weekly HU Shoutouts in the Hilltop, publicising and encouraging good customer service actions. You would state the individuals name, position, and a short description of the individual and the person with the most Shout Outs will get an award at the annual Bison Ball. In the absence of the Undergraduate Library, other spaces need to be available for students to utilize. We are committed to making Health Sciences open up 24 hours. In the aim of attracting top tier students to Howard University and increasing our national ranking, we will produce Howard University promotional videos. Similar to the national Whos Who campaign, we will start a campaign to find those Howard Students who are making exceptional strides in their personal career as well as in the community. Each week HUSA will send out general internship emails pertaining to all schools and colleges to students who are looking for job or internship opportunities in the DC area. We are committed to providing a 24 hour workout space on campus. We will create the Howard University Student Engagement and Customer Service (HUSECS) initiative is to identify opportunities and implement strategies to improve faculty/student/staff relationships, communication, systems, culture and expectations. Revered as much as her name, the Howard Experience is the memory of Howard that we will all take with us long after weve left The Hilltop. We want to ensure that students graduating the university with Howard in their highest regard and returning as exultant and benevolent alumni. THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE CAMPUS SAFETY Security at Howard is both a basic right and a communal responsibility. Hence, both proactive and reactive measure must be taken. The Shift Campaign seeks to enact new, innovative measures to bolster protection and increase efficiency. HU Police Department In an attempt to create a more efficient safety force on campus we will identify and address the inefficiencies that persist in the Police Department. We will push for the creation of a HU Police Application. HU Alerts on Arrests and Convictions HU Police App Opt-Out Opt-In Alerts The Howard University Police Department will send follow up alerts of arrests, trials, and convictions. This is one way of measuring the effectiveness of our campus police and an opportunity for them to show students the work they do. We will make the HU Alert System an OptOut system rather than an OptIn one. Students will automatically receive the HU Alerts to the student emails and phones and in order to end this service the student would have to seek out campus police and ask to be removed from the list. 1 NATIONAL AGENDA Providing a new formula for Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act HUSA will work with the debate team to recruit a task force of the top political thinkers on campus to debate, research, analyze, and create a new formula for section 4 of the Voting Rights Act. We will propose our formula for the states that need pre-clearance to Congressional Black Caucus for their consideration and guidance. Reducing Gun Violence Leighton Watson HUSA Presidential Candidate Ikenna Ike HUSA Vice-Presidential Candidate In light of the recent tragedies, nationally and on Howards campus, gun violence must be a focus of the Howard University Student Association. We will coordinate panel discussions with members of congress, pop culture icons, and those impacted by gun violence to not only discuss the issue, but create tangible and specific legislative actions. More than that, we will invite the community to these discussions and make a concerted effort where both parties understand eachothers challenges. S HI F T IVGEN DESIGNS WWW.IVGENDESIGNS.COM Internal Changes & Accountability Collaboration We will create a shared agenda with the Board of Trustees, President, CFO, Provost and Faculty Senate etc. Each agenda will be individually tailored towards the scope of the administrators position; however, each agenda will emphasize enhancing the student experience. Students will be able to hold HUSA accountable through: A semesterly HUSA Report Card A monthly Video Address A State of the Mecca Address and The publication of Platform