Associated
Student
Government

Miami
University

374
Shriver
Center

Oxford,
OH

45056‐2804





Four‐Year
Strategic
Vision



History
and
Mission



In
1974,
Miami
University
students
unified
their
governing
bodies
under
a
sovereign
Constitution
and
formally
declared

the
creation
of
the
Miami
University
Associated
Student
Government.
Student
leaders
from
across
the
campus
joined

together
“in
the
belief
that
students
have
the
right,
as
well
as
the
obligation,
to
play
a
clearly
defined
and
significant
role

in
the
formation
and
application
of
institutional
policy…”
The
framers
envisioned
an
organization
guided
by
six
principles

that
would
strengthen
the
student
experience:



‐ To
provide
communication
and
understanding
between
the
student
body
and
the
University.

‐ To
promote
and
further
the
educational
experience
and
opportunities
of
the
student
body
by
working
to
expand

student
participation
and
involvement.

‐ To
coordinate
activities,
communication,
and
services
of
general
benefit
to
students.

‐ To
protect
the
individual
rights
and
freedoms
of
students.

‐ To
promote
responsible
student
body
conduct.

‐ To
 provide
 an
 official
 and
 representative
 student
 organization
 with
 powers
 to
 receive
 student
 complaints,

investigate
student
problems,
and
participate
in
decisions
affecting
students.




Purpose



As
formal
student
governance
enters
its
second
century
at
Miami
University
it
is
ever
more
important
that
students
are

strategic
 and
 direct
 about
 their
 vision
 for
 the
 future
 of
 our
 institution.
 This
 document
 is
 designed
 to
 be
 a
 vision
 for

Miami
developed
by
student
leaders
to
compliment
the
Mission
and
Goals
of
Miami
University
adopted
in
September

2008.
 It
 was
 created
 to
 give
 student
 governance
 at
 Miami
 solid
 direction
 and
 to
 let
 the
 university
 community
 better

understand
the
perspective
of
students.



Each
year
student
government
will
develop
one‐year
implementation
plans
for
how
to
enact
this
vision,
which
will
be

public
to
the
university
community.
After
four
years
this
vision
shall
be
reviewed
and
updated
by
a
new
generation
of

student
leaders
to
reassess
the
needs
of
the
Miami
community.







 1

 I. Enhancing
the
Student
Experience

 Honor
the
Past
by
Building
the
Future

‐ Continue
to
actively
support
the
vision
of
the
Bicentennial
Student
Center

‐ Ensure
continued
student
participation
and
focus
in
developing
the
Center’s
design
and
uses.

‐ Enhance
the
student
experience
by
drawing
upon
Miami’s
traditions

 Strengthen
Collaboration
Efforts

‐ Strengthen
relationships
with
the
Oxford’s
City
Council
and
permanent
residents.

‐ Promote
a
culture
of
student
service
within
the
greater
Oxford
community,
including
its
various

charities
and
agencies.

‐ Support
Miami’s
“Culture
of
Champions”
and
student
participation
at
athletic
events

‐ Work
 to
 develop
 a
 Greek
 culture
 working
 harmoniously
 with
 university
 administration
 for
 the

advancement
of
the
entire
university


‐ Help
expand
client
base
of
Student
Credit
Union
and
support
further
student
financial
education

programs

 Tackle
Chronic
Student
Concerns

‐ Improve
 transportation
 opportunities
 including
 bus
 service
 expansion,
 bicycle
 route

development,
and
parking
in
Oxford

‐ Reduce
Miami’s
environmental
footprint

‐ Continue
 to
 encourage
 a
 culture
 that
 is
 open
 and
 accepting,
 while
 providing
 opportunities
 for

students
to
share,
learn,
and
appreciate
the
already
present
diversity
of
campus

‐ Develop
services
and
resources
for
off‐campus
students
that
will
ease
their
transition
into
the

Oxford
community
and
promote
civic
engagement

‐ Improve
 safety
 on
 campus
 and
 in
 the
 Oxford
 community
 through
 education
 and
 collaboration

with
safety
organizations
and
the
Miami
and
Oxford
Police
Departments

 Co‐Curricular
Life

‐ Create
and
promote
high
quality
programming
on
campus

‐ Improve
the
quality
of
research
opportunities

‐ Reduce
 student
 organization
 over‐programming
 through
 a
 comprehensive
 calendar
 and

collaboration
efforts

‐ Build
 the
 Second
 Year
 experience
 into
 an
 impactful
 and
 transitive
 moment
 in
 students'

educational
careers

‐ Encourage
 renovation
 and
 new
 construction
 of
 residence
 halls
 to
 meet
 the
 changing
 needs
 of

future
Miami
students

‐ Emphasize
the
need
to
build
an
atmosphere
on
campus
that
is
welcoming
to
all



II. Engaged
Student
Learning

 Academic
Life

‐ Focus
efforts
on
the
undergraduate
experience,
with
an
emphasis
on
holistic
education

‐ Search
for
ways
to
improve
teaching
through
the
integration
of
technology
in
the
classroom
and

the
use/experimentation
with
innovative
teaching
techniques

‐ Expand
course
offerings
and
maintain
appropriate
class
sizes

‐ Evaluate
effectiveness
of
the
top
25
initiative

‐ Provide
service
learning
opportunities
that
fuse
scholarship,
teaching,
and
service

‐ Improve
quality
and
quantity
of
study
space
especially
during
peak
study
times


 2

 ‐ Continue
to
build
a
culture
that
is
open
to
learning
and
appreciative
of
difference

 Preparing
for
the
Future

‐ Better
leverage
financial
aid
to
recruit
and
retain
top
students

‐ Expand
Career
Services
professional
networking
to
offer
more
job
placement
opportunities
for

students

‐ Promote
career
specific
Internships
and
Co‐op
programs
for
students
of
all
majors

‐ Improve
academic
advising,
especially
for
the
1st
and
2nd
year
experiences

‐ Integrate
e‐portfolio
to
enhance
career
development

 International
Perspectives

‐ Increase
formal
support
and
recruitment
for
international
students

‐ Encourage
 study
 abroad
 opportunities
 and
 cultural
 immersion
 programs
 through
 increased

financial
aid
and
awareness
opportunities

‐ Enhance
 support
 structures
 for
 students
 who
 study
 abroad
 including
 preparation,
 debriefing

courses
and
opportunities
to
share
their
experience

‐ Evaluate
the
effectiveness
of
the
Global
Miami
plan
and
the
outcome
of
language
and
cultural

courses
on
the
cultural
proficiency
of
participating
students

‐ Support
language
and
cultural
exchange
initiatives

‐ Reevaluate
 the
 effectiveness
 of
 the
 Peer
 Orientation
 Leader
 Program
 and
 ensure
 that
 it
 fully

supports
the
transition
of
International
Students
to
our
campus



III. Maximize
Fiscal
Resources

 Ensure
Confidence
within
the
Funding
Cycles

‐ Strengthen
communication
and
clarity
of
expectations
with
student
organizations.

‐ Increase
continuity
of
funding
cycles
and
training
programs.

‐ Facilitate
means
to
improve
programming
collaboration
between
student
organization

‐ Maintain
a
low
cutback
percentage
for
student
organization
funding
cycles

 Increase
Fiscal
Accountability

‐ Evaluate
internal
ASG
spending
to
ensure
student
fee
dollars
are
spent
wisely

‐ Advocate
for
student
fees
that
reflect
student
priorities

‐ Sharpen
 auditing
 procedures
 of
 student
 organizations
 to
 ensure
 transparency
 and
 eliminate

waste

‐ Provide
appropriate
incentives
for
organizations
to
eliminate
their
deficits.

‐ Engage
university
officials
concerning
Miami
University’s
budget

‐ Focus
 on
 the
 2nd
 year
 experience
 and
 enhance
 coherent
 and
 appropriate
 curricular
 and
 co‐
curricular
opportunities

 Build
Relationships
with
ASG
Alumni

‐ Develop
an
expectation
of
giving
back
by
graduating
seniors

‐ Engage
ASG
Alumni
to
benefit
from
their
past
experiences
and
for
future
support

‐ Endow
the
ASG
office
space
in
the
Bicentennial
Student
Center

‐ Increase
the
ASG
endowment
to
expand
opportunities
for
future
students



IV. Ensure
Representative
Excellence

 Raise
ASG’s
profile
among
student
body

‐ Create
further
dialogue
with
university
and
community
leaders
about
student
concerns


 3

 ‐ Adopt
higher
standards
of
integrity
among
all
ASG
representatives

‐ Incorporate
advancements
in
technology
to
connect
students
with
their
representatives

‐ Recognize
outstanding
achievements
of
students
and
campus
leaders

‐ Create
a
safe
and
embracing
atmosphere
for
all
students
entering
the
ASG
office

 Improve
Continuity
across
Successive
Years

‐ Create
a
culture
of
inclusiveness
with
current
ASG
organizations,
members,
and
partners

‐ Develop
leadership
skills
and
provide
growth
opportunities
for
members

‐ Improve
transition
materials
and
procedures
for
returning
members

‐ Recognize
 outstanding
 ASG
 members
 for
 their
 achievements
 and
 develop
 an
 engaging

atmosphere

‐ Analyze
the
structural
viability
of
the
organization
at
least
every
four
years

‐ Review
the
vision
and
effectiveness
of
ASG
services
and
programs
at
least
every
year

 Student
Court

‐ Reestablish
jurisprudence
within
student
government

‐ Heighten
visibility
and
availability
of
the
Student
Court
and
its
resources

‐ Participate
in
the
Executive
Cabinet

‐ Increase
student
advocacy
amongst
the
student
body

 Facilitate
Open
and
Fair
Elections

‐ Ensure
the
integrity
of
the
election
process
through
the
clarity
of
election
rules
and
candidate

expectations

‐ Increase
 candidate
 and
 voter
 participation,
 particularly
 among
 underrepresented
 student

demographics
in
all
ASG
elections

‐ Improve
dialogue
between
elections
arbitrators
and
candidates.

 Increase
Effectiveness
of
ASG
services

‐ Double
participation
in
the
Student
Legal
Services
Program

‐ Partner
with
other
state
institutions
to
lobbying
the
State
of
Ohio
for
student
needs

‐ Develop
campus
partnerships
to
improve
yearly
voter
registration
drives
and
lobbying
initiatives

‐ Collaborate
with
the
Office
of
Off
Campus
Relations
to
improve
housing
fairs

‐ Expand
availability
and
raise
awareness
of
the
Student
Initiative
Fund





 4