Kent State University's Undergraduate Student Government (USG), the student organization responsible for being the direct line of communication to the administration to make students’ voices heard, was honored with the 2022 Student Government of the Year Award from the Conference on Student Government Associations (COSGA).
Kent State won the award in its first year attending the national conference, the largest gathering of university student governments in the nation.
When selecting Kent State as the winner, COSGA staff noted as particularly impressive USG's achievements of its Change in a Flash initiative, USG President Chazzlyn Jackson’s Cultivating Liberation efforts and USG’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Change in a Flash is a new initiative USG piloted this year that empowers students to be the change makers on campus,” said Kaelee Dingey, a fourth-year political science major and USG chief of staff. “This was inspired by our student government friends over at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County who hold a similar initiative."
In the spring of 2022, individual students and student groups had the opportunity to use their ideas for positive change on campus by applying to get paired with a mentor from USG who could help them process and grow their ideas. Students taking part in Change in a Flash then were able to apply for a $6,000 grant to attempt to bring their idea to fruition.
The initiative was a key factor in setting Kent State’s USG apart because the effort reflects USG's connection to its student body. In its inaugural year, the initiative allowed four student teams to grow their ideas while also providing faculty, staff and administrators with a training session on how to empower students.
“Kent State USG’s mission is to provide for the common betterment of the undergraduate student body and ensure meaningful participation as a whole,” Dingey said. “The Change in a Flash initiative is a direct example of USG living up to this mission and empowering the student body to be agents of change."
Other USG accomplishments from the 2021-22 academic year also contributed to Kent State winning the award over student governments from other American universities. USG created various programs and conducted events and advocacy efforts to improve campus life for students, including the passage of a resolution condemning House Bill 327’s attempt to limit the teaching of “divisive concepts” in the classroom and the work of members who traveled to the Ohio State House in Columbus to speak with legislators about why the bill would be detrimental to students at Kent State.
USG also completed a successful third year for its Care About Kent initiative, which operates with Community Engaged Learning and the Leadership Center to foster leadership development to allow student organizations to participate in service projects to become eligible for operating funding from USG.
USG also had financial success, allocating $231,150 to individual students and student organizations, which allowed students to accomplish programming goals and attend conferences.
In its efforts to give voice to student concerns, USG created a Committee on Dining to foster a dialog between students and University Culinary Services, to allow students.
USG also worked to reinstate an e-mobility program on campus that resulted in SPIN being implemented for students on the Kent Campus in the 2022 Spring Semester.
These accomplishments and the award they produced are a result of the passion and drive of Kent State USG members, Dingey said.
“I think as a whole Kent State USG’s dedication and creativity in serving the student body is unique,” she said. “If you were to walk into our office at any point during the week I am sure you would find countless representatives engaging in meaningful conversations surrounding how they can advocate and improve students' lives even further.”
Visit Kent State USG to learn more about Undergraduate Student Government.