Related Links: About MVNU | SGA Site | Student Development

Office Space
"In the past year, I recognized that the SGA offices became an area of social interaction, something that I believe SGA should encourage," said student body president Nathan Okuley. "Our role is not to sit inside an office behind a computer sending e-mails to students and faculty. We are called to interact with our campus community."

Several physical changes are in place to accomplish this more community-minded atmosphere:

• Removal of drop ceilings to open the space
• Transformation of personal office space in the front to a welcoming "living room" space for student interaction and discussion
• Opening of walls to accommodate more students for comfort instead of congestion
• Modification of lighting sources to include track lighting and floor lamps (instead of fluorescent) to enhance mood and creativity
• Addition of art, photos, decorations, and color for a personal touch
  

Additional renovations are planned for the back office, across from the President's Dining Room. Details have not been finalized at this time. "I have been carefully planning for next year so that we can serve the student body and maintain transparency," explained Okuley. "The most important aspect of these changes is keeping the students first."

Online Space www.mvnu.edu/sga
John-Paul Kemmenoe, SGA's vice president for marketing, has worked in the University's Marketing Department for two years. He was intrigued by a co-worker's project to research other schools' Student Government web sites. Inspired by how useful and fun many of the sites were, Kemmenoe initiated discussions with MVNU's Assistant Director of Marketing and Web Development, Carlos M. Serrao, about an SGA site redesign.

Okuley, as SGA's former VP for marketing, offered many ideas and insights as Kemmenoe began envisioning the design and content for the site. "SGA is actively seeking fresh, relevant ways to engage the students we serve," said Kemmenoe. "We hope to make the SGA web site and Facebook pages the best places to go for information about what's happening on campus. We also want students to better know how they can get involved in campus life." Incoming students have already heard about the site at New Student Orientation, and commuters will be receiving a postcard about it soon.

Purposely designed to be easy to maintain and updated, site features include:

• Calendar feed: Students who use Apple's iCal, Google Calendar, or other similar programs, can subscribe to an events calendar and receive instantly updated information about campus events from SGA and partner student groups on campus.
• Link to SGA/s Facebook page where students can sign up to receive invites to all SGA events
  
• Information on all SGA members
  
• Photos from campus events
  
• Announcements about new SGA initiatives
  
• Additional means to solicit student feedback are coming in the fall
  

"If a student really wants to have a great time at MVNU, there are so many ways to be connected. In the coming year, we hope to partner with other groups on campus to promote a wider variety of the incredible things going on at our school," said Kemmenoe. "But we do want to make it clear that the new site is not SGA's focus. As student leaders, we're finding that investing in the lives of our peers and being engaged in all aspects of campus life come before any marketing initiatives or programs."