Graduate Student’s Government
Strategic Plan
2012-2013
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Mr. Chris Opoku-Agyeman
President
Doctoral Candidate, Dept of Public Administration and Urban Studies
Graduate Advisor, African Students Association
Personal email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Office email: [email protected]
Tel: 254-339-2000
Mr. Alvaro
Vice President
Doctoral Student, Chemical Engineering
Personal email: [email protected]
Office email: [email protected]
Tel: 773-799-5016
Mr. Kow Okyere Eshun
Treasurer
Doctoral Student, Civil Engineering
Personal email: [email protected]
Office email: [email protected]
Tel: 310-774-1716
Graduate Student Government
Office Location: The University of Akron
Student Union 135D
Akron, OH 44325-4601
Phone: 330-972-6640
Fax: 330-972-2524
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Enrollment of graduate students, particularly international students, has been on the rise for the
past five years. Nonetheless, grad student participation in student activities on campus keeps declining.
As a way to encourage graduate student’s participation in activities on campus and to help raise the
image of the University to the outside world, there is the urgency for graduate student government to
be more innovative.
The 2012/2013 administration has outlined several projects and programs geared towards
promoting and increasing graduate student’s participation, advocacy, empowerment and voice on the
University of Akron campus and its environment. Our mantra for the academic year is “THE
REAWAKENING OF STUDENT’S VISIBILITY, PRESENCE AND ENGAGEMENT IN
PURPOSEFUL MATTERS”.
We hope to make the necessary impact through collaboration and partnership with the schools’
governing board, our advisors (Dr. Mark Tausig, Dr. Charley Fey and Denine Rocco), the
undergraduate student government, and various students’ associations and organizations on campus.
MISSION STATEMENT
To increase visibility, presence, advocacy and engagement of graduate students in purposeful matters
and students activities on the University campus through programs, networks and connections, and
collaboration to augment the University of Akron’s Vision 2020.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES AND GOALS
Our objectives and goals are categorized into five major areas: (a) Academics (b) Social (c) Advocacy
(d) Community Outreach and (e) Partnerships and Collaboration (f) Entrepreneurial initiatives.
(a) Academics

Explore the creation of a peer-reviewed Journal for University of Akron Graduate students.

Sponsor and participate in the 2013 Annual University of Akron Student Innovation Symposium.

Fund novel research ideas and award grants to scholarly research works (Life Awards)

Make the Professional Enrichment Program (PEG) and Group Travel more accessible to graduate
students

Sponsor a New Graduate Student Orientation and Lunch Service: Meet and Greet and Network

Develop a Newsletter and Graduate Student Government Conference Presentation Portfolio –
students who receive GSG funding to attend conferences to send a photo and brief summary of
experiences.

Establish a Professional and Leadership Seminar. This seminar will help graduate students to tailor
their courses, interest and activities to their future job and leadership prospects.
(b) Social

Hoisting of the flag initiatives (Promoting diversity): As a way to promote diversity and conscious
cultural sensitivity, the student union (which houses all students on campus) will be used to hoist
permanent flags representing countries in the world. This will be a ceremony bringing all students
in the University together to celebrate their diversity. During the event, representatives for each
country will be chosen randomly from the general student body to hoist each flag. In doing this the
graduate student government will be collaborating with various stakeholders to implement this idea
particularly, the Office of vice president for Student Affairs, undergraduate student government,
the student union, office of international programs, office of multiculturalism and many others.

UA Graduate Adventure Trip: Cedar Point

Thanksgiving social event: an Annual feast and celebration initiated by last year’s administration.
We will continue with this initiative to offer opportunities for graduate students to network with
one another, and with the University administrators and faculty members.

Handing Over Ceremony
(c) Advocacy

Identify graduate student representative to GSG in every graduate department

Subsidized Health Insurance for Graduate students

Flexible payment terms for graduate students’ health insurance, particularly for international
students to be able to register while they use their first bi-weekly stipends to pay outstanding
balances.

Increase GSG budget: Propose that each graduate student pay a 10 dollar fee per semester to
increase the budget allocations for GSG’s activities. We want to see about 60% of GSG budget
coming directly from the students and 30% from the vice president of student’s engagement and
affairs and 10% from fundraising activities.

Create an emergency fund to help students who will be involved in unexpected contingencies such
as theft, fraud, etc.

Minimize the huge gap in stipends across board for teaching assistants and graduate research
assistants.
(d) Community Outreach

Thanksgiving “giver away”

A day’s Volunteer at the Akron Food Bank
(e) Partnerships and Collaboration

China Week, India Diwali, Saudi-Arabia National Day (Eid Al-Fiter and Eid Al-Adha), African
Student Association –Local Model of African Union, Career fair, LGBTU, Around the World
Party, Spring-Feast, Diversity Week, Race Week, Black Male Summit, International Student
Orientation Fall and Spring Program, Akron Experience and many other activities.
(f) Entrepreneurship Initiatives.

The Entrepreneurial Initiative seeks to create a “Virtual Research Centre” which will conduct
research on behalf of the University. The Graduate Student Government will bid for a research
project at a reduced market value from the University. Thereby a contract will be established
between two parties –the University and the Graduate Student Government. The grants from this
contract will be used to create graduate student employment for young, professional and qualified
graduate students. The profit derived will be ploughed back to the graduate student coffers for
professional enrichments grants, scholarships and special projects. The benefits of this ‘selfsustaining’ project are to harness the potentials of graduate students to contributing their
knowledge quota and skills to the University community at large and getting graduate students
involved in activities
BENEFITS

Increase engagement and participation of graduate students in University activities

Bolster and broaden diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion among students on campus

Purposefully connect and network graduate students from different departments to explore
common interest and opportunities.
LONG TERM GOALS AND IMPACTS

Long term goals would include establishing a strong graduate student government that will play a
leading role in advocating the interests of graduate students. Graduate students are now members
of University Council, the Graduate Council and the Faculty Senate; we seek to have a graduate
representation on the board of trustee of the University.
ACTION PLAN AND TIMELINES
NB: There will be at least one Town Hall meetings each semester.
Planned Activities
Dates
Budget Estimate ($)
July 7th
0
August
0
August
2500
4. UA Graduate Adventure Trip: Cedar Point
5. Setting-up a four member committee to explore the 10 dollars
assessment fee on each graduate student and fundraising activities
September
3000
September
0
6. Thanksgiving Banquet: an Annual feast and celebration
November
4000
7. Community Outreach: Thanksgiving giver away
November
1000
8. Scholarships for novel research work
November
1000
9. Professional Enrichment Program and Group Travel
10. Partnerships: China Week, Model of African Union, Around the
World Celebration, diversity week, Race week, International
Student Orientation, Saudi-Arabia
December
5000
11. A comprehensive newsletter
December
First Semester
1. A Negotiated Flexible payment terms for Health Insurance
Carriers to register for the classes prior to the academic year
2. Setting-up a four member committee to explore a subsidized
health insurance scheme for graduate
3. New Graduate Student Orientation and Lunch Services
Totals
2000
500
19, 000
ACTION PLAN AND TIMELINES
NB: There will be at least one Town Hall meetings each semester.
Planned Activities
Dates
Budget Estimate ($)
12. Implement and advocate committees budget increase and
fundraising activities
January
0
13. Community Outreach: A days volunteer at the Akron food Bank
March
1000
14. The Annual University of Akron Student Innovation Symposium
April
1000
15. Professional and Leadership Seminar
April
4000
16. Elections
April
0
17. Handing Over Ceremony
April
0
18. Professional Enrichment Program and Group Travel
May
2000
Second Semester
19. Partnerships: Spring-Fest, Black Male Summit, LGBTU
Totals
3000
11,000
Proposed Budget Break down
Income Received: EAF Projected Estimate
40, 000
GSG stipends (25% of Total Amount)
(10,000)
First Semester
(19, 000)
Second Semester
(11,000)
Totals
0__
PROCESS ORIENTATIONS
(a) Form a planning committee to include representatives of major students groups on campus
(b) Design a comprehensive feasibility plan for each project and program
(c) Advertise programs using the following bodies: Student Life office , Office of International
Students, Off Campus Student Services, Office of Multicultural Development, Graduate Office,
The Chapel Friday Diner, Akron International Friendships, African Student’s Organization,
Chinese Students Organization, Indian Students Organization, Saudi-Arabia Student Organization,
Asian Student Organization, Graduate Student Organization (Listserv Of GSG), Association of
Student Government (Listserv), The Various Departments Listserv, WZIP FM, Social Media Such
As Facebook, Uakron Website, Zips Stands
(d) Do follow-ups with emails for appointments and meetings
(e) Develop sponsorship packages and tools to reach-out to the outside world for support and
sponsorships.
(f) Develop a Proposed Budget for each event
(g) Develop a comprehensive action plan for each event
(h) Obtain permits and Security clearances for each event
(i) Draft a program or event evaluation Mechanisms