Members of the University of North Alabama Student Government visited the Alabama State Capitol to advocate for increased funding for higher education.
On February 22, UNA students participating in the SGA or Freshman Forum drove to Montgomery to participate in the annual Higher Education Day hosted and sponsored by the Higher Education Partnership. There, students had the opportunity to speak directly with state legislators in order to build connections between them and the university.
“The aim is to appeal to public institutions and universities as a whole for funding,” said SGA President Amber Sandvig. “One of the big points they talk about is the economic impact of funding higher education institutions. A big part of that is advocacy. In fact, we're sharing the stories of our universities and why it's impactful for legislators to fund higher education in our universities. ”
The day begins with a parade, with students attending the university marching around Parliament House representing their school. The march has attracted the attention of government officials, who often come out to watch and cheer on the students.
After the parade, each college's SGA president and each school's mascot will stand together and sign the pledge board. This board represents each school's involvement in Higher Education Day and support for funding each school.
“This is a show of solidarity that we all agree that higher education institutions should be funded,” Sandvig said. “We're really trying to encourage legislators to understand the value of a college degree and change the narrative, because I think there's a bit of a myth going around that a degree is no longer worth the money you pay for it. , they're really trying to change that narrative and say they support higher education.”
The students then listen to the speeches. Lunch with members of Congress. The lunch serves as a networking opportunity for students, allowing them to speak with government officials and explain why their university needs funding.
Higher Education Day allows students to take responsibility for and show pride in their educational institutions.
“My goal as an advisor is to give them feedback and coach them, but they are the ones doing the work,” said Dr. Tammy Jack, vice president for academic affairs and SGA advisor. “They did a very good job. They were very well organized. They made it meaningful for students who may have never been there before or met the members of Congress.” We've put a lot of thought into making it an experience. Being able to interact with people in politics who are making big decisions and doing things that are good for the country is a great way for students to interact and understand how things work. It's a good experience to see what they do and get noticed. They represent the University of North Alabama in the best way possible. They did a great job. I'm very proud of them. .”
