SGA’s new Ideas to Action initiative gives University of Alabama students the opportunity to submit ideas for a better campus with a scholarship incentive.
Director of Ideas to Action Allison Montgomery said the goal of SGA is to make campus life better for the student body in wanting to hear what students have to say. Students, individually or through an organization, can submit ideas for an initiative or project they would like to see happen on campus through their website, sga.ua.edu.
“We also plan to have a table in the Ferguson Center once a week where students can submit their ideas on site and swipe for Crimson Spirit points,” Montgomery said.
The best and most creative idea receives a $250 scholarship from the SGA Scholarship Endowment Fund. The number of scholarships given each month will vary based on the number of great ideas, such as changing a facet of the UA iPhone app or implementing an entire program within the SGA.
“Our team members will be evaluating the ideas based on originality, practicality and applicability,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery said she hopes to directly affect the areas of campus that students want to see change, such as parking, transportation and dining, which she believes are the biggest problems for a majority of UA students.
Andrew Sbrissa, team member for Ideas to Action, said any organization at the University could always use improvements.
“The biggest topic of choice will involve a part of campus that affects the largest number of students,” Sbrissa said. “When those ideas are capitalized on, that will affect the largest number of students and have a positive impact on campus in the most efficient way.”
Sbrissa said student input and involvement is something SGA strives to advance every day, which is a crucial stepping stone that leads to SGA reaching its fullest potential.
“Ideas to Action is a program that hasn’t received as much attention as before, so as we continue to re-evaluate the effectiveness of our initiatives,” Sbrissa said. “Programs like Ideas to Action gain recognition again as it is one of the most direct mediums of communication and input.”
Sbrissa said if students utilize Ideas to Action to its fullest potential, the SGA would better reflect the student body.
“When ideas are put into action, students will be reassured knowing that the SGA is here for them,” Sbrissa said.
Madalyn Vaughn, director of administration for Ideas to Action, said as the University increases in size each year, it is difficult for each student to have their opinions heard.
“Ideas to Action creates an outlet for students to submit their ideas that they want to see come to life,” Vaughn said. “We want to make UA an inclusive community that collaborates on projects or topics that students want addressed.”
