Details of 5-Star Plan & Relevant Issues Nathaniel Koh Kim Kui Candidate, SMU Students’ Association 2008 Produced in September 2007

Structure The 5-Star Plan Relevant Issues

The 5-Star Plan Appreciate the “sandwiched” students Enhance identity of each school Promote culture of values Develop skills for success Enable financial autonomy for CCAs

The 5-Star Plan Structure of each star  Aim  Current Situation  How  SMU in December 2008

Appreciate the “sandwiched” students Aim  To foster a sense of unity amongst students by showing our appreciation to them, regardless of GPA or social status.

Appreciating the “sandwiched” students Current Situation  Top students in studies and CCAs are rightfully recognised and valued.  Average students must feel valued too. They work hard, if not even harder than everyone else

Appreciating the “sandwiched” students How  Good Progress Awards  Students Appreciation Month

Appreciating the “sandwiched” students SMU in December 2008  All students, regardless of GPA or CCA, feel appreciated and valued as important members of the SMU student community

Enhance identity of each school Aim  To promote a dynamic student environment where every student feels a sense of belonging to both school and university

Enhance identity of each school Current Situation  Schools are doing its best to bond their students with activities and events  Finance is a crucial area to address

Enhance identity of each school How  Make resources more easily accessible to school societies  Smoothen process of finance and facilities

Enhance identity of each school SMU in December 2008  All students are proud to identify themselves with both SMU and their respective schools  School societies find it easier and smoother to organise activities and initiatives

Promote culture of values Aim  To develop a culture where values play a significant role in our student community

Promote culture of values Current Situation  Obsession with grades and social status rule the SMU culture at the expense of a vibrant student life

Promote culture of values How  Transform SMUGGING culture into a positive one  Share stories of fellow students practicing each value. Lead by example.  Turn Plagman into a positive motivation instead of negative motivation

Promote culture of values SMU in December 2008  SMUGGING becomes a positive term and said by all students in a positive manner  Values are practiced by all students with the common aim of becoming better students and humans

Develop skills for success Aim  Equip every student with life skills to raise the level of competency in studies and CCAs

Develop skills for success Current Situation  Academic intelligence and CCA skills are mostly emphasized within their respective fields.  However, skills of life can be emphasized more, e.g. class participation, conducting productive meetings, working in teams…

Develop skills for success How  Begin with awareness Show skills by week via campaign awareness  End with application Show how these skills are put to use in studies and CCAs  Invite trainers on relevant topics

Develop skills for success SMU in December 2008  Students are equipped with skills and apply them to their daily activities in studies and CCA  SMU becomes a more dynamic place as students become more adapt in life skills as well

Enable financial autonomy for CCAs Aim  To allow CCAs to manage the funds they gain from activities

Enable financial autonomy for CCAs Current Situation CCA organises event Students pay a norminal fee CCA collects fee CCA transfers funds to corporate account CCA needs to use funds from event CCA enters claims process CCA waits for approval from SA CCA gets money

Enable financial autonomy for CCAs How  Allow CCAs to manage their own funds that they collect from activities for the benefit of the members, OR  Reduce procedure for claims for such funds

Enable financial autonomy for CCAs SMU in December 2008  CCAs will feel appreciated and benefit by making their hard-earned money easily accessible to them  Members will enjoy the fruits of their labour and become more committed to the well- being of the CCA

Relevant Issues How do you plan to promote the SA Specific issues in SMU and how to resolve it How to improve student life How to encourage more students to join clubs

How do you plan to promote the SA  Campaigns, Posters, Stickers? No.  8 elected representative are the embodiment of the SA. We must set the example for our fellow students to follow.  Start with exco reaching out amongst the ones closest to us. Relevant Issues

Specific issues in SMU and how to resolve it  Overflowing of rubbish bins Purchase more rubbish bins, at lower cost  Lack of GSRs Open up classrooms Allow use of admin building Relevant Issues

How to improve student life  Three main types of students Study Events Balance  Challenge to find out what’s common amongst them Relevant Issues

How to improve student life  Common aspect SMU buildings & environment  Reduce restrictions on pasting of posters on walls and pillars  Creates image of healthy, dynamic student life Relevant Issues

How to encourage more students to join clubs  Believe in freedom of choice  Respect those who focus on studies  Believe in value of joining clubs  Strike fine balance between studies and CCA Relevant Issues

How to encourage more students to join clubs  Create environment in which individual choice is tilted towards being involved with clubs Help clubs create web presence. Explore os3 Increase quota from 2 to 3 or 4 per week Tackling spam:  Opt-out approach for students for do not want to receive any s Targeted s  Opt-in approach to selected CCA list Relevant Issues