Student Leadership and Involvement News Blog

Happy April!

As we navigate through the end of the semester, we want to bring your attention to several important updates and reminders that will impact the success of your organization.

K-Day Registration Now Open

K-Day is just around the corner on September 5th, and registration is now open! K-Day is an annual student involvement fair held at Chassell Centennial Park with food, fun, and music! Typically 3500-4000 students come out for this event. This is a fantastic chance for your organization to showcase what you have to offer and attract new members.

Use this link to sign up to table at K-Day. Please have your organization’s activity finalized before registering. Registration closes August 29th but space is limited so do not delay!

Update your RSO Inventory

Please make sure your RSO’s inventory list is up to date and posted on Involvement Link. A complete, updated inventory on Involvement Link will be required for the upcoming RSO Reregistration process beginning in August. Feel free to use this Sample Inventory Sheet.

Update Your Officers

As we approach the end of the semester, it’s crucial to update your organization’s officers. Presidents are required to fill out our E-Board Position Update Form when an officer transition happens. 

Please note: Only required officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary, Advisor) need to be added through the form and complete training in the fall. Organization-created positions can be updated directly on Involvement Link.

Advisor Appreciation Day – April 21st

April 21st is National Advisor Appreciation Day! In recognition of your dedicated advisors, we would like to invite you to pick up a thank you card (or multiple if you have multiple advisors!) from MUB 106 on top of the mailboxes to be signed by your organization’s members or executive board. This is an opportunity for you to express your gratitude for the guidance and support your advisors provide.

Cards can be returned to us to be mailed or we invite you to deliver them in person!

We encourage each of you to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate your advisor for their commitment to your RSO.

Space Reservations for Next Year

Now is the best time to reserve any rooms your RSO wants to use for the upcoming year. This is especially true for the MUB as those rooms fill up fast. You can reference our website for more information on room reservations.

Other Important Information

• Purchase Requests for this fiscal year are due by April 14th! If you anticipate needing to make purchases after that date, but before the start of the school year, you must complete the summer RSO spending form. 
• Check your MUB 106 mailbox! ALL ORGS have a mailbox!
• Sign up for O-Week and Welcome Week Events.

Thank you for your attention to these updates. Your proactive involvement is crucial to the success of your RSO. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Have a great month,

Student Leadership and Involvement

Hello RSO Leaders,

My name is David Reeves, and I am the new Undergraduate Student Government Treasurer for the Student Assembly. I’ve been on the Ways and Means committee for around a year now, so I’m super excited to jump into the Treasurer role and make everything as smooth as possible for you all.

Like previous summers, there will be a deadline for Purchase Requests through Involvement Link as our committee has limited capacity to operate and approve requests during the summer. The deadline will be 11:59PM on April 14th, 2025, and we ask that all submissions are completed before that time so our committee can work through the last few of the semester. This will be the last chance to use your RSO budget for this fiscal year, which does not roll-over into next year’s.

If your RSO plans on operating and spending funds over the summer, please fill out this Google Form indicating your intent to do so. This allows us to better allocate our time throughout the summer approving your requests. Any organization’s requests submitted after April 14th, 2025 that did not fill out the form will be denied by our committee.

As a reminder of important dates for your budgets:

• June 30th: The LAST day of the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year
  • Your remaining budget does NOT rollover into next year’s. Instead, it goes into the Reserve Fund which can be requested from at a hearing.
• July 1st: The FIRST day of the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year
• August 25th: The FIRST day of instruction, indicating the earliest we will look at Purchase Requests unless you’ve filled out the form

Once again, please fill out this form if you plan on making any Purchase Requests after April 14th, 2025.

Finally, we have 4 more open Opportunity / Reserve Fund hearing slots for this year. These will be first-come, first-serve. To learn more about scheduling an Opportunity / Reserve Fund hearing for your organization, please visit https://usg.mtu.edu/extra-funds/ for information and a form!

I’m so lucky to be your Treasurer this year, and I am excited to work with all of you. Thank you for your patience with us, and we appreciate all you do as student leaders on campus. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Happy March!

As you begin to transition executive boards for the next year, it is important you pass along all materials and information.

RSO Transitions

Transitions between outgoing and incoming executive boards are crucial to maintaining organizational consistency. To facilitate easy transition officers should start, maintain, and update a living set of documents. This can be created in the form of a binder or digitally in a Google Shared Drive.

Before the newly elected officers of your organization officially assume their responsibilities, it is recommended for the old and new officers to get together for a “transition meeting.” This meeting can be conducted in person or digitally to allow the new officers to learn from the experience of the outgoing officers. Officer continuity is a key to growth for your organization and having a casual, open atmosphere is encouraged. This type of meeting allows for an honest evaluation of the accomplishments and problems of the previous year.

Don’t forget to Transition:

• Involvement Link (see below)
• Banking Information – EIN, Account Numbers, Switching people on the account
• Agendas and Minutes
• Login Information to the org’s email and social media accounts
• Storage Locations
• Important Contacts (including your advisor)

Updating Your E-Board Positions on Involvement Link

Presidents are required to fill out our E-Board Position Update Form when an officer transition happens. As we approach the end of the semester, new officers will be assigned but not required to complete training. Training for next academic year will be available in August.

Please note: Only required officers (President, Treasurer, Secretary, Advisor) need to complete training. All non-required positions can be changed on Involvement Link.

All RSOs are strongly encouraged to make your RSO advisor the owner and/or manager of Google Drives, Google Groups, etc. in case of sudden turnover. This should be in addition to your organization’s primary contact.

If you would like to learn more about completing a smooth officer transition, consider attending our upcoming HuskyLEAD. Information about the event is listed below.

HuskyLEAD: Effective Leadership Transitions

Date: Wednesday, March 19 from 4:00-5:00 PM

Location: Fisher 129

Student Leadership Award Nominations

Nominations for the Student Leadership Awards closed on Sunday, March 9th at midnight! There are four awards recognizing the incredible efforts of student groups:

• Student Organization Advisor of the Year
• Exceptional Civic Engagement Award
• Most Improved Student Group
• Student Group of the Year

These awards provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the dedication, leadership, and impact of student organizations on campus. Whether it’s through exceptional service, innovative initiatives, or meaningful community engagement, your contributions deserve to be recognized. Let’s come together to honor the hard work and passion that make you do!

The MUB has space for your RSO! 

Are you looking for a meeting space for next year? Be where the action and the RSO office is! The MUB is now booking spaces for next year. Whether you are scheduling your recurring organization meeting or planning a large event, submit your reservations today to reserve your space. Not sure how to fill out the form? Follow this guide! Have questions? Email mubrooms@mtu.edu for support!

Preview Day

During Admitted Student Preview Day, admitted students are invited to join us on campus! They attend information sessions designed to help them prepare to enroll and move in, tour academic departments, and talk with faculty, advisors, and current students. It’s a great time for you to share about your organization and help these likely huskies see if this is the place they want to call home. 

SLI and Admissions are looking for RSOs interested in sharing information about their organization and recruiting incoming students before they even move in! This opportunity is only available to the first 40 organizations. Please sign up here. The RSO tabling sessions will be on Saturday, March 22nd, from 11:30am-1:15pm in the MUB Commons. Coffee and donuts will be provided. Please RSVP by Sunday, March 9th.

If you have any further questions or need additional support, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team or stop by during our office hours.

Have a great month,

Student Leadership and Involvement

Happy February!

As you plan events and activities, it is crucial to consider risk management, especially when it comes to travel. We want to ensure the safety and well-being of all members.

RSO Travel

If your organization is planning any travel over 50 miles, whether it be for conferences, competitions, or other events, you are required to submit a Travel Form. Please provide detailed information about the trip, including dates, destination, purpose, and policy. Submit your travel here!

• Make sure your travel policy, itinerary, and route are submitted at least 2 days prior to travel.
• If you have a Husky Motors Reservation, your travel submission needs to be submitted at least 7 days prior (the earlier, the better).
• If requesting a Verified Absence Letter, submit everything early to allow for review and processing.

Organizations that do not comply with this policy risk the loss of future travel funding opportunities through the Undergraduate Student Government and may not be approved for future motor vehicle rental through the University.

Risk Management Plans

When organizing any event, identify potential hazards, evaluate risks, and develop strategies to mitigate them. The safety of your members and participants is of utmost importance. Planning to manage risk helps to keep all those involved with your events and/or organization safe. If people feel safe, they are more willing to come back and continue to participate in your organization.

Risk management plans are required for any on-campus event that involves risk as well as any University Sponsored off-campus events, such as Keweenaw Day. An event that involves risk means an event or activity that a reasonable person would consider to have an element of risk. This would also include events/activities that could be less risky for advanced participants, but more risky for novice participants.

Just because an event is off-campus does not mean that there is less risk involved. It is encouraged that you create a risk management plan to ensure safety and success at any risky or potentially risky events.

How to create and submit a risk plan, as well as sample liability waivers can be found on our website. 

Preview Day

During Admitted Student Preview Day, admitted students are invited to join us on campus! They attend information sessions designed to help them prepare to enroll and move in, tour academic departments, and talk with faculty, advisors, and current students. It’s a great time for you to share about your organization and help these likely huskies see if this is the place they want to call home. 

SLI and Admissions are looking for RSOs interested in sharing information about their organization and recruiting incoming students before they even move in! This opportunity is only available to the first 40 organizations. Please sign up here. The RSO tabling sessions will be on Saturday, March 22nd, from 11:30am-1:15pm in the MUB Commons. Coffee and donuts will be provided. 

The MUB has space for your RSO! 

Are you looking for a meeting space for next year? Be where the action and the RSO office is! The MUB is now booking spaces for next year. Whether you are scheduling your recurring organization meeting or planning a large event, submit your reservations today to reserve your space. Not sure how to fill out the form? Follow this guide! Have questions? Email mubrooms@mtu.edu for support!

If you have any further questions or need additional support, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team or stop by during our office hours.

Have a great month,

Student Leadership and Involvement

Happy January RSO Officers!

Welcome back for the spring semester! Please take note of the following important updates:

Updated Roster and Officers for Budget Hearings

As we gear up for budget hearings, it’s crucial to have your organization’s roster and officers up to date on Involvement Link. A current and accurate roster is essential for budget allocations and ensures that your organization is eligible for funding. Take a moment to review and update your roster and officers on Involvement Link. If you encounter any challenges or have questions, please contact our SLI team at activities@mtu.edu.

Key Dates for Student Organizations:

• Spring Involvement Fair:
  • Date: Tuesday, January 21st, 6:30 – 9:30pm
  • Location: Memorial Union Building Commons, Ballroom, and MakerSpace
  • See Spring Involvement Fair Website for more info

• RSO Budget and Hearing Sign Up Submission Deadline
  • Date: Sunday, January 26th at 11:59pm
  • See the SLI Blog with the info email for more info

Stay informed about other important dates for student organizations by visiting the following link: RSO Dates to Know. This page outlines crucial deadlines, events, and milestones to help your organization plan effectively. Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar to stay ahead of the curve.

Effective Financial Management:

• HuskyLEAD: Creating An Effective Student Org Budget
  • Date: Thursday, January 30th, at 4pm
  • Location: Memorial Union Building Alumni Lounge A

Financial management and planning are vital to your RSO’s short and long-term success. Budgeting allows your organization to plan and program for the upcoming year more effectively allowing you to stress less. RSOs are required to keep track of organization finances and remain in good financial standing.

Here are some tips for effective financial management:

• Budget Planning: Create a detailed budget that accounts for all expenses and income sources.
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and organized financial records for transparency and accountability.
• Regular Audits: Conduct periodic audits of your organization’s financial transactions to identify any discrepancies.
• Funding Opportunities: Explore diverse funding opportunities, including grants, sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Budgeting Tools can be found at the bottom of RSO Finances on our website.

Your commitment to the success of your organization is truly commendable, and we appreciate the effort you put into creating a vibrant and engaging campus community. If you have any further questions or need additional support, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

Thank you for your attention to these matters, and we wish your organization continued success in the upcoming semester!

Have a fantastic semester,

Student Leadership and Involvement

Hello RSO Treasurers and Presidents, 

December is the time to start thinking about budget hearings! This is the process we use to determine Student Activity Fee Budgets for the upcoming school year. Any RSO wanting to receive funds from the Student Activity Fee must participate in budget hearings.

Here is a full list of what you will need to do to participate in budget hearings. Additional information on steps 2 through 6 will be distributed at the information session.

• Step 1: Attend a Mandatory Budget Hearing Information Session (Attendance will be taken. There is a budget penalty for not attending)

2025/2026 Budget Hearing Dates

Tuesday, January 7th, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM (Location TBD)

Wednesday, January 8th, 8:30 – 9:30 PM (Location TBD)

Thursday, January 9th, 5PM – 6PM (Location TBD)

You will receive a follow-up email as soon as room locations have been confirmed.

• Step 2: Familiarize yourself with the budget info packet. This packet will be distributed physically and digitally at the budget information sessions.

• Step 3: Work on a proposed budget.

• Step 4: Sign up for a 10-minute budget hearing time slot. The link to sign up for a hearing will be sent out after the last Information Session.
  
• Step 5: Submit the budget hearing questionnaire.
  
• Step 6: Attend your budget hearing.
  

Additionally, here are some reminders:

1. Keep Spending your Budget

• Please continue to spend your budget! One of the biggest factors in determining your organization’s budget for next year is their historical spending. If you do not spend your allocation this year, your budget for next year may be smaller.

2.       Additional Funding Resources

• The Opportunity and Reserve funds are a great resource for new RSOs and RSOs in need of additional funding.
  • The primary purpose of the Undergraduate Student Government Reserve Fund is to fund unforeseen equipment replacement costs, equipment upgrade costs, and equipment safety concerns. 
  • The purpose of the Undergraduate Student Government Opportunities Fund is to provide funding for startup costs of new organizations, unpredicted student organization expenses, or new initiatives of student organizations that were not previously budgeted for. 
• In order to receive funds from this account you must submit a written request here, meet with the Ways and Means Committee, and then have your request voted on by the general USG body. This is a process that takes time, so please submit your request several weeks before you need to make a purchase. Do not use the Funding Request tool on Involvement Link, use the google form (same link as above).

For any questions, email usg-treasurer@mtu.edu

December is national read a new book month.  To celebrate this fun tradition, we are going to share some book ideas for you to enjoy over winter break. Here are some suggestions from avid book readers around campus. Enjoy 🙂

Holly Lorenz – Residence Education and Housing Services

What book do you suggest for Michigan Tech students?:

These felt like reading the Harry Potter books all over again but if the enemy were the magical school the students were sent to and the main character was an unknown nobody who couldn’t make the friends they desperately needed to survive. *Note: it DOES end on a cliffhanger in the second book and you’ll have to wait almost a full year for the next and final installment.

Reading Buddy: Yuppsie

Liz Fujita – Electrical and Computer Engineering

What book do you suggest for Michigan Tech students?:

Reading Buddy: Milano

Advice:

At the end of the day, don’t let anyone gatekeep your reading. I think sometimes there is pressure to read “good” books – classics, or books that are popular in the moment, or ones that are on so-and-so’s book list – and that if you don’t read those things you’re “not really reading anything worthwhile.” Do not let this attitude fool you! Reading is valuable, no matter the genre, the medium, the story.

Ashley Eschbach – Residence Education and Housing Services

What is your all-time favorite book?:

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This is my favorite book because it is about the choices that we make and how those choices can shape and haunt our futures. In all of his books, Hosseini takes the reader to Afghanistan and really explores the culture and traditions. Some major themes that I made it enjoyable to me were friendship (and what it means to be a friend), guilt and redemption. The Kite Runner is not the happiest of stories but stays with you for a long time.

Erin Eberhard – Graduate Student

What book do you suggest for Michigan Tech students?:

The Lost Apothecary – Sarah Penner

It is a mix between present day and traveling back in time. So you have a main character going through problems in the present day and trying to deal with that by exploring mysteries of the past.

What is your all-time favorite book?:

Harry Potter Series – JK Rowling

Honestly, these are the books I return to the most. It is like returning to a familiar world when I go back to read them and the nostalgia of remembering reading them for the first time. I get lost in the wizarding world every time.

Last Thoughts:

Reading is the best! Escaping into the world the book creates in your head has been a way for me to get through grad school.

Leadership – what a buzzword. It’s a skill you might list on your resume, but what does it actually mean? Ask five different people, and I can almost guarantee that you will get five different answers. Maybe they will point to similar traits of a leader – integrity, determination, competitiveness, courage. Then again, perhaps they won’t. Someone else might say charisma, empathy, and self-control – all of which could oppose the other traits listed. You see, while we talk about this grand concept of “leadership,” we also know that it can vary based on the person. We likely will all identify Greta Thunberg, Jeff Bezos, and Angela Merkel as leaders. However, their values and their personality characteristics certainly differ. So what does leadership mean? How do you develop leadership as a skill? I invite you to come find out.

You recently received an email introducing you to the LeaderShape Institute. As explained, the Institute is a four-day immersive retreat focused on leadership development. It’s not a standard leadership retreat, though. The unique thing about LeaderShape is that it embraces the idea that leadership is not any one thing or that you have to hold a particular position or title to be a leader. At the Institute, you will take self-assessments to identify your leadership strengths and characteristics. You will participate in team-building challenges to experience the benefits of trust in relationships. You will work with a small group of other students and a mentor to discuss your values and reflect on your priorities. And, throughout the entire process, you will develop a vision – a bold change for the future in your community, group, cause, or organization back home.

Ultimately, leadership is about impact – how you generate that impact and where you want it to occur is up to you. The choices you make every day could be demonstrating your leadership skills, or they could be holding you back. The LeaderShape Institute is your opportunity to take time away from the routine and structure of life as a student to reflect on the decisions you are making, and perhaps, choose to lead boldly in a new direction.

LeaderShape this year will be held January 4-7th, 2022, at the Ford Center in Alberta, MI. Thanks to the support of donors, the program costs just $100 per student attendee – a cost that can be further subsidized by sponsorship here on campus. If you want to establish your definition of leadership, build confidence in the traits that make you a strong leader, and create a vision for the impact you want to have on the world – apply today: https://leadershape.org/Applications/Apply/3963.

Not ready for a week’s commitment? Come get acquainted with leadership here on campus in other ways! Throughout the academic year, Student Leadership and Involvement offers a rotating selection of leadership development opportunities – most notably, our HuskyLead series. There is still one event left for this semester! Join us tomorrow, November 16th at 4:00 PM in the MUB Superior Room to learn about the Campus Resources You’re NOT Using and check back soon to our HuskyLEAD webpage for a complete list of our spring events.