Student government officials are targeting their goals toward improving their own organization through more effective programming, but are also concerned with broader campus issues, such as helping to choose the next university president.
The Associated Students of the University of Arizona President Cade Bernsen said one of the most important issues this year will be to ensure students have a voice in the process to choose President Peter Likins' replacement when Likins retires.
"We want to see a president who has a philosophy of being accessible and having an open door to students," Bernsen said.
In addition, Bernsen said he is focused on trying to save students money on tuition and textbooks, working on a project to bring solar energy to campus and making parental resources for students with children a higher priority for the administration.
Bernsen said he also hopes to reach out to incoming freshmen and students who don't know who he is or what ASUA is all about.
"As a student who came from outside ASUA - and outside Arizona - I hope to be an example to students that anybody on campus who wants to can be involved in student government," Bernsen said.
Today through tomorrow, ASUA senators will be on the UA Mall introducing students to ASUA members. They will be giving out free Eegee's frozen drinks, answering students' questions and giving rides to class in golf carts, according to an ASUA press release.
"The more ideas and input we can receive from the student body, the better our service and output will be for the student body," said Ryan Erickson, a senator and public administration junior, in the ASUA press release.
Cassi Sonn, the administrative vice president who is in charge of programs, said some program directors have been working throughout the summer, and one program has already been a success.
Bear Down Camp was held at Triangle Y from Aug. 14 to Aug. 17 for incoming freshmen to build relationships and become better informed of the UA community and its traditions. There were 90 participants this year, up from 56 students last year, Sonn said.
The biggest focus for her this next year will be to implement more effective programming, even if it means scaling back on the number of events that are planned, Sonn said.
"We saw a lot of programs last year that were ineffective," Sonn said. "So instead of planning seven or eight small programs, I want to see two or three bigger events with more planning and more thought put into them."
ASUA treasurer Keven Barker said he agreed with Sonn, and added he expects to strengthen relations between groups on campus and ASUA.
ASUA has historically had weak relations with some groups on campus, Barker said, but they have already worked during the summer to make them stronger.
Barker said ASUA is collaborating on joint projects for the fall with groups like the Residence Hall Association and University Activities Board.
"We're trying to mend some of those connections," Barker said. "We want to build good, trusting relationships and keep them really strong all year."
Barker said over the summer he spent about 200 hours balancing the budget, adding a marketing budget and setting aside funds for new events.
The budget is limited in some areas, but that is causing officials to take initiative with the limited resources they have, Barker said.
"We have enough money to run the programs," Barker said. "But we're trying to use more teamwork and find creative ways to build connections with students."
ASUA Executive Vice President Erin Hertzog said she will have more information about her plans once things settle down this week, but that she will be working on getting enough funding for clubs on campus and on the internship fair for November.