Executive Platform Progress

Campus areas such as the Court of Carolinas’ help improve students’ mental health and physical well-being by providing direct means to relax in nature. In efforts to support student wellness and sustainability on campus, Timothy and Allison aim to increase the amount of green spaces and wildlife corridors on NC State Campus. Green spaces are areas of land that are majorly covered with vegetation, and used to break up extended areas of impermeable surfaces. They greatly alter their surrounding areas through many positive benefits, including the improvement of citizen health and wellbeing, air and water quality, regulation of temperature, reduction of flooding, and wildlife and habitat support. According to associate professors Larson and Hipp, green spaces provide “enhanced cognitive functioning and attention and reduced stress” for those impacted by the areas. They pose a highly rewarding addition to current urban areas to better human’s impact on our ecosystem, and can be filled with native vegetation to attract wildlife and promote local flora growth.

To learn more about this project and to field any questions you may have, please contact Department of Sustainability Director Zoë Smith.

In speaking with students in a number of colleges across the university, Timothy and Allison have observed that there is a large degree of variability in the experiences and outcomes of students dealing with advisors across campus. Many students have experienced difficulty in simply scheduling appointments with an advisor, and others express frustration with the fact that some colleges do not seem as well equipped as others to connect them to appropriate professional and pre-professional resources. In order to meet the commitment that NC State makes to its students the moment they enroll at this institution, we need to ensure that all students have access to quality and substantial advising resources, no matter which college they come from. As such, the Reid-Markert Administration will stand firm in its commitment to address these disparities across campus and will make it a priority to work with university administrators and individual colleges to provide adequate advising resources for all students.

For any questions or comments about this project, please contact Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

For far too many students at NC State, a lack of affordable housing options stands in the way of a quality and consistent living environment. With the continual expansion of the student population, an increased demand for on and off-campus housing, as well as rising inflation, prices have skyrocketed and many students simply can’t afford to keep up with the steadily increasing costs associated with going to school at NC State. Timothy and Allison share in students’ concerns regarding these issues and do not want to see housing become prohibitive to the success of students while in college. As such, the Reid-Markert Administration will work with University Housing, Academic and Student Affairs, and other relevant university partners to explore ways to reduce the housing burden felt by students. Specifically, we will advocate for the re-evaluation of the first-year live on requirement, increased assistance for students with demonstrated financial need, and we will promote an open dialogue between the university and local officials in charge of zoning regulations.

For more details about this ongoing project, please contact Department of Government Affairs Director Matthew McCaluley.

In an effort to promote a greater degree of professional development among students in their respective fields and to facilitate increased interaction between students and alumni, Timothy and Allison are proposing the creation of an alumni networking database. This database would serve as an opt-in directory for students who are interested in connecting with individuals already working in their fields of interest and alumni who are interested in providing insight to students over the course of their professional journey. Additionally, this database can be leveraged by student organizations and honor societies who may have an interest in fostering long-term relationships with professionals who were once in their very shoes.

For more details about this project, please contact Department of Engagement and Outreach Director Anil Gordon.

Essential functions such as advising, curricula/academic standards, academic enrichment programs, residential programs, co-curricular enrichment activities, and assessment development all fall under the purview of DASA. As such, the decisions made at all levels within DASA are felt very directly by students all across campus. More specifically, decisions made regarding academic policies and curriculum development have far-reaching effects on the quality of our student experience while in college. As such, it is incredibly important that key decision makers within DASA have exposure to the student perspective on these issues, so that they are able to make well-informed decisions that benefit the student body as a whole. During their tenure, Timothy and Allison will advocate for the creation of a Student Advisory Committee to inform DASA leadership of the student opinion on these critical issues. Working with the Vice Chancellor and Dean of DASA, we will work to identify a variety of student voices that can accurately represent the diversity reflected throughout our student body.

For any questions or comments about this project, please contact Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

Attendance policy throughout the university varies largely depending on your college, major, and the individual classes you are enrolled in. In the 103rd Session, Timothy and Allison will call for the university-wide adoption of a uniform set of attendance standards that are more equitable and accommodate an array of student experiences. While these new attendance standards will still give professors the flexibility to set their own attendance guidelines that are specific to their courses, these standards will also protect the student body from unnecessarily strict expectations and ensure that we are putting the student first.

For more details about this initiative, reach out to Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

Timothy and Allison recognize the challenges and difficulties that are present for international students as they become accustomed to a new nation, as well as to NC State. We commit to creating spaces and initiatives to build community, celebrate different cultures, and amplify the voices of international students. We will work across student government branches to create policies that break down educational barriers, fund organizations that uplift international students, expand campus job opportunities, and expand career development opportunities. Timothy and Allison recognize that a key factor to success will be to get direct input from international students, so they will enact outreach initiatives to ensure community representation and the amplification of student voices.

For more details about this project, please reach out to Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

As a campus community and peers who are responsible to each other, we need to ensure that no member of our Pack is left behind. This means making sure that our Counseling Center is adequately funded and equipped with enough resources to meet the needs of a growing student body, without having to turn anyone away. While college presents us with the opportunity to create lifelong memories and relationships, with it can also come with a unique set of struggles and challenges that need to be dealt with. Guaranteeing that we have the necessary resources on campus to meet the student need is crucial. Throughout the 103rd Session, Timothy and Allison are committed to advocating for a Counseling Center that is able to fully respond to the full scale of student mental health needs and offer long-term services to the campus community.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about this project please reach out to Department of Wellness Director Ria Bakashi.

Becoming accustomed with a whole new set of classes, teachers, and schedule can be stressful, and complicated to navigate. This navigation does not always happen in two weeks’ time. Timothy and Allison have heard many experiences where students realized by the sixth class that it wasn’t the best fit for them, or they had to change their schedule due to a new job, or life just happened, and when they went to drop a class they were dismayed to see that the census date had just passed. Timothy and Allison understand the frustration the early nature of the census date causes many students, and they plan to work extensively with administration to extend the deadline without penalty to students.

For more details about this initiative, reach out to Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

Literature has demonstrated that for college-aged individuals, increased peer to peer interactions is one of the most effective ways of combating the negative effects of mental health. To address this need, Timothy and Allison will work alongside students primarily, as well as university administration, to facilitate the implementation of a student co-mentoring program that allows students to connect with each other, developing bonds and relationships that will serve them well throughout their time on campus. It is our hope that this program will help to foster a warmer social climate and community setting for our students. While this program will be optional and open to all students who choose to opt-in, there will be an emphasis on connecting underclassmen and transfer students with upperclassmen.

For more information about this program and it’s current status, please contact Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

It is the sincerely-held belief of both Timothy and Allison that mental health awareness should be incorporated into all facets of student life–this includes education. In addition to ensuring that students have protected wellness days along with access to critical mental health resources, we must also make sure that we’re doing our part to promote a well-rounded education surrounding these issues. While it is important to have strong postvention plans in place for any incidents that may occur, it is just as important to have robust prevention plans in place so that students are able to more readily identify warning signs of illness and know where to go for help. The Reid-Markert Administration will remain committed to working alongside individual colleges as well as the Division of Academic and Student Affairs to incorporate mental health education into college-specific curriculum, particularly intro-level courses for students new to the university.

For more information about the work being done in this field, please contact Department of Wellness Director Ria Bakashi.

To help facilitate a better connection between students and the university regarding mental health resources, Timothy and Allison will work to promote more proactive and consistent measures of pushing out mental health resources. These measures will include the creation of a central hub of student wellness resources (to be housed within MyPack Portal), publication of a concise weekly email bulletin from the Counseling Center outlining resources and support, as well as visits from Counseling Center personnel to classes on a semesterly basis.

For more details about this initiative, please contact Department of Wellness Director Ria Bakashi.

While they contribute very significantly to our campus infrastructure, there are many graduate students here on stipend who barely receive a living wage. Additionally, there is much variation in the stipend compensation depending on a student’s college and course of study. In an effort to ensure graduate student workers are adequately compensated for their contributions to the university, the Reid-Markert Administration will promote the establishment of a minimum graduate student stipend that accounts for the rising cost of inflation in recent years as well as other living expenses that students will inevitably incur.

For any questions or comments about this initiative, please contact Department of Graduate Student Relations Director Davion Washington.

As a community that prides itself on being inclusive and welcoming of all, we need to be sure that we are being accommodating of all. This includes ensuring that we have sufficient interfaith prayer spaces across all areas of campus, meet the needs of those with religious dietary restrictions, and make sure that our university calendar does not conflict with religious holidays. Timothy and Allison are committed to ensuring that these needs, and more, are met for our religious groups on campus.

For more information about this initiative, please contact Department of Equity and Accessibility Director Charles Kellon.

With Greek Way being located in a historically unsafe neighborhood, it is important for administration to ensure that students are protected from potential dangers. Potential areas for improvement include a safety gate, security cameras, increased frequency of security patrol, cleared walkways, blue lights, and more lights for well-lit areas. Among these, we aim to open communication between residents and the University Police Department (UPD) to verify student safety. . A meal plan requirement for all members is typical for most FSL organizations, even those that are not currently living in their house. Meals are at set times during the day, where organizations are limited to one to two visitor spots to use during this time. In order for students to have access to eat during the set meal times, Timothy and Allison plan to work with the NC State Parking Enforcement to create a leniency policy to allow students to utilize the resources that they pay for. Within the National Panhellenic Council (NPHC), there has been an increased desire to secure plots on campus. Found at many other universities across the nation, NPHC Plots usually take the form of structures or spaces on campus designed to represent, and commemorate, the legacy of Divine Nine organizations. Given the storied accomplishments and contributions of NPHC organizations to NC State as a whole, it is only fitting that these organizations have a place on campus to call their own.

For updates about this project, please contact Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

Wellness days serve a critical function and can be very beneficial to students when implemented correctly. On paper, these days are supposed to give students a time to unplug and disconnect from the everyday stressors of student life to prioritize their personal wellbeing. In reality, many students end up using these days as just another work day because of the way in which some professors decide to structure their coursework around the wellness day. For example, if a professor makes an assignment due the day after a wellness day or schedules a test for the day after, a student will more likely than not end up using their allotted time off to prepare for whatever deadline awaits them. In an effort to prevent situations such as these from occurring, Timothy and Allison will advocate for the establishment of university-wide guidelines concerning the scheduling of coursework around wellness days. Students should be able to truly take advantage of this time to prioritize their personal needs, and the Reid-Markert Administration will remain dedicated to ensuring this is the case for our student body.

For more details about this initiative, please contact Department of Wellness Director Ria Bakashi.

In the Fall 2022 wake of calls for social justice, the UNC System Board of Governors established the Racial Equity Task Force. The task force was charged with examining the legacy of racism in North Carolina’s higher education system and proposing actionable steps to close existing gaps in our education system and create a more equitable learning environment for all. As part of its work, members of the task force conducted town hall meetings at various schools across our system, including NC State, to gain insight into the hardships, struggles, and experiences of a diverse array of students. Recognizing that our work to promote a more inclusive educational environment across all of our colleges and academic programs should never cease, Timothy and Allison will work with the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity to organize another series of Racial Equity Town Halls throughout the 2023-24 academic year.

For more information about this initiative, please contact Department of Equity and Accessibility Director Charles Kellon.

Timothy and Allison are strong proponents of a university-wide grading system that is straightforward and structured, yet fair and understanding in its approach. We understand that students face many difficulties and hardships over the course of the semester and that at times, these challenges can take a severe toll on their academic performance. In these circumstances, no student should feel as though they have to choose between their academic performance or their personal wellbeing. In an effort to advance an academic environment that is more empathetic and conducive to the development of the whole individual, Timothy and Allison will champion the expanded use and re-implementation of the Enhanced S/U Grading Option for special circumstances.

For more information about this program and it’s current status, please contact Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

In an effort to better advocate for all students, regardless of background, under the Reid-Markert Administration, Student Government will work to proactively engage minority and historically underrepresented groups in conversations happening both at the student level and at the university level. Additionally, the Reid-Markert Administration will be active in its efforts to include these communities in the work that happens directly within Student Government. This outreach will take place in the form of Town Halls, tabling across campus, and visits to student organizations (as requested by leaders). It is our hope that by being intentional and thoughtful in our approach to this aim, we will create a more welcoming and inclusive Student Government that is truly representative of our entire community.

For any questions and/or information about the strides SG is making in this field, feel free to reach out to Department of Equity and Accessibility Director Charles Kellon.

One of the many advantageous aspects of coming to NC State is our location in the state’s capital and as a result, our proximity to happenings in the political sphere, whether that be on the local, state, or national level. This presents our students with many opportunities, particularly the chance to involve oneself in civic processes and engage in important dialogues across the community. Given the size of our student body and the impact of our actions, especially within the context of elections, the Reid-Markert Administration will commit itself to providing voter and civic engagement opportunities for our student body. These events will focus on voter engagement, civic responsibility, and will give students the opportunity to interact with elected officials and representatives on issues impacting them most directly.

Please direct any questions or comments about this ongoing initiative to Department of Government Affairs Director Matthew McCauley.

The Select Department on Mental Health Intervention was established in November 2022 by the Heavlin-Reid Administration to address student needs concerning the mental health crisis on campus. Since then, the MHI Select Department has worked to determine best practices surrounding suicide prevention, research general mental health initiatives at our peer institutions that have been used to address similar crises, and get a sense of students’ overall desires surrounding student mental health. Last session, the MHI Select Department compiled their findings into a final report with specific recommendations regarding policy changes and sent it to University administration and DASA’s Mental Health Taskforce. In the 103rd Session, the Reid-Markert Administration will re-establish the Select Department on Mental Health Intervention and will remain committed to seeing this important work continue.

For more information about the Reid-Markert administration’s work in this field, please reach out to Student Body President Timothy Reid.

In addition to advocating for increased resources and service capability for our Counseling Center, Timothy and Allison are committed to exploring the possibility of college specific counselors across the university. College specific counselors would be able to more directly relate to and help students address their distinct needs. Additionally, as college specific counselors are hired, this would take some of the demand off of the Counseling Center to provide these services to all students at all times. Timothy and Allison look forward to partnering with additional colleges and the Counseling Center to continue this work and ensure that all students have access to college-specific counseling resources.

For more information about the Reid-Markert administration’s work in this field, feel free to contact Department of Wellness Director Ria Bakashi.

To increase transparency between our administration and the student body, our Chief of Staff will create an in-depth spreadsheet that outlines each initiative the Executive Branch will be working on during the session. There will be clear contact information noted on this document which allows any student or community member to reach out to the respective Director with questions or concerns related to the project. Major developments will be updated by our Executive Chief of Staff.

This page was created to make viewing the current platform progress more viewable, though the Project Tracking Sheet is available via Google Sheets. This page is to be maintained continuously throughout the administration to provide an accessible means of keeping up to date with Reid-Markert administration’s progress.

Understanding that many students face challenges and hardships over the course of their college careers that sometimes prohibit them from performing to the best of their abilities, Timothy and Allison will advocate for the adoption of a university-wide grade forgiveness policy. This forgiveness policy would allow students to retake courses to replace old grades with new ones in GPA calculations. An increasingly common academic practice, many colleges across the nation have begun to implement this policy into their curriculums.

To learn more about this project, please contact Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

Our dining halls offer a variety of meals that are inclusive for students with dietary restrictions and specific palettes every day. However, we do acknowledge the cultural gaps in food offerings that are not uncommon at large universities such as ours that are continually expanding, and welcoming students from all across the world. Understanding this, Timothy and Allison are committed to working with our dining service to become accustomed with more foods unique to different cultures to serve generally, but particularly on meaningful dates and holidays. We know that for many students, food can provide a cultural shock to those becoming familiar with the United States, the South, or even just North Carolina, so we are committed to doing what we can to make NC State feel more like home.

For any questions about this ongoing initiative, please contact Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

The Pack Meal Share Program was established by Student Government to address food insecurity on campus. In recent years, Student Government has partnered with Dining to table around different areas of campus, allowing students to donate their meal swipes to students facing food insecurity. This program has been a glowing success, meeting a real need that too many students at our school face. The only issue with the program in its current implementation is that students can only donate at specific times throughout the year. Food insecurity on our campus continues to remain a prominent issue. Statistics show that nearly 25% of NC State students have experienced food insecurity within a 30-day period. To better address this student need, Timothy and Allison will support and promote the expansion of the Pack Meal Share Program, allowing students on any meal plan to donate meal swipes and dining dollars online at any point throughout the semester.

Please direct any questions about this project to Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

As things currently stand, dining dollars do not carry over from spring semester to fall semester on any available meal plan. This is a huge missed opportunity to help students out by allowing them to save more money and worry a little less. At the end of each spring semester, dining dollars go to waste because there is no current dining dollar carry over. Going into the next session, Timothy and Allison will work with University Dining and relevant officials to advocate for the implementation of a dining dollar rollover from Spring to Fall semesters for the duration of a student’s time at NC State.

For more information about this initiative, please contact Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

Many of us are familiar with the student lottery that is currently used to determine selection for athletics events such as football and basketball games. While this lottery system is something that has been beneficial in the past, we are seeing student frustration grow as it seems that many students are rarely accepted by the lottery and seldom get the chance to experience athletic events, particularly football games. This is a situation that is exacerbated by the fact that our student population is expanding at such a rapid rate. Additionally, the way that the student ticketing process is set up, there are only a certain number of tickets (or seats) reserved for students each game. The rest are set aside for season ticket holders or individuals who would like to purchase tickets. In order to ensure greater student participation in and access to athletic events, particularly football games, Timothy and Allison will work with University Athletics and Student Athletics to advocate for an increased allotment of student tickets at these sporting venues.

For any questions and/or comments about this initiative, please contact Department of Athletics Director Catherine Carter.

Throughout the 102nd Session of Student Government, the Heavlin-Reid Administration worked with the University Transportation Department to collect student feedback regarding transportation on campus. Overwhelmingly, students have communicated that there is a lack of coverage when it comes to the Wolfline and a demand that exceeds supply. The reality is simple: there are not currently enough buses and bus routes to meet the needs of a growing student population that needs to commute daily between different campuses. Increasingly, we see buses at full capacity, having to leave students at the stop to wait for the next bus. Occurrences such as these inconvenience students in a myriad of ways and constitutes an inefficiency that needs to be addressed. That’s why Timothy and Allison will work staunchly to advocate for increased bus routes that better covers the student footprint across campus and ensures a more efficient means of transport for everyone in our campus community.

For any questions about this ongoing initiative, please contact Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

No student should be forced to take up an exorbitant amount in student loans just to be granted a quality education. Unfortunately, this is the reality for far too many of our students. While NC State offers a world-class education and access to a wide array of support-minded resources, we too often fall short when it comes to the financial support offered to students. Once in office, Timothy and Allison will explore additional funding sources for student scholarships and engage in active conversations with relevant officials in the Student Services Center and at the administration level about expanding access to scholarships.

For more information about this, please contact Department of University Affairs Director Maeve Hennessy.

It is a sad reality that a number of buildings on campus are currently named after individuals who held very antiquated and prejudiced views of the world that do not fall in line with the spirit, beliefs, or views of our community today. These individuals are reflective of a very dark and troubled time in our past, and there is no honor associated with the beliefs that they espoused. Throughout the duration of the 103rd Session, Timothy and Allison will work to ensure that these buildings are renamed after individuals whose legacy and life work are more fully representative of the core Wolfpack ideals of integrity and honor.

For questions and/or comments about this initiative, please contact Department of Equity and Accessibility Director Charles Kellon.

In an effort to simplify the student ticketing process and ensure that there is no potential barrier to participation in athletic events for any of our students, the Reid-Markert Administration will engage in conversations with Student Athletics about redesigning the student ticketing website to make it easier to navigate and streamlining the registration process so that new students are able to register their accounts quickly and efficiently.

To learn more about this project and field any questions, reach out to Department of Athletics Director Catherine Carter.

Improving the culture of our NC State Athletics stems from an increased level of WolfPack Pride. Timothy and Allison aim to increase support for student athletes from our dedicated NC State fans through fostering opportunities to show physical student support. We see this being accomplished through ‘Welcome Home’ parades following significant Wolfpack successes, such as wins against rivals, or National Championship victories These events are perfect spaces to promote peer-to-peer bonding and encourage stronger student connection to our institution.

For any questions and/or comments about this initiative, please contact Department of Athletics Director Catherine Carter.