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 5 Questions With...
Nicole Kazanecki
President, Towson University
Student Government Association
Q: How do you engage Towson students on issues affecting campus and student life?
A: As the SGA, we try to engage Towson students on issues affecting campus and student life first by being an open, available and transparent SGA. If there is an issue we are dealing with or working on, we make sure to use our outlets of advertising as well as conversations with other campus leaders in order to make the issues more widely known. In addition to this, we discuss various topics at our weekly meetings, with the Student Advisory Council as well as other groups on campus through senatorial assignments and the Council of Student Leaders. The SGA is also responsible for student representation on University Committees, which has been overwhelmingly successful thus far, especially with the created position of a University Committee Liaison who reports to the SGA on a monthly basis.
Q: What are the biggest issues that have faced the SGA this year?
A: I would say the overall theme of the issues we have faced revolve around the student experience. So far this year, we have allocated from our Green fund to a Conserve Campaign, LED lighting and lighting occupancy censors. We participated in Library focus groups in order to evaluate the hours of operation and worked to open the Library earlier in the spring. We have already hosted a Fall Diversity Forum, Fall Sports Pep Rally, Senatorial and Delegate debates, a Town and Gown cleanup and are currently working to host Relay for Life, Tiger Pride Day, a Baltimore SGA Day and more. In addition to this, we are continuing to advocate for students including but not limited to academic concerns and funding at the state level.
Q: What impact do you hope to have on campus with your presidency?
A: I feel as if I have been able to connect with many upcoming student leaders this year and I hope I have inspired them to continue to work for the betterment of the Towson University community in the future. In addition to this, I hope to have our accomplishments from this year remembered as well as the foundation for initiatives to be successful in the upcoming years.
Q: How do you balance student life with your role in the SGA?
A: I am very fortunate to have a large support system in my life whether it be my family, my executive board, other members of the organization or my friends on campus. Because of this, I am able to rely on others if I become overwhelmed and take my own time to complete all of my tasks successfully.
Q: Why is it important to you to be involved in campus leadership?
A: I believe it is important to be involved in campus leadership not only in the SGA, but at Towson University in general because it allows you to discover your potential and become the person you want to be. This institution has so much to offer; taking advantage of the opportunities that are available especially in student leadership is a rewarding and honorable experience that will never be forgotten.
Towson University 2016
Our Continued Commitment to Go Green...
As a signatory of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, Towson University is committed to reducing campus greenhouse gas emissions and exploring new ways to reduce waste and increase recycling. In November 2010, the University named its first Director of Sustainability and three campus buildings are currently slated to be LEED Silver-certified. With 3,500 single-stream recycling containers conveniently located throughout the campus, more than 1,000 tons of material were recycled on campus in 2010. But with a desire to increase campus Go Green efforts even more, Towson recently kicked off the Conserve campaign in partnership with Student Government Association and the University Residence Government which uses marketing decals, contests, electronic ads, and more to shift the campus community culture to focus on taking small, daily steps to conserve and use fewer resources.
2016 Plan | Guiding Principles
New in the News
Read up on the latest higher education issues that have appeared in the news recently:
 Legislative Bills and hearing information
The following bills have been introduced to the legislature recently:
- HB 321 Status as of February 2, 2011: Bill is in the House - First Reading Environmental Matters, Ethics - Financial Disclosure - Fundraising for Nonprofit or Charitable Organization House: Environmental Matters
- SB 725 Status as of February 4, 2011: Bill is in the Senate - First Reading Budget andTaxation, Tuition Cap and College Opportunity Act of 2011
Senate: Budget and Taxation and Education Health and Environmental Affairs
- SB 229/HB 871 Status as of February 2, 2011: Bill is in the Senate - First Reading, Education Health and Environmental Affairs, Education - General Assembly Scholarships - Modification of Programs, Senate: Education Health and Environmental Affairs, Hearing, February 16, 2011 at 1 pm
- HB 932 Status as of February 11, 2011: Bill is in the House - First Reading Ways and Means, Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers (BOAST) in Maryland Tax Credit, House: Ways and Means
- SB 288 Status as of February 2, 2011: Bill is in the Senate - First Reading Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, Higher Education - Cultural Diversity Programs - Reporting Requirements, Senate: Education Health and Environmental Affairs, Hearing, February 16, 2011 at 1 pm
- SB 401 Status as of February 9, 2011: Bill is in the Senate - First Reading Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, Higher Education - Use of State Employees Instead of Service Contracts, Senate: Education Health and Environmental Affairs, Hearing, March 3, 2011 at 1 pm
- SB 695 Status as of February 9, 2011: Bill is in the Senate - First Reading Education, Health and Environmental Affairs, Higher Education - Regulation of Public, Private Nonprofit, and For-Profit Institutions of Higher Education, Senate: Education Health and Environmental Affairs, Hearing, February 23, 2011 at 1 pm
- SB 628 Status as of February 4, 2011: Bill is in the Senate - First Reading Budget and Taxation, State Health and Retirement Benefits - Public Employees and Retirees, Senate: Budget and Taxation
- HB 764 Status as of February 10, 2011: Bill is in the House - First Reading
Appropriations Higher Education - Use of State Employees Instead of Service Contracts, House: Appropriations
- HB 857 Status as of February 11, 2011: Bill is in the House - First Reading Health and Government Operations, Construction Contracts - Hiring Agreement, House: Health and Government Operations
- HB 910 Status as of February 11, 2011: Bill is in the House - First Reading Health and Government Operations, High Performance Buildings Act - Applicability to Recipients of State Aid, House: Health and Government Operations and Appropriations
- SB 222 Status as of February 2, 2011: Bill is in the Senate - First Reading Finance, Procurement - Living Wage - Repeal, Senate: Finance, Hearing, February 17, 2011 at 1 pm
- HB 143 Status as of February 2, 2011: Bill is in the House - First Reading Health and Government Operations, Minority Business Participation - The Ray Haysbert Waiver Disclosure and Termination Extension Act, House: Health and Government Operations, Heard, February 9, 2011 at 1 pm
- HB 451 Status as of February 9, 2011: Bill is in the House - First Reading Health and Government Operations State Government - Council on Efficient Government, House: Health and Government Operations, Hearing, February 23, 2011 at 1 pm
UPCOMING POLICY HEARINGS:
FEBRUARY 15
Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee at 2:15 p.m.
SB 241; Commission to Study Streamlining and Increasing the Efficiency of the
Procurement Process
FEBRUARY 16
Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee @ 1 p.m.
SB 167; Higher Education - Tuition Charges - Maryland High School Students
SB 288; Higher Education - Cultural Diversity Programs - Reporting Requirements
SB 289; Higher Education - Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program - Eligibility
SB 292; Institutions of Postsecondary Education - Falsified Transcripts, Diplomas, and
Grade Reports - Penalties
SB 347; Task Force to Study the Impact of Adjunct Faculty on Graduation Rates at
Historically Black Institutions
For more bill information, please click here.
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