Being an MSUSA Officer What Does it Take?

1. Being an MSUSA OfficerWhat Does it Take? What your year will look like if you are elected State Chair, Vice Chair or Treasurer of MSUSA. Studentsbring MSUSA to the next level. Presented by Elsbeth Howe, MSUSA Executive Director

2. 2013-2014 MSUSA Officers

3. What are the Prerequisites? • A few requirements: • Be an enrolled student at a state university • You can’t also hold a position in your university student association • Must maintain good academic standing during your term • A few suggestions: • Time to devote to the position • MSUSA or Student Government experience • (but definitely not required!) • Strong interest in leadership and student issues • Desire to make a difference

4. Thinking About Running in the Future? • Ways to get MSUSA experience: • Join your MSUSA campus committee • Be an MSUSA delegate • Join your university MSUSA lobby corps • Run for your university student government • Shadow an Officer • Intern at the MSUSA office

5. Nomination Process Two methods: • Be nominated! • You can be nominated at the February MSUSA Board meeting or Delegates Assembly meeting. You must still submit application materials by March 12, 2014 . • Nominate yourself! • Submit application materials by March 12, 2014 . Application requirements at http://www.msusa.org/

6. 2013-2014 MSUSA Board

7. MSUSA Events 2014-2015 • May 22: Board Transition Conference, Metropolitan SU • June 12: Penny Golf Scramble, Lake City, MN • July tbd: Staff Retreat • August 11-12: Board Retreat, MSU Moorhead • September 12-13-Campus Committee Conference, SCSU • November 14-16: Fall Delegates, St. Paul • January 8-9: Lobby Training & Campus Committee Conf., WSU • January-May: MN Leg. Session • Feb. 13-15: Delegates Conference, St. Paul • Spring-Washington D.C. Trip • April 17-19-Delegates Conference, Brainerd • May 21: Board Transition Conference, Metropolitan SU

8. State Chair PAID • This is a PAID position • State Chair earns $15,000 during their term • Term is June 1, 2014-May 31, 2015 • Elected by MSUSA Board of Directors in April • Hourly commitment • Varies, average 15-20 hours per week. Includes meetings, work at the office and MSUSA conferences and events. Spring semester requires more time due to the legislative session. • Works best for a student with class and job flexibility

9. Things to Consider for the State Chair • Committed to the mission of MSUSA: • The mission of the Minnesota State University Student Association is to educate and inform students about higher education issues that affect their lives as students, while providing opportunities for these students to use this knowledge to advocate on behalf of all Minnesota State University students • Has enough time to devote to the position • Need to learn all MSUSA governing documents and strategic plan • Represent MSUSA with integrity and knowledge • Be a role model • Stay informed, communicate effectively • Group dynamic skills, meeting management skills

10. Vice Chair • This is a PAID position • Vice Chair earns $10,000 during their term • Term is June 1, 2014-May 31, 2015 • Elected by MSUSA Delegates in April • Hourly commitment • Varies, averages 10-15 hours per week. Includes meetings, work at the office and MSUSA conferences and events. • In the office 1 day per week • It works best for a student with class and other job flexibility PAID

11. Treasurer PAID • This is a PAID position • Treasurer earns $7,000 during their term • Term is June 1, 2014-May 31, 2015 • Elected by MSUSA Delegates in April • Hourly commitment • This varies, it is usually averages to 5 hours per week. Includes meetings, work at the office and MSUSA conferences and events. • In the office 1-2 days per month

12. What does the State Chair do for MSUSA? • Works to achieve board’s objectives (Charting the Future, policy agenda, logo process) • Chairs the Board of Director’s meetings • Serves as chief spokesperson for MSUSA, this means: • Doing media interviews • Lobbying • Testifying at legislative hearings (scheduled and unscheduled) • Present reports at MnSCU Board of Trustees meetings • Serving on MnSCU committees • Serve on Student Advisory Committee to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education • Appoint students to committees

13. What does the State Chair do for MSUSA-cont’d • Events • Attends all MSUSA official functions • Administrative items, this includes: • Reviewing agenda and minutes • Attends staff meetings • Authorize expenditures • Prepares a final recommendations for incoming board

14. Testimony to U.S. Congress • 2012-2013 State Chair, Moriah Miles testifying before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training on April 16th, 2013. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_N6618uaTw&feature=c4-overview&list=UUp_KRZ6rGSqwNChOjIUIMgw

15. Testimony to the Minnesota Legislature • MSUSA 2012-2013 State Chair, Moriah Miles testifies before the MN Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee about the importance of making reforms to the MN State Grant Program to allow more equity for working part-time students on April 3, 2013. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_N6618uaTw&feature=c4-overview&list=UUp_KRZ6rGSqwNChOjIUIMgw

16. Profile of an Ideal State Chair • In the MSUSA office one to two days a week • Able to testify at MnSCU once a month • Able to serve on a MnSCU committee • Able to testify at the legislature during the spring semester • This testimony can come up with very little notice • Able to respond to media requests as needed • Communicates with the board of directors on a regular basis • Class load permits these duties • No more than 10 hours a week at another job

17. What does the Vice Chair do for MSUSA? • Vice Chair fills in for State Chair when needed or requested • Chairs the 3 Delegates assembly meetings • Chair the Internal Affairs committee • Co-Chair of MSUSA Alumni Board

18. What does the Vice Chair do for MSUSA-cont’d • Responsible for supervising MSUSA’s campus committees • Coordination of communication among seven schools • Serves a resource for committees • Creates methods to improve committee success • Works closely with Director of Campus Organizing • Events • Attends all MSUSA official functions • Administrative items: • In the office a day a week • Attends staff meetings • Authorize expenditures • Assists with planning state and federal lobby events

19. What does the Treasurer do for MSUSA? • Guides MSUSA’s financial status: • Chair the Fiscal Committee • Authorize expenditures • Monitor campus committee budgets • Be the liaison between the accountant and the board • Oversee monthly financial reports • Assist staff in financial aspects of state and federal lobbying • Update board on spending • Provide financial forecast data on budget line items • With staff prepares next year’s budget • Present audit with the staff

20. What does the Treasurer do for MSUSA-cont’d • Events • Attends all MSUSA official functions • Performs duties as assigned by the board or state chair • Administrative items include: • Attends staff meetings • Assists with planning state and federal lobby events

21. MSUSA Income and Expenses

22. What’s In it For Those Elected Officers? • Experience and skills in: • Networking with students from all state universities and all sectors in Minnesota, MSUSA alumni, higher education professionals and elected officials; • Public speaking and testifying • Media relations • Nonprofit administration • Mentoring relationships • Experience in professional office setting • Possible internship credits Alumni tell us that their officer experiences were invaluable to their future success

23. Questions? Email: ehowe@msusa.org Cell: 651-260-1434 Twitter: @ElsbethHowe