Emporia State’s Associated Student Government will be attending Higher Education Day in March at the state’s capital in Topeka, Kansas.
During this trip, students and ASG members will have the opportunity to meet with representatives and discuss issues affecting higher education.
Some of these issues being brought to light include mental health and basic needs for students.
The funding for programs that help support these issues comes from the Kansas Board of Regents. This funding is linked directly to the accessibility students have to Corky’s Cupboard and the Basic Needs Coalition members that strive to help support students on and off campus, according to Lauren Moon, ASG president and junior biology education major.
Eva Noble, legislative director of ASG and sophomore music major, proposed the idea to attend higher education day during the Feb. 3 ASG meeting.
ASG has not been able to go on this trip since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Moon, Noble and other ASG leaders are currently considering creating a form or application that students can fill out explaining why they would like to participate.
“It doesn’t even have to be senators, it can just be anyone,” Moon said. “We’re hoping that we can get some other students, too, that are passionate to come.”
More details for how to get involved are planned to be released to students soon.
Other universities attending will include Kansas State University, University of Kansas, Washburn State University, and Fort Hays State. The current date set for the trip is Mar. 9, and logistics for the trip are being determined within the next few weeks, according to Moon.
In 2019, the Kansas Board of Regents released a statement on their website about the importance that funding for higher education has on student success.
“During the past few months, we have heard from numerous business leaders about a growing talent gap in Kansas. Higher education offers our state the best path towards closing that gap and ensuring prosperity for Kansas families and businesses. State funding is critical to keeping our universities, community colleges and technical colleges affordable and accessible.”
2019 was the last time that a higher education day was held. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not possible for students to attend during the 2020 and 2021 school years.
