On Monday, February 13, Interim President Ronald A. Johnson and SGA President Savion
Briggs hosted the first 鈥淟eaders-to-Leaders鈥� summit giving an opportunity for clear
communication and dialogue between KSU鈥檚 administrative leadership and student leaders.
The discussion centered around campus issues and the challenges facing KSU as per
House Bill 250, and our solutions reframed around the 鈥淎n Intended Future for KSU鈥�
narrative. 鈥淭he summit is now a permanent fixture and provides a more formal line
of communication with our students, and student townhalls will follow each summit,鈥�
said Interim President Johnson.
Student and campus leaders introduced themselves and shared their backgrounds. Interim
President Johnson set the tone of the meeting from the start with a focused agenda
and the campus road map to sustainability. Next, the leaders engaged in productive
dialogue centered around three essential questions:
- How can we improve our mental health services to help students in crisis and to ensure students feel supported and have a sense of belonging to persist through the attainment of their degree?
- How can students support the 鈥淜SU Intended Future鈥� narrative during Spring 2023?
- How can KSU better prepare students and families for the transition from high school to college, including applying for financial aid, the steps involved in the application process for college, providing early information, and making student orientation more interactive and reflective of the student experience?
There were occasional laughs, but those in attendance talked about the campus community鈥檚
serious issues, including the lack of HBCU culture, a sense of acceptance and belonging,
and student mental health and wellness.
Interim President Johnson and his leadership team took questions from student leaders,
and SGA President Briggs noted that the discussion was open and honest. 鈥淭here is
still a lot of work to be done, but today is a move in the right direction.鈥�
The students all expressed a renewed sense of hopefulness and energy. 鈥淚 feel motivated,
knowing working together, we can accomplish more to ensure students have an opportunity
to amplify the voices of those who feel unheard or struggling to establish a sense
of belonging,鈥� expressed SGA President Briggs.
The next KSU leaders-to-leaders meeting will be decided after a student town hall
meeting on February 28th, which will help campus leaders plan more efficiently for
the next semester. In addition, student and administrative leaders are eager to engage
in more effective communications and joint actions to ensure students have access
to the resources needed to support a well-rounded academic experience and campus life,
including mental health and wellness.
Interim President Johnson is already planning what we can do for the next semester
and how to bring awareness to the issues facing our campus community.