Ongoing UA Services and Initiatives

Fri Apr 21 14:28:34 EDT 2023

TLDR; The UA’s<http://ua.mit.edu/> services and initiatives are ongoing regardless of any changes to its senior leadership. We are dedicated to continuing to support students. An overview of our continued services and work is below, and you can reach us with any questions, concerns, or comments here<http://ua.mit.edu/contactus>.

Hi undergrads,

In light of recent events, we would like to pass along a message that UA Committees’ services and initiatives are ongoing and uninterrupted, being independent of changes that may happen in senior leadership. UA committees are dedicated to supporting the student body, and our efforts will not be disrupted, especially during this time.

For an overview of each Committees’ ongoing services and initiatives:

UA Education<http://ua.mit.edu/education> will continue to resolve academic violations (which can be submitted here<http://ua.mit.edu/policy/violations/>). Additionally, we will be extending our student-faculty meal reimbursements program (the sign up can be found here<https://forms.gle/RnNxqKZyGL6igHg5A>). Furthermore, we are working on a proposal to limit homework assignments due during student/institute holidays, and are actively engaging with professors to gain their support for this important policy change.

UA Public Affairs<http://ua.mit.edu/public-affairs> is continuing its campaign to make Election Day an Institute Holiday, and you can sign their survey gauging students’ input here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0Ir8VO285vFgZAz8m6n5Pb-UMHdH6tVCQnmJXzFXYJjKFuQ/viewform>. They are also building connections with relevant members of the external advocacy network (other university student governments, the Graduate Student Council External Affairs Board, the MIT DC Office), in preparation of advocating policymakers on issues like financial aid and food insecurity. Additionally, they are involved in efforts implementing the recommendations proposed by the 2017 Food Insecurity Solutions Working Group. <https://studentlife.mit.edu/sites/default/files/Documents/FISWGReport.pdf>

UA Involvement<http://ua.mit.edu/involvement> will continue to look for ways to increase undergraduate engagement with the UA. We are currently running a feedback survey with raffle prizes (linked here<https://mit.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_509Ij5uTlTP08Jw>) that is due @ 11:59pm on Saturday, April 22nd. Feel free to reach out to us at ua-involvement at mit.edu<mailto:ua-involvement at mit.edu> in regards to any input towards publicity of the UA.

UA Finboard<http://ua.mit.edu/financial-board> just released Spring cycle allocations and is currently accepting appeals to Spring cycle allocations. Additionally, we just helped co-host a financial training for undergraduate club executives with SOLE.

UA Sustain<http://ua.mit.edu/sustainability> is continuing to involve undergrads in the student gardens and develop our thrift pop-up program. We will be collecting items for Trash2Treasure at the end of the semester in all dorms. We are also working with the MIT Climate Nucleus<https://climate.mit.edu/users/mit-climate-nucleus> on centralizing access to all SEE-related (sustainability, energy, and environment) career/internship opportunities offered by companies to MIT students. Right now, you can find a lot of SEE jobs on the CAPD website<https://capd.mit.edu/channels/energy-environment-sustainability/#uc_jobs_list_widget-4> and on the MIT Energy and Climate Club website<https://mitec-club.org/job-openings>.

UA Student Support and Wellbeing<http://ua.mit.edu/student-support-and-wellbeing> will continue to advocate for mental health services and facilitate conversations between the Division of Student Life (DSL) and undergraduates regarding food security on campus<https://studentlife.mit.edu/fsat>, mental health and counseling, and sexual assault awareness and gender equality. We will also continue to work with DSL to mitigate the effects of the temporary student center closure and plan an improved student center for the fall. We are always here for anyone who needs to talk and needs some extra support right now. You can reach us at: ua-wellness-chairs at mit.edu<mailto:ua-wellness-chairs at mit.edu>. You can also find more information on support initiatives like SwipeShare<https://studentlife.mit.edu/s3/money-food-resources/food-resources> on the DoingWell website<https://doingwell.mit.edu/>.

UA Innovation<http://ua.mit.edu/innovation> is continuing our food insecurity and craft market initiatives. We are hosting food delivery pop-ups to experiment with solutions to food inaccessibility (give us pop-up feedback and ideas here<https://forms.gle/nz6AkK6UpYCH4saZ6>) and cooking pop-ups (get involved here<https://forms.gle/gCtF7E7bDz1HmAfZ6>) to further explore how we can lower the barrier for students to cook. We are also supporting artists from the MIT community with opportunities on campus and in Boston craft markets - come visit the incomm craft market this Saturday, April 22nd and Sunday, April 23 from 12pm- 4pm in Lobby 10 (see creations here<https://tinyurl.com/incomm-craft-market>). Join the <https://groups.mit.edu/webmoira/list/craft-community> craft-community at mit.edu<mailto:craft-community at mit.edu> mailing list<https://groups.mit.edu/webmoira/list/craft-community> for crafting and yarn art workshops and community events. Banana Lounge is also still in service (share feedback here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaLEaMmIpAbzfXMwtVimlt2Q_ikHjodQm6czTzJXVmeAAbnw/viewform>!) Email ua-innovation at mit.edu<mailto:ua-innovation at mit.edu> if you’d like to get involved with any of our initiatives.

UA Community Service<http://ua.mit.edu/community-service> is continuing to work closely with the Priscilla King Gray Center<https://pkgcenter.mit.edu/> to promote public service opportunities for students. Their Community Servings<https://www.servings.org/> service event was yesterday afternoon, and an opportunity to volunteer with Daily Table<https://dailytable.org/> is upcoming on April 29th - you can find the sign up in your dorm spam inbox.

UA Officers<mailto:ua-officers at mit.edu> continue to support the leadership of committee chairs and Institute Committee representatives, and meet with administrators. We are happy to share that our suggestion for free Daily Table<https://dailytable.org/> delivery to campus was accepted (use code 0417MIT26 at checkout), and that students with an exam for the last day of finals will now get one free day of housing extension (request it here)<https://studentlife.mit.edu/extensions>.

The UA committees and leadership are 100+ individuals who are here to be your support network on campus, and we will serve you especially during the stressful end of the semester. For any questions, feedback, ideas, or support, please contact us<http://ua.mit.edu/contactus> and someone will respond within 24 hours!

Best,

UA Officers and Committee Chairs

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