Students United 2021-2026 Strategic Plan:

The 2021-2026 Students United Strategic Plan was devised through a series of group and individual meetings between stakeholders. Our guiding philosophies are cemented in student voice, student leadership, and student development. Our strategic advocacy policy platforms for higher education are affordability, accessibility, and addressing JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion). Our two key themes, which transcend all policy and program areas, are 1. Black Lives Matter, and 2. Covid Pandemic Impact and Response. Click here to read our full strategic plan.

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MISSION 

Led by Minnesota State University students, we are the inclusive voice for all future, current, and former students. We actively work to represent and support Minnesota State University students and advocate at local, system, state, and federal level for higher education policies that make a positive impact for our students and communities.  

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VISION 

Our vision is to create the model of inclusive higher education policies and leadership. Our goal is to ensure higher education is rooted in student voices and student needs. Student leaders at all decision-making tables strengthen student advocacy, which creates a more robust higher education system and community.  

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VALUES 

Student Voice  
Thought Leaders  
United Leadership  
Diversity  
Equity and Inclusion 
Next Level Thinking  
Tangible Advocacy  
Student Leadership 

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Definitions

PROGRAMS: Student Leadership includes the cost of development, training, and support of student fellows, board members, and officers. The student leadership program provides a school-year-long fellowship with internship placements and a development curriculum that serves to empower and equip students to grow and apply these skills in their future careers. Major cost categories are human capital, intern/officers' wages, board meetings, contractors, trainers, speakers, and events.

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Student Advocacy includes advocacy costs at the Minnesota State Colleges and University system, state government, and federal government levels. Major cost categories under each program are human capital, public relations, rent and supplies, technologies, transportation, travel, lodging, and materials. 

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• System Advocacy: System Advocacy mainly consists of participation in Minnesota State System office meetings, committees, workgroups, councils, student testimonies, Board of Trustees meetings, and daily groundwork, [including compensation for students/participants in these events/committees]. In FY23, we are advocating for students to have the power to choose an appropriate level for the Student Life / Activities Fee at each of the seven universities, establishing base funding for each on-campus food pantry, creating and maintaining inclusive learning options for students, including Hyflex, and asynchronous/synchronous courses, establishing the International Health Care Advisory Committee and continuing work as part of the Equity 2030 coalition.  

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• State Advocacy: State Advocacy mainly consists of State Advocacy Day, Federal Advocacy Week in DC, legislative committees, lobbying, and daily groundwork. In FY23, we are bringing students from the seven universities to the Capitol to advocate for the Minnesota State biennial budget request, efforts to end hunger on college campuses, increased mental health resources, supporting resources for period equity, and empowering student voices through improved voter registration policies.

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• Federal Advocacy: Federal Advocacy mainly consists of the Washington D.C. Fly-In, where students advocate on higher education issues to members of Congress and their staff members. Students also hear from higher education policy experts and gain additional insight into federal policy work. This also includes the cost of any additional federal-level advocacy and daily groundwork. In FY23, we are supporting a full reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, increasing the Pell Grant, TRIO Program funding, increasing mental health resources, and strengthening student voice through increased ballot access. 

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Student Organizing: Includes the Students United Advocacy Conference and the cost of building our campus presence through campus meetings and outreach. Major cost categories under each program are human capital, rent and supplies, technologies, transportation, meals, lodging, materials, and public relations.    

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• Students United Advocacy Conference: Students United Advocacy Conference is held fall semester to help get students engaged early in the academic year. There is generally a keynote speaker, panels, small group sessions, breakout discussions among students, and a town hall to gather student feedback about the issues they care about. It allows students to provide valuable insight to the Board of Directors and provides a space to learn exciting and meaningful skills and information they can apply as they return to campus and engage in their collective advocacy priorities. 

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• Officer Travel: Students United’s officers visit each of 7 university campuses to organize students, outreach for Students United, and meet with major stakeholders to progress advocacy issues. 

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FUNDRAISING: Fundraising focuses on funding programs, engaging alumni, and deepening understanding of Students United's work in our communities. Fundraising efforts include seeking grants, meeting with individual donors, fundraising events, and engaging partners/sponsorships.

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OPERATIONS:  This is the base level of what it costs to operate the business. Major cost categories are human resources, rent, supplies, technologies, subscription and membership, insurance, bank service charges, and operations contracted services. 

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PUBLIC RELATIONS: This is the cost of advertising, merchandise, our website contract, communication services, social media, and more. 

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Why do “True Program Costs” matter? 

• Long-term planning is essential for nonprofits to maintain financial health and stability. True Program Costs ensure programs match the nonprofit’s mission and stakeholder wants. Understanding the actual costs of programs and their social return on investment helps organizations fundraise appropriately, connect to the mission, and deliver what the stakeholders want. This allows nonprofits to better plan and make wise choices about supporting mission work. Knowing the true costs of our programs will enable us to make more informed decisions that lead to mission and financial success. You can read more about this here.

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• Students United employs full-time professional staff. From the nonprofit perspective, 75% of the staff’s work goes directly towards student programming and organizing.

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• Technology, rent, and public relations is also a shared expense and split between each category.

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• As Students United is a nonprofit with a full-time staff this includes the expenses it takes to run the nonprofit.