While many students juggle beach days with biology class, some members of Student Government Association are working full time during the summer to make preparations for the fall.
"We are getting everything ready for when the students arrive," said senior accounting major and SGA Chief of Operations Michael Kilbride.
One of the tasks that requires planning is open office hours during the school year.
"We really want students to feel like they can come talk to us," Kilbride said. "We want students to feel comfortable."
Currently, students are able to walk into the SGA office and speak to representatives if necessary. The present administration is planning for officers to devote blocks of time to sit in the student union during busier parts of the day. Students who are coming to the Union for lunch will see the table and be able to stop and speak with SGA members, Kilbride said.
"We are going to go to them too," he said. "It is a two-way street."
The summer months are also being used to plan changes for the SGA Web site.
"We want to make it easier to use — easier to find things," Kilbride said.
Web site alterations include additional contact information and new officer information.
"Hopefully by August it is up and running for students," Kilbride said.
More planning includes SGA President Brian Peterson and Vice President Andrick Lewis attending the Florida Student Association Annual Planning Conference this week in Orlando.
"The FSA lobbies for higher education," Kilbride said.
All of the planning has not altered the SGA environment dramatically.
"It's pretty fast-paced still," Kilbride said. "When fall comes around, it will probably be a little bit faster."
SGA has had to tackle some large issues this summer including Bright Futures changes, tuition increases and degree programs cuts.
"There has been a lot of issues we've had to hit the ground running with," Kilbride said.
SGA's role in the changes on campus is one of advocacy, he said.
"We are working with administration to make every possible cut before faculty and programs get cut," Kilbride said.
Another aspect of the SGA's summer duties includes confirming members.
"Mostly over the summer, the new administration takes over, and they are trying to get their key people into place," said Jennie Hayes, senior SGA member and interpersonal organization and political science major.
Wednesday was the start of the fiscal year for all Florida colleges. SGA begins reviewing the budget during the summer.
"They start working on anything they can," Hayes said.
But not every SGA member is required to work during the summer.
"Depending upon what your position is, you might not start until fall," Hayes said.
Some students are not in Orlando for the summer term and give up their positions temporarily.
"Younger students typically, or new people to SGA, take over the seats for the experience," Hayes said.
The more prominent positions require more commitment during the summer. Those positions include president, vice president, chief of operations, campus life division director, student advocacy division director, government affairs division director, and division of communication director.
"The core leadership positions, pretty much, have been known since the beginning of summer," Kilbride said.
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