The Student Association is looking to focus on outreach and examine how students, organizations and the SA can work more cohesively and efficiently.

The SA also wants to improve external connections, communications and marketing and finance and operations. SA President Jack Barry has given his directors the task of restructuring operations that will better students’ and student organizations’ relationship with SA.

SA Vice President Kaliah Smith is hosting faculty adviser workshops on Monday and Dec. 3.

During the workshops, the SA will relay information to faculty advisers on how they can help out their organizations.

“We are trying to reach out to the faculty organizations and give them an overview of what the SA expects of them…. Trying to make sure they understand … what the organization [that they advise] is about,” Smith said.

There is an organizational outreach committee that is trying to find ways to satisfy the needs of the student organizations.

“I want the students to know that if they have any suggestions or advice that they are willing to give we are more motivated to making sure that these students are satisfied with their organizations,” Smith said.

Rebecca Clark, SA director of Governmental and Academic Affairs, is focused on the external aspect of this.

Rabecca said her committee’s plan is to go into DeKalb and create relationships with the organizations.

“Why we want the external connections is, just because, you invest your time in DeKalb for four years,” Clark said. “You live here. This is your home. This is the place you stay. If you don’t feel like this is your home than you shouldn’t be going to college here. You are a resident … knowing that it is a place that you have called home at one point in your life.”

Not only is the SA trying to better relationships with DeKalb, it is looking into where its funds are allocated and if they are being used efficiently.

SA Treasurer Ivan Garcia said the SA has authority over $1.5 million in student activity fees. Garcia has been tasked with an initiative from Barry and Mike Theodore, SA chief of staff, who want Garcia to better the allocation of funds.

“It is a really good year for this to be going on since we have the new president, so I think that it’s a great opportunity for us to really take a step back to look to see if there are improvements to make … because that is what we ultimately want. We want the school to get better every year,” Garcia said. “I think this is a great way to start.”

The SA is also looking into ways to publicize its activities and events.

“We are really trying to broadcast a new purpose and, clearly, a new message,” said James Forman, SA director of Public Affairs. “We can change the way people look at the SA.”

The SA’s Public Affairs Committee had a table at DuSable Hall where senators gave out surveys asking students if they are aware of the SA’s existence, and if so what he or she knows about it.

Senator Afreen Warsi said the SA plans to look over the surveys and use them to determine what the students want.

The SA will initiate a plan of action according to the students’ needs based on the survey.