Student representatives ask regents to expand pre‑college outreach, mental‑health resources and career advising in annual report

Student representatives to the Board of Regents presented their 2024–25 system‑wide student report on March 14, calling for expanded pre‑college outreach, more consistent academic advising, increased access to mental‑health services and stronger career and mentorship supports to improve student success before, during and after university enrollment.

Taiwo Aremu, chair of the student representatives, and Pete Smith of the Twin Cities campus described the report’s three themes — building a strong foundation, helping students thrive on campus, and preparing graduates to launch careers — and urged the board to support several practical steps. Specific recommendations included expanding college-fair participation across system campuses, strengthening pre‑college advising and orientation, improving consistency and accountability for academic advisors, increasing meal‑plan flexibility and grocery access, and investing in mental‑health services to reduce wait times.

The student report also urged expansion of field‑specific career advising, stronger mentorship and networking with alumni and industry partners, and more proactive graduate‑school advising. The presentation included a video compilation of campus‑level student government materials.

Student presenters asked the board to consider a small discretionary fund to support the student representatives’ work (for example, producing the annual video report) so that the group does not have to solicit limited student government funds across campuses for routine reporting expenses.

Regents thanked the student representatives for the report and said they planned to route recommendations to the new Board special committee on student success and to consider work-plan follow-up during the next academic year.

No formal vote was taken; the item was an informational presentation from the student representatives.