This document outlines Howard University's "SHIFT" agenda proposed by HUSA presidential candidate Leighton Watson and vice presidential candidate Ikenna Ike. Their platform focuses on increasing graduation rates, improving academic advising, strengthening the Howard history curriculum, enhancing technology and sustainability on campus, improving campus safety, and proposing a new formula for the Voting Rights Act. Their goals include raising graduation rates, expanding course offerings, installing wireless printers and charging stations, promoting sustainability, and coordinating discussions on gun violence. They also aim to improve customer service, study spaces, and create mechanisms for student accountability of HUSA's work.

1. S H I F TIT’S TIME TO SHIFT!
HOWARD UNIVERSITY AGENDA
ACADEMIC RENEWAL
Currently, Howard University has a four year graduation rate of 45 percent and a
six year graduation rate of 63 percent. It is our goal to increase
graduation rates, retention rates and improve our university’s
national ranking.
4 YEARS 6YEARS
Academic Advising
We will work with Faculty Senate to ensure Advisory Training is mandatory and find a consistent
student to advisor ratio to implement across campus.
Howard History Curriculum
It is vital that all HU students understand the significance of the ground we walk on. We will
implement, in each school’s freshman orientation, a HU curriculum that sheds light on the history
of excellence of our institution.
Variety
We will be committed to expanding course choices for students who want a more
comprehensive, well-rounded
academic experience.

2. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
In the academic community we live in today, the marriage between education and
technology is ever bonding. Howard University, as the capstone and in her pursuit to
endlessly progress, must unite the two on her campus in every beneficial
manner that presents itself.
Wireless Printers
Charging Stations
Smart Boards
Res-Nets
We will place 12 wireless printers on campus;
one in each academic hall and two others in
either the Blackburn Center or Founders for students
who do not reside in on campus dormitories. Students will be able
to print from their smart phones, tablets, and laptops to any of
the 12 wireless printers on campus.
We are committed to continuing the spread of
reliable WiFi connections on campus
we will not only continuously
identify the dead zones,
but also fix them.
In collaboration with Enterprise and Technology
Services, students will be able to access a
full service digital printing facility
that offers professionally printed
materials in the iLab.
Computer and printing centers in each of the
dormitories will be available. This will
ensure that students have a place
(that is also open 24 hours a day) to
study and complete assignments
outside of the iLab.
We will place charging stations strategically across campus:
focusing on high traffic congregational areas. Students
will be able to charge their electronic devices, for free,
using a reliable energy source.
WiFi
HU Graphics & Printing Center in the iLab
Removal of Dorm Room Phones
We will advocate for the purchase of
Smart Board interactive whiteboards
in order to help improve
learning outcomes.
The dorm room phone has become outdated and cost inefficient. Most students that live in dormitories do not use
these phones and we will petition to get these phone lines removed from residence halls. In addition this initiative will
be saving the university nearly one million dollars.

3. SUSTAINABILITY
As an institution with a legacy of leadership, it is once again time Howard takes her
proper role leading universities across the country . We must set the bar high in
everything sustainable.
LEED Certification
Construction of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Certified facilities will be requested of administration. By simply adhering to a
checklist provided by the U.S. Green Building Council and ensuring new
establishments are registered, Howard University would not only lower its
carbon footprint but also save the University money in the long run.
Hydration Stations
Farmer’s Market
Cost-Efficient Light Bulbs
In conjunction with the Office of Sustainability, we are installing 14 Hydration
stations across campus and 2 Waterless Bottle Coolers. They will be placed in
each academic building on campus.
We propose a farmer’s market to be placed on campus each week providing
fresh fruits and vegetables for students looking to make healthier food choices­
goods will be sold to students at a reasonable price and a percentage of the
proceeds would go back to Howard for the continuation of the
Howard University Community Garden.
We will work with Facilities Management to replace traditional light bulbs with
Halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs, LED bulbs and high efficiency
incandescents.
Motion Sensor Lighting
Hundreds of thousands of dollars are wasted, annually, on lights simply being
left on in the dorm rooms. We are committed to installing motion sensor lights
in the dorm rooms.
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4. Classroom Conditions
HU Shoutouts
Improve Study Space
HU Promotional Videos Who’s Next Campaign
Internship Emails
Improving Workout Spaces
Customer Service
We will have a comprehensive review of classroom
conditions across campus and present our finding to Facilities
Management. We will then conduct a restoration initiative:
prioritizing the restoration process of each academic hall on
campus.
If you have a good experience with an administrator, faculty, or staff
we think everyone should know about it. We will publish weekly “HU
Shoutouts” in the Hilltop, publicising and encouraging good customer
service actions. You would state the individual’s name, position, and
a short description of the individual and the person with the most
“Shout Outs” will get an award at the annual Bison Ball.
In the absence of the Undergraduate Library, other spaces need
to be available for students to utilize. We are committed to making
Health Sciences open up 24 hours.
In the aim of attracting top tier students to Howard University
and increasing our national ranking, we will produce
Howard University promotional videos.
Similar to the national “Who’s Who” campaign, we will
start a campaign to find those Howard
Students who are making exceptional strides
in their personal career as well
as in the community.
Each week HUSA will send out general internship emails
pertaining to all schools and colleges to students who are
looking for job or internship opportunities
in the DC area.
We are committed to providing a 24 hour workout
space on campus.
We will create the Howard University Student Engagement
and Customer Service (HUSECS) initiative is to identify
opportunities and implement strategies to improve
faculty/student/staff relationships, communication,
systems, culture and expectations.
Revered as much as her name, the “Howard Experience” is the memory
of Howard that we will all take with us long after we’ve left The Hilltop. We
want to ensure that students graduating the university with Howard in their
highest regard and returning as exultant and
benevolent alumni.
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

5. CAMPUS SAFETY
Security at Howard is both a basic right and a communal responsibility. Hence, both
proactive and reactive measure must be taken. The Shift Campaign seeks to enact
new, innovative measures to bolster protection and increase efficiency.
HU Police Department
In an attempt to create a more efficient safety force on campus we will
identify and address the inefficiencies that persist in the Police Department.
We will push for the creation of a HU Police Application.
HU Alerts on Arrests and Convictions
HU Police App
Opt-Out Opt-In Alerts
The Howard University Police Department will send follow up alerts of arrests,
trials, and convictions. This is one way of measuring the effectiveness of our
campus police and an opportunity for them to show students the work they do.
We will make the HU Alert System an OptOut system rather than an OptIn
one. Students will automatically receive the HU Alerts to the student emails
and phones and in order to end this service the student would have to seek
out campus police and ask to be removed from the list.
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6. NATIONAL AGENDA
Providing a new formula for Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act
HUSA will work with the debate team to recruit a task force of the top political thinkers on campus to
debate, research, analyze, and create a new formula for section 4 of the Voting Rights Act. We will
propose our formula for the states that need pre-clearance to Congressional Black Caucus for their
consideration and guidance.
Reducing Gun Violence
Leighton Watson
HUSA Presidential Candidate
Ikenna Ike
HUSA Vice-Presidential Candidate
In light of the recent tragedies, nationally and on Howard’s campus, gun violence must be a focus of the
Howard University Student Association. We will coordinate panel discussions with members of congress,
pop culture icons, and those impacted by gun violence to not only discuss the issue, but create tangible
and specific legislative actions. More than that, we will invite the community to these discussions and make
a concerted effort where both parties understand eachother’s challenges.
S H I F T
IVGEN DESIGNS WWW.IVGENDESIGNS.COM
Internal Changes & Accountability
Collaboration
We will create a shared agenda with the Board of Trustees, President, CFO, Provost and
Faculty Senate etc. Each agenda will be individually tailored towards the scope of the
administrator’s position; however, each agenda will emphasize enhancing the
student experience.
Students will be able to hold HUSA accountable through:
A semesterly HUSA Report Card
A monthly Video Address
A State of the Mecca Address and
The publication of Platform