Ohio Student Government Summit (OSGS)

Save the Date

OSGS 2025 is tentatively schedule for Saturday Feb. 1st – Sunday Feb. 2nd, 2025! Be sure to mark your calendars and remember to revisit our website for further information. Email usgchiefofstaff@uakron.edu with any questions

What is OSGS?

Ohio Student Government Summit is a student government conference dedicated to bringing student governments in Ohio and neighboring states together to exchange ideas, build connections, and foster development across institutions. OSGS was first held in 2017 as a University of Akron Honors Research Project for a College of Business Williams Honors College student. It has been held annually, excluding 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the pandemic. 

OSGS 2024

Ohio Student Government Summit 2024 was hosted on March 2-3, 2024, and introduced the first ever two-day summit. Original registration of OSGS 2024 included 158 representatives from 17 institutions in Ohio and nearby states, a 38% increase in attendance from the prior year! After a difficult decision to cancel due to weather conditions on the original dates, OSGS was thankfully able to be rescheduled and still welcome 66 representatives from 11 institutions to continue to grow student government organizations to best serve student bodies across the region and foster connections across institutions

OSGS 2024 Theme

The theme for OSGS 2024 is “From Blueprints to Brilliance.” With this theme, we will focus heavily on the building attributes that allow our student governments to excel. We bring three of these attributes to the forefront of our summit:

Building Bridges: An emphasis on forming connections between student organizations, faculty and administration, as well as the general student population. How do we continue to build these relationships from the ground up and support their growth through collaboration and engagement?

Building Foundations: A focus on setting up our student governments for success and ensuring that our organizational structure and members are well-established for this year and the future. How do we set the groundwork to ensure that our organizations and members are built for their role on campus for years to come?

Building Foundations: A focus on setting up our student governments for success and ensuring that our organizational structure and members are well-established for this year and the future. How do we set the groundwork to ensure that our organizations and members are built for their role on campus for years to come?

Thank you to our sponsors!

OSGS 2024 could not be a success without the help of our amazing sponsors. You can read about our sponsors below.

Institute for Leadership Advancement

The Institute for Leadership Advancement offers The University of Akron’s only comprehensive academic and co-curricular leadership programs to students of all academic majors and interests. Established within the College of Business Administration in 2012 through a gift from The J.M. Smucker Company, the Institute for Leadership Advancement was envisioned to develop new leaders who will positively affect business for future generations. Visit the Institute for Leadership Advancement webpage.

Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics

A bipartisan research, teaching and experiential learning institute dedicated to increasing understanding of the political process with special emphasis on political parties, grassroots activity, civility and ethics, and hands-on learning through internships and events. Visit the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics webpage.

Division of Student Affairs

The Division of Student Affairs engages all students in educational, academic support programming, and activities to meet student developmental needs throughout their college experience. Visit the Division of Student Affairs webpage.

Office of Academic Affairs

The Office of Academic Affairs advances our shared goal of excellence in teaching and scholarly research across campus. Visit the Office of Academic Affairs webpage.

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OSGS Awards

Community Engagement Award Indiana University East

Honoring a student government that has actively engaged with impacted the campus and/or local community through events, initiatives, and/or projects.  

Inclusivity & Diversity Award Kent State University

Commending a student government’s efforts to promote inclusivity, diversity, and equity within the student government and/or campus environment.  

Advocacy Impact Award Bowling Green State University

Recognizing a student government that has showed excellence in effectively advocated for important student issues and brought about positive change.  

Collaboration Achievement Award Bowling Green State University

Acknowledging outstanding teamwork and collaboration efforts that have enhanced the effectiveness of student government activities and organization. 

Student Government of the Year Hiram College

Celebrating a student government that has embodied the pillars of the OSGS 2024 theme and worked to bring about the ideas of building bridges, building foundations, and building beyond within their student government and their campus community.  

OSGS 2024 Schedule

Have questions?

usgchiefofstaff@uakron.edu, or 330-780-3966.