Brent Pierce
candidate for Online Student Senator

My name is Brent Pierce, and I am seeking the position of Online Student Senator. For some background, I am a lawyer and a Hoosier…try your best not to hold them against me! I am currently a first year student in the University of Illinois at Springfield online Masters of Public Administration program.

I am running for Online Student Senator because I believe that, as a growing constituency, online students need adequate representation in student government. As the traditional student base expands to include online students from virtually anywhere on the globe, it is important to be sure that online students have an advocate to voice our concerns and look out for our best interests.

I was drawn to the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) because of the reasonable “e-tuition,” the convenience of online learning, and the reputation of the University. As the number of institutions that offer similar online degrees continues to grow rapidly, it is important for UIS to continue to present itself as an affordable, convenient, and reputable alternative. The Online Student Senator should play a key role in this by voicing the concerns of current online students in an effort to help the University create the best possible environment for an online education.

I believe that I am well-suited for this role because of my education and professional experiences. As an undergraduate student, I was elected to student government, and have experience acting as a representative for my class. As an attorney, I take very seriously the role of advocate and I understand the importance of having one’s voice heard. In sum, it would be a great honor to serve as Online Student Senator. The position is vital to the interests of online students, and I believe I would be a sound advocate. Thank you.