Local Businesses Relieve Poor College Student Budgets

Ramen noodles and thrift-store shopping may become a matter of choice rather than necessity for college students this year, as the ASU student government works to secure partnerships with local businesses in an effort to restructure the 5-year-old student discount program.

The program was conceived and implemented in 2009 by the former president of ASU’s Student Government Association, and featured open-end contracts with businesses offering various discounts and services at a reduced rate to students with ID.

So far this year, roughly 60 businesses have come on board, and SGA President Jared Goecker hopes to attract even more with a new marketing strategy and restructuring of the program.

“We’ve established clear expectations of what business can expect from us,” Goecker said. “We’ll advertise for them, we’ll push them on social media…”

Participating businesses are pushed both on the SGA’s Twitter and Facebook feeds, and on ASU’s SGA website, he said. Social media marketing has proven highly effective, Goecker said, noting he monitors the reach of ads on the social media sites and keeps track of what students are interested in.

In exchange for discounts and freebies, Goecker explained that the SGA provides participation stickers for store windows, and some receive a free ASU flag the organization asks that businesses fly on game days.

Each agreement is individualized and based upon the business and their capabilities, creating options for participation ranging from percentage discounts to free burritos or drinks with other purchases.

“We have everything from food to clothes to oil changes and iPhone repairs,” Goecker said. “It really kind of reflects the business community in San Angelo when you look at it. It’s such a diverse program.”

Currently, the SGA is working to restructure the program so that participating businesses sign up for six-month or 12-month terms, or take advantage special offers, which may restrict the discounts to specific periods, such as Christmas.

There is no penalty for discontinuing the program, he said, adding that they’ve built in as much flexibility as possible so that business owners can opt to participate based on what best suits them.

Move-in weekend begins on Aug. 22 and classes begin on Aug. 25. For more information on the program or to take part, contact the SGA at 325-942-2063.