Reflections on the Phenomenon of Work Slackening Among Award-Winning University Student Cadres and Countermeasure Research

Abstract

Student cadres serve as a crucial force in university campus governance, cultural development, and the cultivation of academic ethos. They play key roles in campus administration, academic atmosphere construction, and university-industry collaboration practices. The initial purpose of merit-based recognition and incentive systems is to encourage student cadres to assume responsibilities and exemplify leadership. However, a phenomenon has been observed where some student cadres at this institution exhibit a decline in performance after receiving university or college-level “Outstanding Student Cadre” honors, manifesting as negative work attitudes, reduced efficiency, and diminished team collaboration effectiveness. This not only hinders the cadres’ own development of applied competencies but also impacts the execution of various university tasks. Grounded in the practical context of student cadre work at Huaiyin Institute of Technology, this paper analyzes the significance of enhancing student cadre work enthusiasm from three perspectives: “personal growth,” “campus development,” and “talent cultivation.” Subsequently, addressing the characteristics of engineering students and shortcomings in existing management mechanisms, it proposes pathways—from the “individual,” “institutional,” and “environmental” dimensions—to strengthen value orientation, sustain motivation, and foster a supportive atmosphere, thereby promoting continuous advancement among student cadres and improving the overall effectiveness of student affairs at the institution.