By: Mira Costello
Editor-in-Chief
The Student Government Association met for their second-to-last session of the semester on Dec. 6 to discuss ongoing projects, personnel appointments and Student Activity Fee funding.
President Chloe Garner noted that the SGA will extend the opportunity to receive funds from the Student Activity Fee budget to three new departments: the Center for Understanding, Belonging and Experiences (CUBE), the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Schurz Library. Other typical SAF fund recipients include non-academic departments such as student journals, The Preface, athletics, Titan Productions, SGA, the Office of Student Life and more.
The SGA also discussed two proposals for larger student-advocacy projects, which they will vote on at their final meeting on Dec. 13, as senator attendance at the Dec. 6 meeting fell below quorum. The present members agreed that they will likely move forward with their Creative Collaborations initiative, which will see the SGA working with Creative Dining Services to improve their reputation on campus, make prices more accessible to students and feature more diverse dietary options.
The other project, a community clothing closet to provide students with free business attire, will begin development as a secondary priority, according to President Garner.
Vice President David Saleh reported that the SGA has three vacant senator positions and hopes to fill them all by Jan. 1, 2025. The group heard an introduction from senator candidate AJ Bedock, a freshman finance major who said he is interested in mental health advocacy and helping busy students have a fulfilling college experience through campus involvement. The present members were in favor of his appointment, but the vote will be delayed until quorum is reached at the next meeting.
Jill Pearon, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, also visited the SGA to discuss the Low-enrolled Management Plan. Pearon explained that the university would like to see all classes at at least 75% capacity, a standard not broadly met right now.
Programs are evaluated for the LMP based on eight criteria: enrollment trends, graduation rates, program costs, collaborative potential, service to the campus and community, program achievement and strategic importance, which Pearon defined as “consideration of the program’s alignment with the university’s mission and strategic goals.”
She shared data about student enrollment across various majors and minors, noting that of seven programs reviewed for the LMP this fall, only two majors are currently in the program: Special Education and Healthcare Management.
Pearon said she believes these programs are important, so she emphasized that the university and faculty will work to pursue options other than eliminating programs, such as turning a major into a track, sharing faculty or courses with other departments or campuses, creating an online program or significantly changing the curriculum to increase enrollment and retention.
President Garner asked Pearon how the university has included student input in low-enrolled program decisions. Pearon said that the LMP is faculty-led because it involves curricula, which the university does not control, but that she would encourage faculty to create opportunities for students to comment on low-enrolled program management.
Students interested in applying for vacant positions in the SGA can contact President Chloe Garner at [email protected].