Student Senate met for its weekly meeting Thursday, Feb. 14 to discuss multiple topics, beginning with a special order regarding Core program revitalization.
Associate professor of music Dr. Justin Badgerow, with the help of Dean for Curriculum and Honors Dr. Brian Newsome, presented their plan to senators for revising the Core program, since it will be brought to faculty for voting soon. Their plan reduces the program by two credits and creates a tiered system for the courses. This is done by requiring only one science course, and adding a two-credit capstone course.
“The committee has been thinking a lot about Etown’s identity and how the Core could address your strengths as a student and develop a passion for life-long learning,” Badgerow said before the Senate. “We wanted to come to you first before we bring this to faculty. We want to align it more to the mission and identity to Etown.”
The revisions would also rename the requirements for better clarity. These propositions would not affect current students, but Badgerow and Newsome wanted senators’ feedback before presenting it to faculty.
While some senators asked questions regarding service and class requirements, other senators, like senior Senate Treasurer Josh Baker, commended the progress and offered his suggestions.
“The [plans] are excellent,” Baker said. “With all the [plans] you want to put with [course] pathways, make sure the students truly understand it. A very defined [course] map would be helpful.”
Following the special order were administrative reports. A representative of the Center for Student Success reported that seven commuters have taken advantage of the overnight policy during inclement weather. They also said that transfer students not in a First-Year Seminar class were invited to meet with advising for a check-in, which six students have accepted so far. In addition, over 500 students received Kudos within the first half of the early warning report week.
Office/Work Station Manager for Facilities Management Bob Mrgich announced the soft launch of a new work order system. The new process allows students to receive email updates regarding their submissions.
Vice President for Student Life Dr. Celestino Limas finished administrative reports with the results from the housing survey. To begin, Limas had two senators generate randomized numbers that corresponded with survey participants in order to choose five winners of the prizes, which are either free parking or a $100 gift card.
Limas then went question by question with the results and how they affected the plans for future housing. These questions included concerns about where students staying on-campus over the summer will be housed, if student premiums will rise and how the College will determine which students stay where.
The survey had a 45.4 percent response rate (692 responses), which according to Limas is a good survey size.
The survey also asked questions about parking, which Limas will use to create five potential plans for next year. These options will be presented to senators after spring break.
During old business, senators revisited the legislation not passed during their previous meeting. The addition to their constitution was passed with the updated amendments.
Senators finished their meeting with committee and class updates. During this time, the Class of 2021 announced that Etown’s Got Talent auditions were extended again to allow for more submissions.
