Meeting Highlights: SGA, Oct. 3
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| (Source: Student Government Association At UT-Tyler Facebook.) |
The Student Government Association (SGA) at UT-Tyler met for its weekly meeting on Oct.3. Here are some highlights from this meeting.
Tidwell Cancelled
UT-Tyler President Michael Tidwell cancelled his previously scheduled appointment to speak to SGA about rebranding, Swoop and the strategic plan shortly before the meeting started due to an emergency, SGA President Savannah Seely told the assembly.
Tidwell sent a member of his president’s cabinet, Provost Amir Mirmiran, who gave SGA an update on the strategic plan instead. SGA did not announce when and if Tidwell will speak in the future. Based on the enthusiasm Mirmiran said Tidwell has for student input, it seems Tidwell will reschedule his visit to SGA.
As a result of Tidwell's absence, the Student Affairs Committee did not present is draft resolution that would confront administration over what the assembly last week viewed as "inadequate student input" in rebranding decision. Committee chair said members wanted to hear Tidwell at SGA's weekly meeting because its resolution language is "aggressive."
Braelyn Seely will fill former Vice President Katie Hicken's vacated officer seat, President Savannah Seely announced. Braelyn Seely, who served as Secretary, fills the Vice President role by succession according to SGA bylaws.
Hicken resigned from SGA earlier this week citing concerns for mental health and acceptance of a new research internship with UT-Tyler's Political Science Department.
Braelyn Seely said she chose leave the Secretary role and accept the Vice President role because she is "more than qualified," passionate about planning events and did not feel fulfilled in her role as Secretary.
Seely ran unopposed for Secretary in Spring 2018.
Secretary Election Next Week
Seely's acceptance vacates the Secretary seat which will now fill by internal senator elections, according to bylaws.
Sen. Jimmy Counihan (Liberty Landing) nominated Senators Macy Anne Williams and Hannah Cooper. Sen. Caleb Morrison (Student Body At Large) nominated Sen. Blake Hendricks (Soules College of Business).
President Seely announced the executive board will limit acceptable nominations for Secretary to senators with at least six weeks SGA experience, citing ease of training new individual.
Counihan pushed back some on executive board's decision and asked that official deem all senators qualified, referencing the bylaws.
President Seely stood firm on her decision and cited that SGA Advisor Joshua Neeves held the same interpretation. Seely advised Counihan that he could appeal the decision to SGA's Judicial Board, which is student government's judiciary (court).
President Seely said the assembly will vote next week by secret ballot after speeches from the three nominated candidates.
Freshman Retention, Graduation Rates Up
Mirmiran told SGA that UT-Tyler exceeded its highest freshman retention rate last year by approximately three percent. Mirmiran attributed the retention to higher advisor involvement, a new focus under UT-Tyler’s new strategic plan.
He also said the University four- to six-year graduation rates are up by two and six percent respectively and that the highest growth for the institution is among Hispanic students.
Graduation rates include those students who begin at UT-Tyler and transfer to another state institution, the provost said.
In addition to the president’s focus on advising, Mirmiran told SGA that the university created a “Patriot Strong Team,” a cross-functional work group that includes representatives from Financial Aid, advising and other stakeholders to help any student who is struggling.
Research Conference In May
UT-Tyler will hold its first research conference in May. UT-Tyler will partner with UT Health East Texas and Jarvis Christian College, he said. Mirmiran encouraged interested students to communicate with their professors.
Online Proctoring Update
Mirmiran confirmed Seely’s previous reports that the University has created a university-wide committee for the purpose of establishing school strategy for online proctoring.
The committee has three goals, he said: that students do not have to pay a fee to proctor an online exam, that the student knows about the presence of online proctoring for a class before the class begins and that if the student transfers to another class, the protoring platform does not change.
Students who are interested in serving on the Protoring Committee should contact Sen. Hannah Cooper at HCooper5@patriots.uttyler.edu. Participants do not have to be an SGA member.
Disc Golf Course
Student Adam Biesiadny, representative of the Disc Golf Club at UT-Tyler, asked student government to pay for upgrades to the disc golf course.
According to Biesiadny, SGA started the disc golf course in 2006. It currently maintains a 3.2 rating out of five points by disc golfers on a popular review website.
Biesiadny said the course has hazardous pads, rusty baskets and missing tee signs among other things. He asked SGA to replace the baskets at roughly $5,000, install concrete tee pads at roughly $1,400 and replace six tee signs at roughly $60 per sign.
The Disc Golf Club started this semester, has 10 members and meets on Fridays for disc golf, Biesiadny said.
Seely said she would like to see the university’s Space Committee designate the entire course as an official space so that the university does not move the holes in the future.
SGA took no action on Biesiadny’s funding request.
BLOG REACTION:
Biesiadny's presentation was informative and well cited with pictures and evidence of specific needs. Rather than going through SGA, Biesiadny should seek the money through the Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC) in the form of a one-time appropriation for all necessary upgrades.
However, since the disc golf course seems to be part of Recreational Sports (RecSports), it may fall under the Recreational Facility Fee which is already going to many HPC needs.
Open Gates At Victory Village
President Seely said during a report from the Victory Village senator that the gates at the housing complex remain open because there are still some tenant with leases from before UT-Tyler bought the location. Therefore, gates will remain open until their lease terms end.
Student Voice Report Follow-Ups
Sen. Macy Anne Williams (Soules College of Business) reported that she made contact with someone in the I.T. Department about malfunctioning projectors and screens in the new business building and that he reported will offer training for professors on how to use the system.
The Patriot Village senator was absent.
Counihan, the Liberty Landing senator, said he plans to meet with a residential advisor within the week to discuss housing-specific issues at Liberty Landing.
Committee Reports
The Student Affairs Committee did not week for the third week in row. Former Vice President Katie Hicken chaired the committee.
The Student Government Appropriations Committee (SGAC) granted funds to both The Math Club and The Ecological Society. The amounts were inaudible.
The Rules Committee Chair Sean Coplen announced it will delay its draft resolution on student input as this report mentions above.
One person attended the ad hoc Sidewalk Committee this week, Chair Macy Anne Williams announced. Its first meeting was Sept. 26.
New Senator
SGA swore-in one new senator for Student Body At Large. Mark Stewart is an Information Technology student with interests in film. He said trained as a yoga instructor in India and returned to the UT-Tyler to pursue I.T.
Students For Medical Services Committee Needed
President Seely called for student volunteers to serve on the Medical Services Fee Committee, a committee that oversees the expenses and recommends the amount of the mandatory $36 per semester Medical Services Fee.
The University proposed increasing the Medical Services Fee in its recent tuition increase proposal.
Interested students may contact President Seely at sseely@uttyler.edu.
Twitter: @jhescock
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