This Week In Student Government - Oct. 17

 

 

(Source: via Flickr)

Here is a recap of The Student Government Association at UT-Tyler's Oct. 17 meeting. 

Summary

This week, student government heard from your humble correspondent (this author), Career Services and elected new senators to the senate. Also, it approved a survey for a snack machine for energy bars in the gym. That's about it! No student voice reports this week. 

Open Forum: 

This author spoke at student government's open forum segment to exhort it to take up its role of advocacy for student concerns. I told the assembly that opinion leadership is the best and most important form of leadership the body can take. You can read a full review of my speech here. 

Speaker's Podium: Director of Career Success Leah Velarde, M.S., BCC

Ms. Velarde gave an overview of The Career Success Office. She said the office has career success coaches who want to help students with their career success. Velarde said the team can help with resume reviews, how to write cover letters, mock interviews and offer career assessments to help students know what they want to do.

Handshake, the online job posting website, is "the number one way college students find jobs", she said. "Obviously, we push and support Handshake." 

She also said her office is launching the first UT-Tyler-issued career-ready microcredential. Recipients can post this credential on their Linked-In profile and use it as a way to stand-apart. 

Career Fairs will occur for Education & Psychology on November 6 and Houston Engineering fair on November 9 in Houston. "There's no better way to start networking and introducing yourself to employers than going to the career fairs," she said. Students can find every employer that will be at the fairs in Handshake before they attend. 

Career Conversations will occur this year. Writing a Winning Resume workshop will be in the Ballroom on November 2 and Navigating Graduate School application will be a virtual event with the link for this event in Handshake. 

Verlarde also spoke of UT-Tyler's Career Success Conference which occurred Thursday. 

Her office also has a Career Closet. Donations supply the closest with professional wear, such as jackets and other clothing. She said that she received the idea from a previous meeting student government. The Closet is in the career office across from Subway in the University Center. 

Career Success and its events are also on social media, she said. 

Career Coaches go through a 30-hour career coaching course when then onboard and have a background in career coaching before they join the staff team. Others are going through their education to obtain their masters degree, if they do not have them already, she said. 

Officer Reports:

  • President Dix - Met with faculty senate president. Got pizza ordered for midnight midnight breakfast. Emailed Bonnie about recycling concerns.
  • Vice President Carnes - Midnight Breakfast has "consumed most of my life."
  • Secretary Henry - Helping with Midnight Breakfast. Posting on Instagram; flyers.
  • Treasurer Peters - Answering questions from student organizations about funding. Coordinating meeting with three student organizations in SGAC this week.
  • Chief of Staff Tropp - Rules meeting Thursday at 3:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Committee Reports -

  • Events Committee- Has 19 organizations signed up for midnight breakfast.  
  • Communications Committee- Talked about Midnight Breakfast at its meeting. 
  • Appropriations Committee - Voted to approved $94.89 to American Society of Mechanical Engineers for its guest speaker event on Nov. 12. Also approved $78.82 for The Muslim Student Association for its general body meeting. [No date mentioned].
  • Environmental Sustainability - Meeting Wednesday. Arbor Day was great. Waiting on recycling thing.

Student Voice Reports - [No voice reports this week, Dix said.]

Old Business - [None.]

New Business - 

Senator Elections

Student government voted to elect Dane Adams and Robert Richardson to Soules College of Business seats. Senator Robert Bennett volunteered to transfer his representation from Soules College of Business to Senior Student Body at Large seat to allow for both candidates to win election to their college's seat. Both candidates are transfers students from Tyler Junior College.

The senate also elected Sahana John to the remaining Health Science Center seat. She is a biotechnology graduate student and an international student.

The senate also elected Macy Reed to the available The School of Medicine seat. Reed is a former student government member. 

The senate also elected Lydia [Majes?] to an available Senior Student Body at Large seats. Lydia is a Psychology major and an international student from Ethiopia. 

Energy Bars In HPC

Senator Templeton presents a survey for the senate's review to install a snack machine in the campus gym that will dispense energy bars. 

The senate approved the student interest survey to publish to UT-Tyler's social media page once the survey converts to a Qualtrics format which the senate said will provide more survey security.  

Advisor Comments: 

Advisor Neaves said it was a good meeting and gave praise to Senator Bennett who willfully transferred his seat for college of business candidates. He also praised members' volunteer efforts during Arbor Day and encouraged students to attend the career success conference.

He also said he was pleased to see senate positions fill-up with senators.

Announcements: 

 -Midnight Breakfast required event – Oct. 25
-Career Success Conference needs volunteers for conference on Oct. 18-20.
-Trunk Or Treat – Oct. 22.
-Global Quiz Night – Oct. 26
-Student Regent applications due November 20.

*SGA will not meet for general assembly next week for Patriot Days.* 

Main campus senators meet immediately after this meeting to discuss planning for Midnight Breakfast. 

*Meeting adjourned after 1 hour 40 minutes. 

Meeting video available on YouTube.   

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X: @Jhescock12

Feature Image: Via Flickr. (Source unknown!)

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