This Week In Student Government - Sept. 5

(Source: via Flickr)

Here is a recap of The Student Government Association (SGA) at UT-Tyler's Sept .5 meeting.

President's Welcome And Roll Call

Speaker's Podium: Dr. Colleen Swain, Associate Provost for Academic Success and Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

Swain updated the assembly on the new UNIV 1000 classes, advising, retention efforts and upcoming events in Academic Success. 

UNIV Classes

Swain: Thanked student government for its word that these classes are important to do for incoming, first-year students. This fall, incoming first year students are in UNIV 1000 class.

"I have campaigning for this for a long time, and I think the reason I was finally able to get this going is because I could say, 'Students want this. Student government association has said that this is a good thing to do.' So thank you," she said.

Advising

"Because of your work, good things are happening," she told the assembly. Said university has decided to hire more advisors. "We are going to be one of the few schools in UT-System to reduce our advisor ratio to 250 to one," she said. "You may be thinking, 'Do they listen?' and the answer is, yes. So thank you," she said.

External reviewer will be on-campus on Thursday, Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Swain welcomes students to participate to give feedback on academic advising.

Faculty Workshops

Advising is having faculty workshops coming up to help faculty improve their students' experience. Topics will be such as making the classroom more engaging, having in-class interaction opportunities and the importance fostering belonging.

Will also start all-year long online modules for faculty with American Counsel on College and University Educators on Sept. 25.

"I wanted to let you know that we are working together," she said. Said sometimes people think it is only students who need improvement, but said, "No, we also help faculty to get better."

Upcoming Events

-Monday, Nov. 6: "Ready, Set, Enroll" (for the spring term)
-Nov. 8: First Generation Celebration Day. (Said over 40 percent of undergraduate students said they are first generation college students.)

Retention

Said UT-Tyler admits many students but does not retain them well. "We only retain 73.85 percent of them," she said. "We want to retain 90 [percent]."

She told student government, "The work you're doing is helping to retain students. So, thank you for what you do."

Questions from the assembly:

Is there a problem with retaining advisors once we have them?

Swain: Yes, retention is a problem anywhere right now. The university is helping to make some adjustments on advisor salaries. "So hopefully we will have good retention with our advisors," she said.  

What do you think contributes a significant amount to people leaving?

Swain: It's messy and complicated. It's life, she said. There's not always one reason. It's not just schoolwork. We see a difference in college readiness and differences before and after COVID. Some issues with the TIS exam with respect to when COVID hit. Sometimes the last time students take a math class in high school is their sophomore year. This shows up poorly on the exam. Finances are also and students' work schedules are also a reason.

Are CAP students included in the incoming freshman count?

Swain: No. CAP students start in Summer II and in the Fall semester they do not take full-time.

Has it been made clear to freshman the importance that they attend the UNIV classes?

Swain: Yes. We are stressing that though it's zero credit courses, at other institutions students would be paying for these classes. We need to make a script that shows the statistical benefits of participation.

What things standout to transfer students that make people want to transfer to UT-Tyler?

Swain: Some things that make us standout: We are only engineering program in this region that has all that we have (structural, chemical, electrical, etc.) together. We're distinguishing ourselves in STEM. The Patriot Promise scholarship has helped a lot. We are still a young university, but approaching "adolescence," she said.

Do you think more housing would help retention rate?

Swain: That's a part of it. Tyler housing market makes it hard for students to live off-campus. We're having a housing problem in Texas where housing is expensive off-campus and on-campus housing is the most reasonable priced. We do worry about it. Plus, on-campus housing is more fun.

Swain: Thank you for your time and thank you for the work you do.

*End of Speaker's Podium*

Judicial Board and New Senator Swear-In (unknown number)

Officer Reports:

SGA President: Met with Dr. Calhoun. Said Foundry contract future is "up in the air." Said Calhoun said some apartments are furnished and some are not. Relying on donations from other institutions getting rid of their furniture.

Vice President: Constitution Day, Friday, Sept. 15 from 1-3 p.m. Will have pizza, free tshirts and voter registration.

Treasurer: Appropriations committee will meet Wednesdays at 4 or 4:30 p.m. Will present SGA budget to assembly next week.

Chief of Staff: Talking with facilities director to work on parking concerns students have told him.

Student Voice Reports:
-Soules Business Senators: Soules closed walk-in appointments with advisors. Parking still problem.
-Arts & Sciences Senators: Upcoming A&S events: "Meet the Coach" event on Sept. 7. JCPenny suit-up event, March 8-10. Business and A&S job fair on Sept. 19.
-Nursing Senators: Complaints about having to park at The Pizza Hut. New site coordinator in Palestine. Dr. Rose resigned. Now re-allocated to two professors: Dudly and Wallace.

Old Business:
None

New business:
-Secretary nominations: Savannah Tropp and Alexander Henry. Special election will be next meeting.

*Sen. Henry made comment: Car will get towed if parked in Enoch's parking lot. Don't park there. They're working on making the lot private.

Advisor Comments:
-Good job asking questions with guest speakers and with student voice reports. You all are doing a good job.

Announcements:
-Fall elections are ongoing
-Will have another online senator training after election
-Secretary election at next week's meeting.

Adjourned 55:55 minutes into meeting. 

Meeting video available on YouTube. 

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Twitter: @Jhescock12

Feature Image: Via Flickr. (Source unknown!)