Today’s Academic Senate meeting covered updates and additions to academic programs, the proposed additions of brand new academic programs, the continued efforts of ASI to inform students about the upcoming elections, and the university’s goals and priorities for strengthening diversity and inclusion on campus.
New and Updated Academic Programs
In today’s Senate meeting, the possibilities of a Museum Studies minor and updates to the Liberal Studies B.A. which would open up more financial aid opportunities for student-teachers were discussed.
Additionally, a resolution to approve a modality change in the B.S. in Leadership Studies passed the Senate. This modality change was a formality to bring it into compliance with other disciplines which offer in-person, hybrid, and online asynchronous courses.
The Museum Studies minor was brought up by UEPC Chair Dr. Koni Stone during her committee report.
Senator Stone said that the proposal presented evidence of a strong interest in the student body to work in museums, and that they provided an exhaustive list of museums in the local area which are offering employment.
Senator Stone reports that the minor will go through the FBAC committee and then show up as a resolution in the Academic Senate in the near future.
As for the proposed changes to the Liberal Studies B.A., Senator Stone presented a first-reading item, and summarized a resolution that would give students who are involved in integrated classroom experiences to qualify for their teaching credentials to be able to receive financial aid for that work.
Senator Stone described the changes as “very complex stuff,” but assured the Senate that these changes would be a great boon to students in the program.
ASI Continues to Advocate for Student Fee Adjustment
In his committee report, ASI President Adrian Sanchez said that ASI has had an eventful past two weeks.
In these two weeks, ASI has met with the Lt. Governor of California to discuss financial aid, and has been reaching out to various student organizations and has been doing social media outreach and giveaways to raise awareness for the vote to increase student fees to bolster ASI’s budget.
President Sanchez said that the response from students has been mostly positive.
“When I am able to go in-depth and let them know what we want to add and why we want to add it, they tend to be supportive,” he said.
President Sanchez mentioned legal aid services, scholarship opportunities, and campus events to be among the projects that ASI hopes to implement with their increased budget.
This fee increase will be voted on in the elections on April 10th and 11th. The candidates for ASI have yet to be announced. For more information on when, where, and how to vote, visit their website.
Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer Presents Inclusivity Goals for her CSU Stanislaus Tenure
Recent Stan State hire Sacha Maria Joseph-Mathews, the Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, visited the Academic Senate to deliver a presentation for what she specifically hopes to achieve in her position.
Vice President Joseph-Mathews began her presentation boldly, announcing her “Big Hairy Audacious Goal: Make Stan State the Most Inclusive Campus.”
Vice President Joseph-Mathews says that she wants Stan State to not just be the most inclusive campus in the CSU, but in the nation.
Vice President Joseph Mathews presented her main priorities to the Senate.
These priorities included improving graduation rates, strengthening student retention between their freshman and sophomore years, increasing the GPA level of all students, and collaborating on recruitment strategies for Black and Asian students.
She presented an outline for a Faith-Based Community Outreach program. This program would offer financial literacy courses and workshops to multiple faith-based communities in an effort to increase the recruitment of freshmen.