Today’s Academic Senate meeting continued the ongoing streak the senate has with approving two reading items while introducing a new reading item, with a possible Coachella artist performance.
President Britt Rios-Ellis in her report offered a teaser about an artist coming to campus. She describes it as “Special Awesome” but because they are currently performing at Coachella, she couldn’t yet share the name.
“We will have an artist performing. We can’t talk about it yet because they are performing at Coachella,” she said.
Although she couldn’t share the artist, she did share that they will be on campus April 26. The event is free with more information coming soon.
Rios-Ellis also updated the senate about the new Willow Hall building coming to the Stockton campus. There will be a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new building on March 26 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at 612 E. Magnolia Street, Stockton.
“I hope that any and all of you can attend,” President Rios Ellis said.
After all the reports were shared, the senate moved on to its reading items for the meeting. The Biotechnology Certificate and English B.A. Literature concentration returned to the floor.
The Biotechnology Certificate is designed to provide students with the technical skills and academic preparation needed for them to enter the biotechnology workforce. “[It] prepares undergraduates and post baccalaureate students for entry level positions and career advancement in the biotech industry, whose jobs pay well,” UEPC Chair Andy Dorsey said.
With no questions or concerns raised about this certificate, the reading item was sent to a vote. Where it received 40 yes, 0 no and 3 abstentions. Ultimately, passing the senate.
The next reading item that made its way to a vote at today’s meeting was the English B.A. literature concentration.
This new concentration would offer students a more flexible and customizable pathway towards a degree that will support students’ career aspirations.
With no questions or concerns raised about this potential new concentration, the reading item was sent to a vote.
It passed through the senate with 39 yes, 0 no and 2 abstentions.
After the passing of these two reading items, the Senate introduced a new reading item. This reading item, if passed, would expand the computer science department by adding a new concentration.
It will add a data science concentration for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, providing students with a formalized pathway.
Senator Ayat Hatem from the Computer Science department talked about why she feels this concentration is needed.
“So, we want to be able to offer the concentration early on so that the students would know they have this option,” Senator Hatem said. “[It] gives them a clear path to what they need to do.”
Senator Cassandra Drake shared her thoughts on this and voiced her support.
“The computer science department has done a really nice job with this and their diligence in making sure that it serves our students, so another voice of support,” Senator Drake said.
Contributors to this article: Kaihli Miner-Hill and Emaan Nawabi
