This SGA meeting was held on the 24th of January, 2024
Climate Check
Climate check almost mercifully went by without any senators raising student concerns until sophomore Senator Molly Van Ackeren chimed in with a dining question. She expressed her frustration about how one of the Taste of San Antonio vendors, Ming’s, makes students who order through the app check in once they arrive at Coates, which then places that student at the end of the line of orders.
President Danny Nguyen told Senator Van Ackeren to go through the student dining advisory committee (SDAC), but junior Senator Harrison Tinker informed SGA that SDAC has not met since last semester, though there have been concerns raised within the group about issues with the Boost food ordering app. Advisor Jamie Thompson suggested sending an email to resident district manager Chase Taylor.
Staff Chat: Academic Affairs
Megan Mustain, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Jennifer Henderson, associate vice president for academic affairs: student success (yes, she knows the title is long), presented on behalf of academic affairs.
Provost Mustain began by providing insight into the faculty hiring process. Hiring tenure-track faculty is a year-long process, and academic affairs is currently at the stage where they are bringing candidates on campus visits. Going into this year, 21 tenure-track faculty joined campus, and Trinity is looking to bring on a similarly high number going into next year.
Henderson said that her role is to be a bridge between students and faculty, particularly in times of crisis, and that she is there to advocate for students. She directed students to go to the dean of students’ webpage to use the complaint form if students ever have an issue they want to raise. Provost Mustain emphasized the importance of raising complaints, assuring that Trinity is here for students.
Junior Senator Allison Waters asked about potential updates to the Pathways curriculum, and Provost Mustain answered that Senator Tinker would be able to provide more details as part of the curriculum committee. Senator Tinker said that the committee has developed a working model of what the new curriculum will look like, and it has gone to the deans of the schools to be accepted. Provost Mustain clarified that changes to the curriculum should affect all students, not just the incoming first-year students.
Junior Senator Joy Areola asked about the process of making new courses and areas of study available. Provost Mustain gave the example of a hypothetical underwater basket weaving department — academic affairs could go to them and inform them that students have an interest in an underwater basket weaving for healthcare professionals course, but then it would be up to the department. If one of the faculty members had expertise in underwater basket weaving, then they may offer the course, but otherwise they may not be able to.
Senator Areola also asked about what happens with the class climate surveys, whether there were incentives for professors improving. Provost Mustain gave an emphatic yes — regular faculty evaluations give a financial incentive for good performance. Senator Areola asked about those notorious professors that nothing seems to be done about, and Provost Mustain said that “water cooler” conversations do not always correspond with poor class climate reviews, hence the importance of raising concerns.
Committee Updates
Finance
Head Treasurer Conrad Jarvis said that since funding meetings went so long last semester, they would be increasing the number of funding meetings to spread out the requests, making him the personal hero of those of us at the Trinitonian who have to report on those funding meetings. Then he ruined it by reminding everyone that university-sponsored organization (USO) funding was coming up this semester, giving this editor terrifying flashbacks to her own USO funding presentation.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)
DEI Chair Trinity Hatchett talked about the campus block party she is working on developing.
Sustainability
Senator Van Ackeren said that not much is going on with the sustainability committee right now.
Public Relations
Junior Senator Ella Charbonnet talked about the social media takeovers that SGA has been doing.
Constitutional Review
Junior Senator Andrew Phillips said that the committee was NOT BORING, and people were free to join if they wanted.
Officer Reports
President Nguyen reminded everyone that Spurs Night Out is Friday.
