Three members of the executive council for the St. Thomas Faculty Senate spoke and answered questions, and student elections were discussed at the Undergraduate Student Government general council meeting on April 22.
Faculty Senate speaks to USG
Paul Wojda, Paul Mellick and Paola Ehrmantraut, members of the executive council for the Faculty Senate, joined USG to discuss the partnership between the faculty and student government.
“At any university, the three components that really need to work together (are) faculty, administration or staff, and students,” Wojda said.
Wojda said the Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty and staff all work together to solve problems at the university in a shared governance style.
The senate consists of 36 members from eight schools at St. Thomas and four members of the executive committee.
Decisions about the future of St. Thomas are made in these senate meetings, but the finalization of these decisions is made by President Julie Sullivan. Members of the senate and faculty are also able to join committees.
“A lot of the heavy lifting is done in the committee work,” Wojda said. “Well over half of (faculty) are also on one or sometimes more than one committee.”
The senate is now working to continue implementing the new curriculum, which was introduced during the 2020-21 school year, making the transition to Division I and preparing a diversity, equity and inclusion working group report for fall 2021.
The senate executive board said that it hopes to meet with USG at least once a year and wants to have student government members join committees in the senate.
“I love when there is communication with the students regarding things that are happening outside the classroom,” Ehrmantraut said.
Student Elections
Campus wide voting for the fall 2021 undergraduate student council took place Tuesday, April 27 and lasted until 4 p.m. on April 28.
Finance Requests
USG unanimously approved the Disc Golf Club’s $2,008 request for club discs, transportation and course fees, catering and marketing funds.
Scout Mason can be reached at maso7275@stthomas.edu.