ETSU President Brian Noland spoke at the March 10 Student Government Association meeting, where the senate approved BUC Funding for five organizations, passed legislation and proposed new legislation.
Noland discussed the recent concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak and how it is affecting campus activities and students.
“I can’t begin to describe the amount of planning that is occurring across campus that pertains to COVID-19, and what the next steps for us as a university might be,” said Noland. “We’re now in the position that we have a team who is on campus who are meeting every day for a minimum of two hours.”
Noland explained that all students who paid to go on cancelled study abroad programs will be reimbursed, and that necessary arrangements will be made to accommodate credit requirements.
Noland also provided updates from the Tennessee General Assembly meetings and the current situation in Middle Tennessee. He believes a recent bill about allowing students to carry firearms on campus will be tabled for a later date.
Buc Funding in the amount of $10,800 was approved 21-3 for the National Society of Black Engineers to go to a conference, and $720 was approved in a 22-1 vote for the Carter-Stone-Powell Community Council to host a spring fling event. The senate voted unanimously to award $3,500 to the Public Health Association, $2,500 to UKIRK and $4,500 to SGA, which were voted on as a slate.
SGA passed a bill to amend the SGA constitution to allow excused absences and decided to send a bill concerning period equity on campus back to the Student Affairs Committee for further research.
A resolution in support of an upper-limit for grading scales at ETSU in order to promote equity and mental health among students was proposed.
“Other universities, such as Columbia University, have successfully implemented a standardized grading scale, whereas alternate grading scales at these universities, when approved, are to accommodate more rigorous studies with more lenient scales,” read Noah McGill, vice president for finance and administration. “Currently, there exists significant disparities between departments as to what constitutes an A grade.”
Also, a bill to support braille signage in the D.P. Culp Student Center was proposed.
Kim Hale, the director of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development, also spoke during the meeting. Hale spoke about the CCAMPIS grant, which provides financial aid for childcare for students with children. The program wants to add a ramp onto the outside of Warf-Pickel Hall to allow more children to enter the program and to improve their safety.
SGA President Aamir Shaikh closed the meeting by reminding people about the growing support for Open Educational Resources on campus and the growing support to end the use of third party homework and textbook vendors.
