Summer sessions can be quite sweaty as students frantically figure out some sort of way to pay for classes. Since scholarships are not offered to students currently, College of Business Representative David Beale said that summer scholarships for retention will be deliberated.
Beale brought attention to the hopeful scholarship opportunities through academic affairs during the Student Government Association’s goal committee reports. College of Education Representative Laurie Nick was in favor of the suggestion.
“Students who go through summer classes graduate on time,” Nick said.
It is in the process of deliberation, but Beale is passionate about pushing forward in order to push for retention.
Although senators were excited about possible summer scholarships, division broke out in the senate about amending article two, section three, letter C on page two concerning non-traditional students.
The proposed amendment stated there would be one Non-Traditional Senator who will be defined as an undergraduate student who is 25 years or older, married, a veteran, a transfer student, or is a parent to fully encompass the definition of a UCA non-traditional student according to the UCA website of the non-traditional student organization.
Freshman class Vice President Haley Davidson promoted the amendment before voting began.
“An undergraduate student can better represent the student population than a graduate student,” Davidson said.
Opposition to the amendment was voiced by Graduate Representative Thomas Deatherage.
“We do not understand the numbers of the differences between graduates and non-traditional students and if a graduate applies for the position, they are coming in as a non-traditional not as a graduate,” Deatherage said.
Senior Class Representative Mollie Henager supported the amendment. She said “three graduate senator positions are open.”
“While the running for those has been more competitive this year than ever before, they are normally hard to fill,” Henager said. “I don’t really foresee there being that many graduate students to where the non-traditional seat would need to be open to them. As for now, since we already have specific seats for graduates right now, I think it is better to have non-traditional students as undergraduates.”
Vice President Corey Parks was in favor of the amendment.
“Although both graduates and undergraduates could represent this position, I rise in support of this amendment because it is more catered to the population it was created for years ago,” Parks said.
The motion passed 36-4.
More voting ensued as the senate discussed an amendment of by-law E, article three, section three on page 24 regarding Student Activity Fee Allocations reimbursements and remaining funds.
The proposed amendment stated Jan. 20 is the reimbursement deadline for SAFA programs typically held May through December for the fall semester. If there are any remaining SAFA funds after the deadline, your organization will forfeit the remaining funds. These funds will be transferred to the next semester’s SAFA budget.
For the spring semester, May 20 is the deadline for SAFA programs typically held Jan. through April. If there are any remaining SAFA funds after the deadline, your organization will forfeit the remaining funds. These funds will be transferred to the reserve account.
The amendment would add the words “typically” which Sophomore Class President Ellen McKinnie proposed.
“To keep it [SGA constitution] consistent, if we added the ‘typically,’ this would please both parties about how some people wanted months or semesters,” McKinnie said.
The motion passed 39-1.
With Presidential elections around the corner, the Student Activities Board announced The Great Election Debate to take place at 7 p.m. on April 7 in the Student Center Ballroom.
The event will host two commentators from each political party and a moderator during discussions about issues and candidates. The commentators are two leading media critics who will debate issues about the media’s impact on voter’s opinions. The Great Election Debate is a free event and is open to UCA faculty, students, friends and family.
This article originally appeared in the March 30, 2016 print edition of The Echo.
image via Twitter
