Elon University’s Student Government Association held its first business meeting of the year Sept. 3. The main topic of discussion was the new School of Engineering and Computing that opened at the start of the term.
So far, over 300 students are enrolled, and administrators are aiming for around 400. The school has multiple majors and minors such as cybersecurity and computer science. However, they are still looking to expand and slowly launch new programs.
John Walz, dean of the School of Engineering and Computing, attended SGA’s meeting to speak about the school’s goals for expansion and collaboration.
“We're looking at adding a major in game design, and we are looking at adding a biomedical engineering major,” Walz said during his speech.
Walz said that this is an opportunity to create a special type of engineering school so that when these graduates leave, they are technically sound.
“You have to understand how to do the math and the physics and the science because if a company hires one of our graduates and that student doesn't know science or the math, then that company will never come back again,” Walz said.
Walz said Elon’s goal is to foster collaboration across campus by connecting the university’s various programs, including business, sciences and even liberal arts.
“It's vital that we have people from the School of Health Sciences, the School of Communications, the School of Business, and now the School of Engineering as well, because we wouldn't be what we are without a voice from every corner of the school,” said SGA Executive President Michael Swartz in an interview with Elon News Network.
Senior Kiley Sherlock was elected as the senator for the College of Arts and Sciences during the meeting. Sherlock said she wants to connect departments to each other and bring issues students have to light.
Tyler Mastrangelo, Vice President of Communications, said they are implementing a new series throughout the semester where SGA can connect with people on campus who they don’t normally talk to called “Michael’s Minutes.”
This semester, SGA has a few priorities, including making the organization more accessible so students can reach them with any issues. They also plan to support the university’s HealthEU initiatives, particularly with the opening of the Slattery Center, while also looking externally at Elon’s relationship with Queens University as the merger continues.
In an interview with ENN prior to the business meeting, Swartz said that a common issue many freshmen are experiencing is the lack of community and sense of belonging.
“I've talked to a lot of first-years, that it's brand new for them coming to a new school and being surrounded by so many people that may have already found their friends and found a club, and that can be kind of daunting,” Swartz said. “But we're a resource to either welcome students in or direct them to places they can get information and support from.”
Swartz refers to himself and the rest of SGA as almost a middleman between students and the Elon community as a whole, offering their resources to anyone who feels that they may need them.