St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan discussed campus updates, an accessibility club was approved and finance updates were overviewed at the Undergraduate Student Government general council meeting Thursday, Dec. 2 at the Iversen Center for Faith’s Schoenecker Hall.
Guest speaker: Julie Sullivan
Sullivan highlighted the accreditation and creation of the School of Nursing for both undergraduate and graduate students. Out of 50 possible spots for the master’s nursing program next year, 38 students have applied, and 7.2% of 2021 undergraduate applications expressed an interest in the major.
“Nursing is one of the top five majors of interest to our incoming undergraduate students; it has about the same number, just a little bit lower than biology and engineering,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan discussed future construction projects, including breaking ground on South Campus’ Schoenecker Center “late April beginning of May 2022” and the potential of building a new hockey arena.
“It’s really important to us that wherever we build the arena that students have access to it,” Sullivan said. “It’s also difficult for our coaches to recruit student athletes leaving high school.”
Currently there is no specific location for the hockey arena, but Sullivan noted a potential update could be announced in the spring semester.
Construction continues around campus, including the renovation of a residence hall for first-year students.
“We are trying to finish up Dowling so that our Brady Hall students can move in in January, and then we will be renovating the inside of Brady Hall in the spring semester, and both halls will be open for fall 2022,” Sullivan said.
With the continued spread of COVID-19, Sullivan talked about the vaccine requirements going forward for spring semester.
“The federal contractor rules say that we have to mandate the vaccine and that we can have religious and medical exemptions that apply to all of our employees, including our student employees,” Sullivan said. “We made the decision as a community that’s committed to the common good to have the same requirement for our whole community.”
New club: accessibility for all club
Junior Alexis Johnson presented a proposal for a new accessibility club before the general council.
Johnson emphasized the importance of the club because she argues the Disability Resources Center “is very individual, and it doesn’t give you a sense of community with other students with disabilities.”
The club, which has gained interest, will attend events and already has potential speakers lined up.
Senior Class President Cora Heinzen expressed support for the club and highlighted the community aspect: “with disability resources being much more individualized and having HIPAA requirements and things like that, it’s a lot harder for that community through Disability Resources.”
The club was unanimously passed by the council.
Finance updates
USG unanimously approved $1,200 to the American Society of Civil Engineers for a competition; $5,040 to Dance Club for the Dance Showcase; and $2,800 to Cadenza for the Winter Concert.
USG’s semester budget was $145,000 and the general club funding allocated $124,470.52.
Natalie Hoepner can be reached at hoep8497@stthomas.edu.