By Erin Shanahan
USG released its Fall 2015 report on Friday, outlining various initiatives. (Matthew Moore/The Fordham Ram)
The approval of the proposed midterm course evaluations for Gabelli professors is one of the many initiatives highlighted in this year’s United Student Government (USG) 2015 Fall Report.
The report, released Friday, outlined USG’s future plans, town hall meetings, self-studies, and committees. Specifically, USG updated the student body on initiatives dealing with student concern such as the “School Shooting Protection Initiative” and the “Fordham University Unpaid Internship Fund.”
Professor Mid-Year Evaluations
Senator Kaela Palmiter, FCRH ’18, and Senator Alexander Zamora, GSB ’18, have created an initiative to evaluate professors mid-way through the course. This will allow students to provide their professors with feedback during the semester and see an improvement.
The Gabelli midterm course evaluation was well received at a Town Hall meeting with Donna Rapaccioli, Dean of the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University. As a result, the initiative has been mostly cleared to move forward for the spring semester. Dean Rapaccioli, Zamora and the Gabelli Dean’s Council will use Google forms to administer the questionnaire this semester.
The proposal has also been submitted to Fordham College Rose Hill Faculty Council and preliminary discussion has been held, according to the USG report.
School Shooting Protection Initiative
The mid-year report also outlined a School Shooting Protection Initiative. The initiative was created as a response to recent high profile school shootings across the country. USG Vice President of Health and Security Brianna Cali, FCRH ’16, and John Carroll, vice president of Public Safety at Fordham, have implemented measures to protect the Rose Hill campus from potential shooter situations.
Initial plans include locks and window shades on all campus classrooms and academic buildings. The classrooms in Dealy Hall were approved for these safety measures.
According to USG, the intent of the initiative is also to increase student awareness of active shooter protocols. An email was sent out in the fall semester as a result, however, future campus safety protocol emails should be implemented by the end of the academic year.
The Fordham University Unpaid Internship Fund
USG Senator Elizabeth Wetzler, FCRH ‘17, the director of Career Services, Stefany Fattor and the director of Experiential Education, Bernard Stratford, are spearheading the Fordham University Unpaid Internship Fund, an account for students that pursue unpaid internships. This fund will be financed by grants and stipends, according to USG, and are designed so that student interns can afford to work with government agencies and nonprofit organizations that are designed to serve others.
Meal Plan Donation Program
Similar to systems at schools such as New York University and the University of California-Davis, Fordham students are attempting to institute a meal plan donation program to fight local hunger. USG Senator Sara Brown, GSB ’19 has been in contact with New York University’s student council and Fordham’s current food-service provider, Sodexo, to examine possible ways to implement the program at Fordham.
Bronx Youth Outreach Program
In response to student’s demands to interact with the Bronx community, Fordham’s USG is starting a Bronx Youth Outreach Program. Salvatore Cocchiaro GSB ‘17 is spearheading a kick-off event to take place in April 2016. This event will invite middle school students from local Bronx schools onto campus to play games while learning how to stay “happy and healthy.” This kick off event will include “Minute to Win It” style games as well as a free lunch for the participants. In addition, participants will hear speakers discussing the benefits of maintaining a positive lifestyle.
Full text of the report can be found here.