Dr. Brooke Barnett facilitated discussion at the SGA meeting concerning Elon's number one theme in the 10-year Strategic Plan, which is an unprecedented commitment to diversity and global engagement. The goals for the decade long plan include doubling need based financial aid, tripling international enrollment, establishing some signature domestic study away program, ensuring 100 percent access to study abroad and constructing the Mutli-faith Center. The administration will be sending out a survey.
The survey will help the administration measure the campus climate in terms of diversity, Barnett said.
She said she also hopes to infuse diversity with the five current Elon experiences and proposed the creation of a diversity council.
Evan Glover, the SGA representative for the Multicultural Center expressed a concern that only those active in the Multicultural Center will be involved in the diversity council. According to Glover, in order to the diversity council to be effective it has to truly be diverse.
Neima Abdulahi agreed and challenged the administration to make the diversity commitment attractive to the entire student body and not solely those belonging to a minority group.
Programs should be inclusive so it is more representative of Elon's demographic, said Sam Warren, executive vice president.
SGA members also discussed improving career services at Elon. Dean Jodean Schmiederer encouraged SGA members to think of "big ideas" for the quality enhancement plan required for SACS reaccreditation.
"Because SACS requires this it will get done," Schmiederer said. "A lot of times we come up with ideas, but it doesn't get to the level of fruition we want, but here it has to get done."
Any other students interested in contributing ideas for the QEP can submit ideas to qep@elon.edu
-Melissa Kansky, assistant news editor