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Syracuse University’s Senate concluded the fall semester by discussing concerns raised among students and faculty, including student health, faculty parking and recent changes to faculty healthcare benefits.

Senators were presented with the results of multiple feedback forms, including USen’s Qualtrics form and Student Association’s No Problem Too Small initiative. Jimmy Luckman, the Senate’s Student Life Committee, said student’s responses highlighted a lack of belonging for South Campus residents, transportation concerns and a need for greater support for “non-traditional” students.

Haley Westlund, a student senator, said building a stronger sense of belonging on campus will require addressing microaggressions, improving campus safety, fostering community engagement, expanding dining options, ensuring equal opportunities and increasing access to mental health resources.

Heading into the spring semester, the committee will focus on strengthening connections with veterans and the military community, supporting graduate and first-generation students and fostering a greater sense of belonging across campus.

Student Association President German Nolivos and Vice President of Academic Affairs Tanner Boshart shared similar findings from the association’s No Problem Too Small feedback forms. Nolivos said respondents expressed similar concerns to the Qualtrics form, including parking, transportation and affordability.

Chancellor Kent Syverud followed SA’s presentation, addressing parking pricing and accessibility for faculty on campus. Parking assignments are based on factors like job titles, years of service, space availability and payment of the required permit fee, according to SU’s parking website.

This system uses a tiered pricing structure, which Syverud plans to reduce from 35 tiers to 20.

Syverud addressed parking-related questions from senators, who raised concerns about the new hotel construction — which will replace an existing parking lot. He said there’s currently sufficient parking and that the lot’s removal will not cause a shortage. He also acknowledged pricing remains a significant issue, though the tiers are intended to promote equity.

“There is no planet on earth where everyone is happy with parking,” Syverud said. “Someone will always be unhappy.”

He emphasized that SU’s parking system is designed to encourage public transportation use and prioritize convenience.

Syverud also discussed plans for potential AI workshops designed to help instructors communicate AI-related expectations to students. He said SU will partner with Adobe to introduce Adobe Firefly, a generative AI tool for apps like Photoshop and Illustrator, to SU students.

“I urge skeptics and proponents to go through these trainings so we can have an informed community,” Syverud said. “This is not our future, this is our present.”

At the end of the meeting, several senators had questions regarding the university’s new Excellus plan, which will offer a single card for both dental and healthcare services. The university previously used Delta Dental but has since switched.

Syverud explained the terms are renegotiated annually to determine which treatments and medications will be covered. He acknowledged the impact varies for each individual, depending on the level of care required.

USen will reconvene after Winter Break on Jan. 22.

Other business:

• The proposed classroom recording policy, which would ban recording in classrooms without clear consent from all speakers present, is in its final phase of feedback. Feedback has often included opinions that are in direct conflict with one another, Provost Lois Agnew said. The policy will go to the general council’s office before results are available for faculty.
• The Committee on Curriculum and Instruction held a vote on the December curriculum report, which the senate voted unanimously in favor of. The report approves the addition of one new course to the SU curriculum.
• Syverud shared details about the new University Avenue hotel and the proposed residence hall on Ostrom Avenue, which will move forward without the previously planned 727 Comstock Ave. location.

Published on December 18, 2024 at 9:48 pm

Contact Madeline: mmgoodhe@syr.edu