SGA 10-4 | Photo by Bethany Althauser | The Wright State Guardian
On Oct. 3, 2023, Wright State’s Student Government Association held their weekly meeting. The main portion of the meeting focused on Provost Amy Thompson’s speech regarding potential changes to Wright State’s Core Program requirements.
First-year seminars
SGA invited Provost Thompson to speak on the university’s progress regarding first-year seminars, which are courses that would be required for graduation for incoming freshmen. There is debate as to where the course will be added into the graduation requirements, but it will likely be added into the core.
The course is being created to improve graduation and retention rates. Provost Thompson shared that approximately 37% of freshmen in 2022 dropped out between freshman and sophomore year. She explained that students with the highest risk for dropping out are those that are undecided and those that are in a “pre”-major, especially pre-nursing.
The first-year seminar course addition is not the only change that will be made to Wright State’s core. The administration is hoping to implement block scheduling to help students create a community with those in their major, as well as help students who are currently taking multiple heavy courses every semester to break those courses up to lighten their load.
“Even if students leave with nothing else, they leave with people,” Deyavion Washington, SGA’s director of student health and wellness, said.
The hope is to have all incoming students who meet certain requirements take this course in their first semester. There will likely be certain exceptions. Those exceptions are still in the works, but some suggested exceptions are those with more than 30 credit hours (entering as a freshman) or those who are older and would not necessarily benefit as much.
The course piloted in the fall of 2024 as an elective course. Once the university gauges interest and benefit, it is projected to be implemented into the graduation requirements in the fall of 2025.
Dean Chris Taylor
There was a lovely surprise at the meeting for the Dean of Students, Chris Taylor. SGA created a resolution to recognize him for all of the work he has done for the organization and university. SGA decided to hold a vote on the matter at the meeting, and it passed unanimously.
Taylor became Dean of Students in 2020. Since then and during his time as the Director of Community Standards and Student Conduct from 2014 to 2020, Dean Taylor was the advisor to countless departments tasked with enhancing students’ experience at Wright State, including the COVID-19 task force during the global pandemic.
“Wright State University and the Student Government Association recognizes Dr. Chris Taylor for his tireless advocacy for the student body of this university,” SGA President Stephanie Buettner said.
Dean Taylor will still be on campus for the next few weeks before he finishes his time with the university on Oct. 20.
SGA will meet again at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the Student Union Atlantis A/B room.
Honoring Dean Taylor | Photo by Bethany Althauser | The Wright State Guardian
