By Angelina Persaud, News Editor

The first senate meeting for the fall 2023 semester introduced news ideas to improve campus life and infrastructure while also focusing on the current trends and demographics of Manhattan College.

The new members of the current senate included some familiar and new faces from the previous committee. Computer science professor Kashifuddin Qazi, Ph.D., is the new head speaker for the current committee and kicked off the meeting.

He’s joined by other new members such as first deputy speaker Jason Malone and second deputy speaker and dean of the School of Liberal Arts Cory Blad, Ph.D.

Rani Roy, interim provost, highlighted two key ideas from the educational affairs committee (EAC) wherein they’re discussing changes to the current academic calendar as well as the limitations on retaking classes in the Kakos School of Science. Currently, students cannot retake a class more than two times after failing that class.

“If a student took that twice and didn’t withdraw either time they wouldn’t be able to take it a third time without significant approvals,” Roy said. “So it was briefly introduced at the EAC meeting and it will be up for more more information.” 

John Bennett, assistant vice president of student life, also provided several updates on changes and statistics to campus life. He noted that the college currently houses 1,114 resident students and a 70 percent commuter population. 

Bennett also highlighted the new club sports on campus that students must pay for in order to participate in. 

Along with these club sports comes more support for student athletes with the possibility of a student-athlete specific career fair in the works.

“For the first time this year on April 9 for the spring semester, we’re going to have a student athlete specific [fair] as well.” 

Bennett also noted that the office of student engagement will be shifting its location to overtake most of the space previously occupied by the Multicultural Center. 

“Michael Steele, who is currently the Assistant Director of student engagement is going to physically move [to the Multicultural center] and become the assistant director within the Multicultural Center,” Bennett said. “Hayden is moving on.” 

The meeting concluded with some remarks from MC’s newly appointed president, Milo Riverso, Ph.D.

Riverso highlighted some of the key changes and target areas of the school that he’s looking to improve upon during his current term. 

Safety, enrollment strategies, financial aspects and improving the college’s mission statement were at the top of his list. 

In terms of safety, Riverso is looking to update worn-down facilities, such as classrooms and labs, in some of the older buildings on campus like Hayden Hall and the Research and Learning Center (RLC) in the coming year.  

He also plans to implement a higher education matching program that will incorporate student and faculty cooperation into these renovation projects and allow hands-on involvement for students to see the construction unfold.

“Many of our facilities need serious upgrades and over the summer, we have been working with deans and faculty members in the planning for higher education capital matching grants,” Riverso said. “For projects in Leo, RLC, Hayden, Higgins and Alumni Hall we will also work with deans to plan the classrooms with the latest technology and more effective classroom layout model. Three will need to continue fundraising efforts to move forward with these projects.” 

As for enrollment, Riverso highlighted the recent upgrades to Chrysostom Hall and the current search for a new vice president of enrollment management. 

He also laid out the current campus census, which includes, “690 new undergraduates, 150 transfer students and 250 graduate students” currently enrolled. He talked about the possibility of summer camps for the college to further integrate students into campus life and attract a wider audience.

“We are looking to develop and introduce new programs to modify programs that need updating and to introduce new modes of delivery,” Riverso said. “These may include academically focused summer camps, microcredentials and professional certificates and programs that target alumni, non-completers and those who may have gone directly to work after high school.” 

Riverso also noted that the financial efforts of the college are an ongoing challenge. He recently appointed Jim Perino as MC’s new chief financial officer in hope of creating better cost-saving strategies long-term.

Lastly, the college’s mission statement is up for discussion and revision to include a broader perspective of service to the community and the Lasallian values. 

“Campus ministry and social action and the office of mission have been restructured with a focus in centralizing our efforts around community and service, led by brother Dan Garner,” Riverso said. 

He is also planning to initiate focus groups for students and faculty to help reshape the current statement of the college.

“We have not reviewed our current mission statement…we will be seeking input and clearly defining our core values,” Riverso said. “They have defined us for the past 170 years and will guide us into the future. I invite our faculty to serve on these focus groups. We need both a long term 30 year vision and a short term, five year vision of where we want to go and I call upon all you who are visionary in their academic fields and industries to engage with us to determine this mission.”