Hello Bearcats!

I hope everyone finished midterm season on a strong note and was able to enjoy the beautiful fall weather.

Here are some updates on what the Undergraduate Student Government has been up to for the past week.

The Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost of City University of New York Wendy F. Hensel visited Baruch College.

She is dropping in on all CUNY campuses to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the needs of the student body, faculty and staff.

Hensel held a public town hall meeting open to all students who wanted to voice their concerns.

The town hall was held in the Rackow Conference Room in the William and Anita Newman Conference Center.

Students were able to RSVP for the town hall via a Google Form. Students could also add questions for the executive vice chancellor to the form.

It is important that students attend town halls so that they speak directly to the administration about their misgivings and work together to find solutions.

USG Representatives met with Hensel for lunch to speak about the issues affecting Baruch.

Some topics that were brought up included: understaffing, a lack of support for transfer students, outdated stem codes and a lack of sustainability/equity initiatives throughout the CUNY system.

In response to the last issue, the executive vice chancellor informed USG that CUNY made a bid to lead a sustainable research center on Governors Island.

However, CUNY is competing against two other universities for the research center.

Information on who will receive the bid will be announced later this year.

Treasurer Julie Margolin held a budgetary information session on Nov. 7 alongside Chair of Finance Asher Gonzalez, Chair of Appeals Tyler Yang and her bursars.

The information session was intended to educate new club leaders on the budgeting process as well as the specific chairs it would benefit them to be in contact with.

Club leaders need to contact the treasurer for reimbursements and the chair of finance for budget proposals.

Additionally, club leaders need to contact Yang for budget appeals over $500; for monetary co-sponsorships under $500, club leaders need to contact Chair of Clubs and Organizations Jessica Yauri.

USG representatives also held a panel discussion hosted by peer mentors from the Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge Program.

The event, also known as a social impact panel, was attended by members of USG as well as professors.

The hosts asked the panelists about their experiences in USG and as active campus members.

Until next time bearcats!