March 10 2025 Exec x Advisor Meeting

SGA Executive Board Advisor Meeting March 10, 2025 / 8 am EDT / Teams Virtual Meeting

Present: Stone, Amy, Buse, Tim, Nasreen, Charles Unexcused Absent: Excused Absent: Brandon Agenda

Updates from Charles–Charles
Finance Update & Discussion–Brandon
Upcoming Events Summary–Tim
GBM Agenda–Nas
Student Body Email
Email to Transportation

Minutes

Meeting with Registrar and Facilities
1. Brittani Brown asked everyone in the meeting to introduce themselves. The admins that were present were:
  1. Lee Coyle
  2. Amynah Mithani
  3. Mary O’Connell
  4. Lorena Permuy
2. Brown said that SGA senator Tarini reached out asking about classroom materials, which became a concern brought up by other members later on. Due to this reason, Brown asked Facilities and Registrar to communicate with the Executive Board in a meeting to brainstorm what changes can be made to classrooms and learning spaces. They are planning to visit the SGA meeting in the future; however, they wanted to talk to the Executive Branch beforehand.
3. Some points that will be discussed are the Classroom Advisory Committee (CAC), learning environment design guidelines, and classroom renovation projects at Shaffer all and Remsen Hall.
4. Mithani said that this is a collaborative effort as everybody tries to make sure everybody comes together to create a good learning environment. Mithani joined JHU during COVID. CAC existed in the past yet was decommissioned due to the pandemic, and then it was reinstituted later. They aim to make recommendations, prioritize renovation upgrades, and advance technology in classrooms.
5. CAC has four subgroups:
  1. Classroom Support
  2. Real Estate (JHFRE)
  3. Technology
  4. Budget & Regular Maintenance
6. These subgroups were created for people to specialize in certain aspects of the projects. Subcommittees include people who are not part of CAC, which allows outsiders to provide insights. They conducted a survey via Canvas at the end of 2024, which helped with future design guidelines. They established a one ticketing system that utilizes QR codes to ease reporting in classrooms. There is a person who is responsible for the triage of these reports.
7. Coyle said that they have been working on improving the learning environment design guidelines. They have been establishing and prioritizing elements to address when designing new and renovated classrooms. They are also working on defining and socializing future state guidelines aligning with industry best practices, determining how to best allocate resources for improvements, and developing a long-term strategy to guide future renovations. They are working with what they got and holistically improving the classrooms. This process is not always easy as when a classroom is being renovated, they are required to find a substitute room. Since these buildings are old, there are mechanical systems going on (such as temperature control).
8. They went to the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center and reflected on what they want to apply to Homewood Campus in order to create the classroom ideal they have in mind. See the slide below for more details on the learning environment elements and guiding principles:
10. They aim to make sure they know what they are targeting and what most matters. Due to this reason, they have been working on increasing the desk space area, sightlines and visibility, and gathering places outside of classrooms.
11. They have been working on Shaffer Hall renovations. They want to modernize classroom spaces, create more dynamic, collaborative and engaging learning environments for students and faculty. Demolition is in February 2025, construction will take place from March to August 2025, and occupancy will start in August 2025. See more details in this slide:
13. There is a long-term plan to replace the desks and improve the entries. At this time, they expect the classes to be taken online.
15. They will design these rooms and technologically renovate them to achieve the seat count and other needs of the courses that will be taught in these spaces.
16. For Remsen Hall, the immediate needs for Remsen 1 and Remsen 101 were identified. During Spring Involvement Fair, USS shared samples with students and conducted a survey to gather feedback on the new selections. THis summer, Remsen 1 and Remsen 101 will be refreshed to provide a more comfortable, modern and welcoming environment.
17. Stone expressed that the changes look amazing. He asked if the blackboards would be renovated at Remsen.
18. Coyle said that they are looking to see if it is possible to change the blackboards, main teaching desk, and other elements outside of teaching.
19. Stone said that a class he is taking which meets in Krieger has a system that allows the professor to record the lecture and upload it to Canvas easily. He asked for this feature to be implemented to other classrooms, too, so that those professors can do this as easily.
20. Coyle thanked Stone for bringing this up.
21. Tim asked if there are other places they are looking into.
22. Coyle said that there are classrooms connected to the Registrar along with division classrooms. They are mainly working with Registrar classrooms, but eventually, they want to get to all classrooms requiring attention and renovate them.
23. O’Connell said that CAC is also working on the custodial needs of classrooms, too.
24. Mithani explained that when classes are under divisions, the Registrar has no power over registering people in those classrooms and they have separate budgetary responsibilities. CAC will work on what the next steps are but they are excited to get student perspectives.
25. Stone said that SGA is excited to have them in the GBM to discuss these changes. He asked if it would be okay for the executive board to share these updates with the students, and wondered if Registrar is planning to share the changes.
26. Mithani likes the idea and they want to strengthen communications with SGA.
27. Brittani will talk to Mithani and O’Connell about which slides can be shared with the student body.