SGA Meet with the Deans Agenda

113th Johns Hopkins Student Government Association

SGA Meet with the Deans

November 18th, 2025 / 11:00 AM / BSC Blue Room

1. Attendance
   1. Absent Excused
   2. Present
   3. Attending Deans - Benjamin T. Rome Dean of WSE Dr. Schlesinger, James B. Knapp Dean of KSAS Dr. Celenza, Vice Dean for Undergraduate Education at KSAS Dr. Rowe, and Vice Dean for Undergraduate Education at WSE Dr. Falk
2. Agenda Items
   1. 113th SGA pillars
3. Omotara spoke about SGA goals and visions for this year.
4. She reported our monthly programming events including the successful national day of pancake and national day of failure.
5. She also spoke about our communication streamline updates including appointment of director of communication, social media, and pre-submitted questions for admin presentation.
6. Dr. Rowe inquired about student representatives for the classroom repairment.
7. Dr. Schlesinger asked if it is beneficial for students when different departments have different social media platforms.
8. Srigouri responded it is beneficial to have different accounts and resource pages for students to find particular resources.
   2. Mental Health Ideas
      1. Wellness Pass
9. Srigouri reported our first well-being day held last year where hammocks were held in the quad, plant giveaways and relaxation events. She underlined the academic rigor at Hopkins which can be overwhelming for students who do not have the guidance. She introduced a formalizing 48 hours extension on 2 assignments per semester when students communicate with the professor 48 hours in advance. This initiation encourages students to control and balance their academic and social life by providing a safety net.
10. Dr. Schlesinger asked if this applies to exams or canvas assignments.
11. Srigouri responded that these would be applied to assignments on canvas and gradescope.
12. Omotara added that formalization of these passes can help both students and faculties. This does not mean every student will be using a wellness pass but rather encouraging students to advocate for their wellbeing.
13. Dr. Celenza responded that the pass may restrict students from getting more extensions when it may be more flexible for students to communicate with the professor.
14. Dr. Celenza suggested SGA campaigning to remind the student body they are allowed to ask for extensions. He showed concerns that the formalization of these passes may limit the students.
15. Omotara addressed that the wellness pass is for the university to actively advocatefor students’ well-being. She agreed that the pass may not be the best strategy, but we must create a standardized way to advocate for student’s wellbeing in academic sphere.
16. Vishnu suggested having a wellness pass clause in syllabus.
17. Omotara suggested having an official statement about extension opportunities.
18. Srigouri added that this is a communication best transferred by the admin top down. Having official statements of these resources from the deans, on the website, and on the syllabus can create students to be empowered by the school.
19. Dr. Falk addressed that generating this initiation on syllabus may be harder than students hearing this from other students.
20. Dr. Schlesinger responded that the curriculum committee may be responsible for this issue.
21. Dr. Celenza suggested a faculty representative body advocating for this may be more implementable.
22. Dr. Schlesinger added that new policies implemented through school and enforcing these on systems may take longer time.
23. Dr. Rowe asked if we can have conversation with other student leadership organizations to ask what the fundamental issues are. She underlined that students expressed that they feel the expectation to succeed and do more.
24. Vishnu responded that the culture at Hopkins definitely is there, but also students taking moderate amount of credits can be still overwhelming because of each course’s workload and midterm overlaps.
25. Dr. Rowe addressed that the office has been working on spreading out STEM exams.
26. Omotara asked if the midterm scheduling is done individually.
27. Dr. Rowe responded it is done individually and not collaborated.
28. Srigouri addressed that having a normalized extension policy helps students rearrange the assignment deadlines around exams.
29. Dr. Rowe highlighted that each course is designed differently thus by pushing extensions may ultimately end up concentrating assignments.
30. Dr. Schlesinger suggested having a group of people discuss an initiative and explore the ideas.
31. Dr. Rowe addressed that the professors would be open to finding a solution to improve student’s well-being.
32. Dr. Falk addressed that the exam and assignment scheduling falls into faculty’s individual portfolio thus it may be great to have a meeting with students representatives and faculty representatives.
    2. Revised mental health section in syllabus
    3. Canvas Grade Transparency
33. Srioguri spoke about having canvas grades open to all students. Students would benefit from knowing which courses they are doing well or poorly in the class.
34. Dr. Celenza agreed that this issue arose 10 years ago as well. He acknowledges that grades should be utilized as a feedback system and it is disappointing to hear that the grade is hidden. He also said that there should be at least a conversation where students can get feedback from the professor.
35. Dr. Rowe underlined that students have no idea whether they should drop or withdraw the class which has been a big issue.
36. Dr. Celenza addressed that by enforcing faculties to address the grade calibration is very plausible.
37. Vishnu addressed the potential issue of having canvas features calculate the overall grade when assignments are given on different platform. Professor Firestone did an amazing job at calculating grades based on if the semester work ended at that point.
38. Dr. Celenza underlined the need for professors to calibrate or communicate what the score they got mean overall.
39. Thursday 10AM with AA.