JHU SGAThe 114th Session
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Establishing a Transfer Student Caucus

Unknown · 114th session · dated October 13, 2026 · updated October 12, 2026

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Senate of the Student Government Association of The Johns Hopkins University

{ S-B.114.10.12.26-1 }

A Bill to Amend The Bylaws of the Senate

Establishing A Transfer Student Caucus

Introduced by: Vice President of the Senate and chair of Internal Affairs Shreemann Patel Sponsored by: Student Athlete Caucus Senator Sophia Baleeiro and FLI Caucus senator and President of the Senate Jazzlyn Fernandez Presented for First Reading this 13th day of October in the year 2026

SECTION 1. TITLE. This Act may be referred to as (the) “TITLE”

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.

  1. SGA — The term “SGA” shall refer to the Student Government Association of The Johns Hopkins University.
  2. JHU, Hopkins - The terms “JHU” and “Hopkins” shall refer to the Johns Hopkins University.
  3. Transfer Student – the term “transfer student” or “transfer” shall refer to a student who began their college or university studies at one higher education institution, then transferred with the intention of completing their degree at Johns Hopkins.

SECTION 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

  1. FINDINGS:
    1. There is currently no designated seat for transfer students
    2. Transfer students may be included in the category of “students with unique challenges and perspectives.”
    3. Foundational Abilities and Academic concerns often apply differently to transfer students than they do to students who directly matriculate to Johns Hopkins.
  2. PURPOSES:
    1. Establish a Caucus Senator position with the intention of representing Transfer Student interests.

SECTION 4. AMENDMENTS

SENATE BYLAWS

CURRENT LANGUAGE

PROPOSED LANGUAGE

4.1.3.5 LIST OF CAUCUSES 4.1.3.5 The following list contains groups currently allocated a Caucus Senator and can be updated pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Constitution. 4.1.3.5.1 Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi-American Students 4.1.3.5.2 Black and African-Origin Students. 4.1.3.5.3 Disabled Students. 4.1.3.5.4 First-Generation/Limited Income Students. 4.1.3.5.5 Hispanic/Latine Students. 4.1.3.5.6 Women and Gender Minority-Identifying Students. 4.1.3.5.8 Student Athletes. 4.1.4.2.5 CAUCUS SENATORS 4.1.4.2.5.1 Within 48 hours of notification of the vacancy from the President of the Senate, the President of the Senate will send out an email to the presidents/co-presidents and treasurers/co-treasurers or designated contacts of all campus groups assigned to the represented group with a vacant Caucus Senator position with a description of the role and SGA requirements with an application form. Notice must be given to the student body within 72 hours of notification of the vacancy from the President of the Senate. Any undergraduate student may nominate themselves. These designated groups are as follows for each represented group: 4.1.4.2.5.1.1. Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi-American Students: Inter-Asian Council (IAC) 5.1.4.2.5.1.2. Black and African-Origin Students: African Students Association (ASA), Black Student Union (BSU). 5.1.4.2.5.1.3. Disabled Students: Advocates for Disability Awareness (ADA), Student Disability Services (SDS). The contact for SDS will be the Senior Director of Student Disability Services at Homewood and Executive Director of Student Disability Services. 5.1.4.2.5.1.4.First-Generation, Limited-Income Students: Johns Hopkins Underrepresented in Medical Professions (JUMP), Hop-In. 5.1.4.2.5.1.5. Hispanic/Latinx Caucus: Latino Estudiantil (OLÉ). 5.1.4.2.5.1.6. Women and Gender Minority-Identifying Students: Diverse Sexuality and Gender Alliance (DSAGA), Sexual Assault Resource Unit (SARU). 5.1.4.2.5.1.7. Student Athletes: All D3 or D1 athletic groups on campus will be contacted.

4.1.3.5 LIST OF CAUCUSES 4.1.3.5 The following list contains groups currently allocated a Caucus Senator and can be updated pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Constitution. 4.1.3.5.1 Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi-American Students 4.1.3.5.2 Black and African-Origin Students. 4.1.3.5.3 Disabled Students. 4.1.3.5.4 First-Generation/Limited Income Students. 4.1.3.5.5 Hispanic/Latine Students. 4.1.3.5.6 Women and Gender Minority-Identifying Students. 4.1.3.5.7 Student Athletes. 4.1.3.5.8 Transfer Students. 4.1.4.2.5 CAUCUS SENATORS 4.1.4.2.5.1 Within 48 hours of notification of the vacancy from the President of the Senate, the President of the Senate will send out an email to the presidents/co-presidents and treasurers/co-treasurers or designated contacts of all campus groups assigned to the represented group with a vacant Caucus Senator position with a description of the role and SGA requirements with an application form. Notice must be given to the student body within 72 hours of notification of the vacancy from the President of the Senate. Any undergraduate student may nominate themselves. These designated groups are as follows for each represented group: 4.1.4.2.5.1.1. Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi-American Students: Inter-Asian Council (IAC) 5.1.4.2.5.1.2. Black and African-Origin Students: African Students Association (ASA), Black Student Union (BSU). 5.1.4.2.5.1.3. Disabled Students: Advocates for Disability Awareness (ADA), Student Disability Services (SDS). The contact for SDS will be the Senior Director of Student Disability Services at Homewood and Executive Director of Student Disability Services. 5.1.4.2.5.1.4.First-Generation, Limited-Income Students: Johns Hopkins Underrepresented in Medical Professions (JUMP), Hop-In. 5.1.4.2.5.1.5. Hispanic/Latinx Caucus: Latino Estudiantil (OLÉ). 5.1.4.2.5.1.6. Women and Gender Minority-Identifying Students: Diverse Sexuality and Gender Alliance (DSAGA), Sexual Assault Resource Unit (SARU). 5.1.4.2.5.1.7. Student Athletes: All D3 or D1 athletic groups on campus will be contacted. 5.1.4.2.5.1.8. Transfer Students: Transfer Student Union (TSU) and the Department of Student Transitions.

SECTION 6. CONSTITUTIONALLY-MANDATED NON-LEGISLATIVE ADDENDUM

  1. FIRST SENATOR REPRESENTING THE CAUCUS
    1. Lauryn Carr – Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Class of 2029
  2. PURPOSE OF REPRESENTATION:
    1. To ensure that the unique needs of transfer students are consistently identified and considered within the SGA.
    2. This representation exists to elevate the perspectives of students who matriculate to JHU through non-traditional pathways. These students often have experiences that differ from those of directly admitted first-year students.
    3. The Senator representing Transfer Students will serve as a dedicated advocate, liaison, and point of contact for concerns relating to onboarding, credit evaluation, advising continuity, campus integration, and equitable access to University resources.
  3. GOALS OF REPRESENTATION:
    1. Advocate for clarity and consistency in credit evaluations, major requirements, and academic planning resources.
    2. Strengthen collaboration with Academic Advising, Krieger/Whiting administration, and Student Enrollment to reduce administrative barriers that impact transfer students.
    3. Promote initiatives to enhance social belonging, including orientation programming, peer networks, and community-building opportunities tailored towards transfer students.
    4. Identify gaps in University communication or programming that affect transfer students, especially around deadlines, course registration, and access to experiential learning.
    5. Maintain regular communication with transfer groups, relevant offices, and individual students to ensure their perspectives inform Senate decision-making.
  4. NEED FOR REPRESENTATION:
    1. Transfer students are a unique population within JHU. Transfer student experiences are shaped by having to navigate credit articulation processes, adapting to Hopkins’ academic rigor without the advantage of first-year foundational coursework, and integrating socially into a campus culture that assumes a four-year trajectory.
    2. These unique challenges clearly exist, but there is currently no designated seat within the Senate to represent transfer student interest. While transfer students may run for other Senatorial positions, no one senator is designated to advocate for the recurring issues faced by transfer students. Establishing formal representation ensures concerns are not overlooked and that the University and SGA remain accountable for supporting successful student transitions and long-term academic progress.
    3. There are many decisions or actions made by SGA, especially relating to Academic interests, Housing, or JHU Cultural issues, which could benefit from the voice of a transfer student, who may have a different experience within each of these categories.
  5. SIGNATURES OF 40 INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS:
    1. Shabnam Rezai
    2. Serena Mezzetta
    3. Alexandra Streaker
    4. Kaitlyn Yainna
    5. Thy Nguyen
    6. William Kim
    7. Ryan Lopes
    8. AJ Lozano
    9. Tiffany Pozo-Lin
    10. Mia Desalos
    11. Maria Paula Vasini
    12. Sasha Stern
    13. Nicole Kim
    14. German Ortiz Soris
    15. Patrick Feehley
    16. Samuel Perez Montilva
    17. Zachary Nagamatsu
    18. Juliet Rodriguez
    19. Paloma Silvera
    20. Daniela Garcia-Baralta
    21. Nancy Lei
    22. Michael Feehley
    23. Noah Stefancik
    24. Hamza Alvi
    25. Dianela Tabares Revilla
    26. Hadar Biger
    27. Franklin Chen
    28. Jorge Hurtado Maturana
    29. Heisy Aguilar
    30. Emerson Grubb
    31. Gabriela Simon Alboniga
    32. Guylianne Claire Nguebou Kwajo
    33. Julian Pitts
    34. Azzam Almutairi
    35. Alaina Tyler
    36. Tyler Barrack
    37. Kevin Clark
    38. Kostas Kantaras
    39. Tristan Faze
    40. Shaunt Papelian

SECTION 5. ACTION ITEMS.

  1. To be done by Lauryn Carr before DEADLINE:
    1. Inform the President of the Senate of desired accountability mechanisms.
  2. To be done by Secretary Honora Muratori before DEADLINE:
    1. Update Bylaws accordingly.
  3. To be done by President of the Senate Jazzlyn Fernandez before DEADLINE:
    1. Update SGA Website and internal records of membership accordingly.

The Amendment is hereby ADOPTED/LOST by a vote of X to X with X abstentions.

Upon passage, we have hereunto set our hands and caused the seal of the Senate to be affixed to this bill indicating the Senate’s assent and thus officially designated the bill’s adoption as law.

Signatures of Enactment: __________________________________ NAME Student Body President of the Johns Hopkins SGA

__________________________________ NAME Student Body Vice President of the Johns Hopkins SGA

__________________________________ NAME President of the Senate of the Johns Hopkins SGA

__________________________________ NAME Student Body Secretary of the Johns Hopkins SGA

__________________________________ NAME Student Body Treasurer of the Johns Hopkins SGA

__________________________________ NAME Student Body Chair of Programming for the Johns Hopkins SGA

Signatures of Ceremony:

__________________________________ NAME, POSITION

__________________________________ NAME, POSITION

__________________________________ NAME, POSITION

__________________________________ NAME, POSITION