The Student Government Association hosted its annual Lunch with the Deans last week. Over 250 students sat at tables designated for their college and engaged in conversation with their fellow classmates and deans.
The event was held last Tuesday in El Gran Salón on the Brownsville campus and Thursday in the Ballroom on the Edinburg campus.
Kevin Martinez, the Academic Affairs committee chair in the SGA, led the event and hoped that it would allow students to share thoughts on their college with the deans.
“I think our main goal was to give students the opportunity to be able to engage in dialogue with their deans,” Martinez said. “Ask any questions. Raise any concerns or issues they might also have.”
Several deans were able to make it to the event, including the College of Sciences, College of Health Affairs, the Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship and the dean of students.
Frederic Zaidan, the associate dean for Student Success for the College of Sciences, said that he appreciates the time to talk to the students and hear what they have to say.
“You get to see them. You get to exchange ideas,” Zaidan said. “… It’s a really good, fun, laidback way to just connect with people.”
He said he hopes that students can feel more comfortable conversing with their deans.
“I hope that they get out of this that their deans and associate deans are approachable,” Zaidan said, “that we are here to help. … We are trying our best to bring out the best in themselves.”
Ricardo Galván, a sophomore marketing major, said he enjoyed the lunch and feels that he did get closer to the administration.
“Having the opportunity to come to Lunch with the Deans, you get to actually know him or her more personally,” Galván said.
He hopes that in the future, the university has more events where students can speak with the faculty.
“I know they have like super busy schedules,” Galván said. “And, sometimes they don’t have the opportunity to interact directly with their students even though they want to.”
Martinez said that they did not advertise as much as they wanted to and, hopefully, next year they can get more students involved in the SGA to help at and attend the event.
Student Government Association members serve food to students during Lunch with the Deans.
