The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
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The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
The Student News Site of Ithaca College

The Ithacan
Melanie Stein, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, told the council that beginning in Fall 2026, the college’s academic calendar will include a three-day Thanksgiving break — Wednesday, Thursday and Friday — to replace the traditional five-day break.

SGC discusses changes to the Fall 2026 academic calendar with provost

By Aela Shaw, Staff Writer • February 12, 2025
Melanie Stein, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, met with the Ithaca College Student Governance Council at its Feb. 10 meeting to discuss upcoming changes to the college’s academic calendar, scheduling grid and the Academic Policy Committee. SGC also heard from Cliff-Simon Vital, interim director of the BIPOC Unity Center, about this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Campus-Wide Celebration Week, held Feb. 10-16.
Junior Caleb Cackowski, vice president of communications, said he wants the council to have a stronger presence on campus — a goal that SGC has continually strived for. He suggested holding more events like the SGC’s Fall 2024 Town Hall to achieve improved campus outreach. 

SGC discusses Fall 2025 scheduling grid

By Eamon Corbo, Assistant News Editor • January 30, 2025

The Ithaca College Student Governance Council met Jan. 27 for its first meeting of Spring 2025 to discuss the Fall 2025 course scheduling grid and the council’s goals for the semester. The college...

Junior Caleb Cackowski, vice president of communications, presents at the Nov. 4 town hall. Back row from left, Dante Conde Class of 2026 Senator, sophomore Evan Wasserman, School of Music, Theater, and Dance Senator, and junior Baneet Pukhrambam, International Senator, Manan Maini, Class of 2028 Senator.

SGC holds first town hall of the Fall 2024 semester to hear from students

By Eamon Corbo, Staff Writer • November 6, 2024
The Ithaca College Student Governance Council held a town hall meeting Nov. 4 in IC Square, to hear from students and give updates to those in attendance. The SGC held the town hall to boost engagement with the student body. Jason Starkman ’22 and Sam Edelstein ’22 came to the town hall to talk about their civic education startup Poliquicks. Then, Junior Quincy Fireside, president of Ithaca College Students for a Free Palestine, spoke about the college divesting from Israel. The council also heard from sophomore Ben Epstein, president of Ithacans for Israel, about combating antisemitism on campus.
Tim Downs, vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, spoke with SGC about the 1.27% drop in enrollment at the college.

Student Governance Council hears about fluctuations in enrollment and finances

By Eamon Corbo, Staff Writer • October 24, 2024
Tim Downs, vice president for Finance and Administration and chief financial officer, spoke with the Ithaca College Student Governance Council Oct. 21 about the 1.27% drop in enrollment at the college between Fall 2023 and Fall 2024. The council also provided suggestions on how Downs could get student feedback regarding renovations to the Campus Center, and discussed its plan to hold a town hall-style meeting in the Campus Center Nov. 4, ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
Members of the Ithaca College Student Governance Council heard from the Academic Calendar Committee, the college's Alumni Association and junior student trustee Mureen Doherty.

SGC hears about potential changes to the 2026–27 academic year calendar

By Eamon Corbo, Staff Writer • October 16, 2024
The Ithaca College Student Governance Council met Oct. 14 to hear from members of the Academic Calendar Committee about adding two days of classes to the 2026–27 academic year calendar. The council also heard from senior Noah Richardson, student liaison to the Alumni Association Board of Directors, about ways to connect students with alumni, and from junior student trustee Mureen Doherty about her role on the college’s Board of Trustees.
Junior Rishabh Sen, president of the student body, plans to encourage students to become more engaged with the Student Governance Council.

Q&A: Student Governance Council president discusses advocacy and student engagement

By Eamon Corbo, Staff Writer • September 25, 2024
Junior Rishabh Sen was elected as president of the student body for the Ithaca College Student Governance Council for the 2024–25 academic year May 3. Sen served as the vice president of campus affairs for SGC during his first and sophomore years. Staff Writer Eamon Corbo sat down with Sen to discuss his role as SGC president and his plans for the school year. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Ten students were elected to the Student Governance Council through the Fall 2024 election. Eight positions remain unfilled.

SGC releases results of Fall 2024 election

By Taylor Borash, Assistant News Editor • September 24, 2024
10 students ran unopposed for open senate positions in the Fall 2024 Student Governance Council elections, and all were elected.
David Weil, vice president and chief information and analytics officer, spoke with the Ithaca College Student Governance Council about new developments of technology at the college.

SGC discusses upcoming technological developments and expansions at college

By Eamon Corbo, Contributing Writer • September 18, 2024
The Ithaca College Student Governance Council met Sept. 16 to discuss implementing a new section into their weekly meeting docket. The council also heard from the Office of Information Technologies and Analytics about new technological developments at the college like an app that would replace apps.ithaca.edu, an AI exploratorium and an expansion to the esports facility.
The “Fostering an Alliance between SGC and New Student & Transition Programs (NSTP) to Assist First-Year and Transfer Students" bill outlines the importance of the council being directly involved with orientation planning, including understanding how orientation impacts first-year and transfer students who identify as first-gen or BIPOC, students who have a disability or are a part of a social group that is underrepresented at the college.

SGC discusses orientation programming bill and hears about new health insurance navigator role

By Jacquelyn Reaves, Newsletter Editor • April 24, 2024
The Ithaca College Student Governance Council met April 22 to hear from first-generation senator LaRon Pigford about a bill he introduced regarding how SGC can assist first-year and transfer students during orientation. The council also met with Jennifer Metzgar, director of Student Health Services, to discuss introducing the new role of health insurance navigator at the Hammond Health Center.
Crissi Dalfonzo, director of LGBTQ Education, Outreach, and Services, spoke with the Student Governance Council about LGBTQ+ resources on campus and how to promote more gender-inclusive language. 

SGC discusses course feedback statements and LGBTQ+ resources with campus leaders

By Jacquelyn Reaves, Newsletter Editor • April 16, 2024
The Ithaca College Student Governance Council met April 15 to hear from David Gondek, associate professor in the Department of Biology and chair of Faculty Council, to give their feedback on end-of-semester student statements. The council also heard from Crissi Dalfonzo, director of LGBTQ Education, Outreach, and Services, to hear more about LGBTQ+ resources on campus and how to promote more gender-inclusive language. 
Shana Gore, associate vice president of enrollment operations, management and student success said the college has implemented a system that would prohibit registration for students if they have an outstanding balance of $7,000 to $10,000, to avoid any incurring costs that may occur if a student registers for classes while not having paid off their current tuition.

College informs SGC of new billing system that unregisters students with debts from classes

By Jacquelyn Reaves, Newsletter Editor • March 27, 2024
The Ithaca College Student Governance Council met March 25 to hear from Shana Gore, associate vice president of enrollment operations, management and student success, about upcoming changes to the billing and payment system used for financial aid services, including a new system that will unregister students for their classes if their bill is not paid.
Cornish said she is looking forward to the open house the college is hosting on March 20, and admitted students day on March 23 and April 13. 

SGC asks President Cornish questions about student enrollment, TCAT and director searches

By Jacquelyn Reaves, Newsletter Editor • March 20, 2024
The Ithaca College Student Governance Council met March 18 to ask President La Jerne Cornish questions about updates on the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) system, facilities around campus and the ongoing searches for new directors of the BIPOC Unity Center and The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. The meeting was open to everyone in the college community but no community members were in attendance.
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