Pacific Index

New Student Advisory Councils to Shape the Future of Undergraduate Schools

Article Submitted by School Implementation Team

   Last week, the Undergraduate School Implementation Team began solidifying the four schools that will replace the current undergraduate structures, unveiling four distinct thematic schools and calling on undergraduate students to help lead them. Through the newly established School Student Advisory Councils, students will serve as the core voice in shaping the identity, culture, and career pathways of these new academic communities.

   The four new schools are currently “works-in-progress.” The new communities include the School of Culture and Environment, which focuses on environmental justice, planetary challenges, and field studies. For those drawn to media and performance, the School of Arts and Creative Expression blends artistic expression with media literacy and educational practice. The School of Discovery, Innovation, and Leadership will serve as a collaborative hub for entrepreneurs and problem-solvers looking to utilize maker-spaces and hackathons. Finally, the School of Health and Human Potential is designed for students passionate about wellness, health professions, sport, and public health, offering hands-on learning in labs and clinics.

   These schools are intended to be student-facing, purpose-driven communities. To ensure this vision becomes a reality, each school will feature a Student Advisory Council tasked with fostering a shared sense of belonging, supporting experiential learning, and building career development pathways. These councils will work directly with the faculty School Chair to cross disciplinary boundaries and create an engaging, holistic environment.

   The School Implementation Team would like your feedback on our draft framework for student advisory councils. Each advisory council will be composed of a maximum of nine undergraduate students. To guarantee diverse representation, the roster must include two academic senators and seven additional members. Of those seven, at least one must be a first-year student, though ideally, the majority will be returning students. Members will serve one-year renewable terms and will hold their positions unless replaced by the council. Members are regularly selected from a pool of nominations submitted by the staff and faculty, a process outlined by each school’s governing documents.

   The college is considering compensation and perks for those interested in joining the committee, as well as granting access to leadership workshops and alumni networks for career mentorship. If you are interested in learning more or providing comments on the draft proposal, you can go to this link or reach out to Dr. Cristy Sellers (csellers@pacificu.edu) or Dr. Katie Dophin (kdolphin@pacificu.edu), who serve as the co-chairs of the School Implementation Committee.