Senate General Body Meeting #10 — Minutes (10/27/26)

114th Johns Hopkins Student Government Association

Senate Meeting #10

October 27, 2026 / 07:00 PM / BSC 404

MINUTES

1. 1. Call to Order and Attendance (1 min)

   1. Absentees:
      1. Excused: Amy Xu, Mamadou Thiam, Shiran Hanono-Michli
      2. Unexcused:
      3. Partial Excused: Kayla Gonzalez (left early), Jackson Morris (late)
      4. Partial Unexcused:
      1. Present

2. 2. Convening Business (30 min)

   1. Meeting with OIS
      1. Jim Brailer (Associate VP for International student scholar services):
      2. Dacia Gauer : provides immigration, visa (F-1 and J-1 visa holders; dependents), and travel guidance to JHU international community (over 15,000 internal students, alumni, faculty, scholars, etc)
         1. Communication and education
            1. Workshops: on various F-1/J-1 topics (live and recorded)
            2. OIS Student Newsletter “International Insider” sent monthly, immigration reminders, community and culture section
            3. Email blasts, specific timely reminders
            4. Short-form videos on focused topics, purposely short duration used on website and in email communications
            5. Outreach: to individual students on specific issues
         2. Advising support : iHopkins Self-Service Portal → students can request F-1/J-1 benefits electronically & access I-20/DS-2019 forms; allows OIS to monitor enrollment compliance and report and manage SEVIS records
            1. Advising provided via email, phone, and virtual appointments
            2. Primarily to advise student; work for JHU and not the government; provides info and support
         3. OIS Support throughout F-1/J-1 Status
            1. Before arrival : OIS outreach begins at time of admission; pre arrival workshops and email blasts; info about I-20/DS-2019 request process, visa application, travel to US, check in, getting settled → need to show that they have fully funding for tuition and living expenses before visa information can be provided
            2. During studies : post arrival support (maintaining status, cultural adjustment, etc) enrollment requirements, on campus employment, internships, travel, leave of absence, change of major, extension of stay, SSN
            3. After studies: transfer to new school, begin new JHU program, apply for work authorization, travel, depart the US, change status
               1. Emphasize how to maintain status: ie. work opportunities and academic programs
               2. International advisors for up to 3 years after graduation as long as they maintain status through work
            4. Provide immigration related updates → OIS maintains webpage w/ latest federal immigration updates
               1. Applies to students, staff, faculty, etc
               2. Highlighted in monthly newsletter and email blasts
      3. Jessica Eris (Senior Associate) :
         1. Communication Overview and Data :
            1. Pre arrival: communication campaign focused on new students as they prepare to arrive
               1. Spring 2026 arrivals: 9 messages sent, 86% open rate
               2. Summer/Fall 2026 arrivals: 24 messages sent, 77% open rate
            2. Current students : communication campaign for enrolled students; topics include timely immigration reminders, Community and Culture Corner, JHU/OIS resources
            3. Post Arrival : communication campaign for students in 1st semester at JHU; Topics include post arrival workshop reminders, reinforcing immigration topics covered in orientation & overview of JHU resources
               1. Summer / Fall 2026 Arrivals : 4 messages, 84% open rate
         2. Live workshops well attended, most attendees were either satisfied or very satisfied, between 1000-2000 participants at virtual workshops
         3. Student Engagement & Continuous Improvement : OIS continuously seeks student input to enhance programs, services and communications through
            1. OIS Student Feedback Form
            2. Workshop evaluations
            3. Pre/Post Arrival Surveys
            4. Informal student interviews and targeted outreach to newly arrived students
            5. International Student Insight Group
         4. OIS Collaboration and Campus Partnerships
            1. Partners across university to support international student success through :
               1. Presentations for school
               2. Ongoing collaboration w/ Admissions, Academic Affairs, etc
               3. Dedicated Campus Partner Listerv
         5. Top Tips for International Students :
            1. Check JHU email daily
            2. Carry documentation establishing F-1/J-1 Status
            3. Utilize OIS resources (website, live workshops, etc)
            4. F-1/J-1 guidance and how to maintain status and carry documentation establishing this status while in US
            5. Be aware of scams and how to avoid them (focus area)
            6. Consider the need for international travel and associated risks
         6. How can students engage w/ OIS : OIS website, via email, phone advision, appointment advising, newsletters / email, workshop registration and recordings
      4. Shreemann: motion for a 7 minute moderated caucus
         1. Sumi: Has 3 questions as an international student
            1. Would it be possible to have a small in-person office on-campus? (something like the financial aid office)
               1. Answer, Jim Brailer: had in-person office in past, had 5 separate locations didn’t have enough staff and were sometimes overwhelmed
                  1. Question : What service would be provided in person that's different from what's offered remotely?
            2. How does the recruitment system work for the International Student Insight Group? Possibility for undergrads to join?
               1. Answer: new initiative limited to students that have just arrived this fall, use form to provide feedback about experience/advice for other students
            3. Should the Director of Communication utilize SGA resources (ex. SGA Instagram) to post regarding OIS?
   2. Swearing in of Student Body President Sumire Sumi
   3. Closed Session: Executive and Legislative Items
      1. Royce motions for closed session
         1. Andrei opposes
      2. Close session notes
      3. Shreemann: elected Vice President

3. 3. Amendment and Approval of the Agenda

   1. Omotola: motion to approve agenda

4. 4. Public Input

   1. Natalie: Bootacular Baltimore on Friday → community trick or treat

5. 5. Reports (5 min)

   1. Cabinet Reports:
      1. Student Body President: Sumire Sumi
         1. Exec board met with deans of students, discussed financial budgeting with RSOs, worked with Amy in collecting data from departments to see where funding is coming from
         2. Let her and Peter know any clubs / orgs that would affiliate with WSE
         3. Who is working with dining? Kayla
         4. Will reach out regarding transportation
      2. Student Body Vice President: Shreemann Patel
         1. Survey will need to be filled out
         2. Plans to meet w/ Sumi soon regarding providing platform for senate
         3. Working with dorming (ex. Scotts Bates)
         4. Working regarding AI policy and grading
      3. Secretary: Honora Muratori
         1. Responsibilities : tracking attendance, taking meeting notes, and room bookings / tracking events
         2. Inspired by Jackson → sponsoring bill to propose LGBTQ+ caucus representation, next week will be working on bill regarding sports nutrition
      4. Treasurer: Amy Xu
         1. (read by Jazz) Apologizes for not being here
         2. Met with deans to discuss departmental funding
         3. SGA is given as a first contact for clubs; some are a good fit, but some require large funding and require the dean to fund them (interdisciplinary and student run) → next step : will explore if some STEM clubs such as iGEM and Immunology can be reclassified under engineering to get consistent and reliable funding
         4. Coordinate with Hopvan coordinator to collect feedback and help funding
         5. How you can help: listen to feedback from others about RSO funding and Hopvan use
      5. Chair of Programming: Grace Guan
         1. (read by Jazzlyn) Upcoming Fall Retreat → November 7, 10 AM - 3 PM; theme : Reaching New Heights
      6. Director of Communications: Sienna Kim
         1. (read by Jazzlyn) JHU Wellbeing post went up
         2. Theta Tau x Office of Climate and Sustainability will be happening
         3. Guidelines for sending promotional materials: use shades of blue and neutral colors
      7. President of the Senate: Jazzlyn Fernandez
         1. Met w/ dean yesterday → took logistical and legislative questions
            1. Still getting credit overloading to be addressed (especially regarding research credits)
               1. Keep meeting w/ vice dean to get this off the ground
            2. App named Webwork → requires VPN
               1. Got permission from dean bc hopkins student shouldn’t be limited to hopkins wifi to do work
         2. JHFRE Construction joining on December 1st
   1. Advisor Report:
      1. i.SGA Advisor: Tekeya Peterson: No updates
   2. Senator Reports Initiatives Updates:
      1. Mahima Sanghera: SWB Fall Bingo
         1. Fall Student Well Being Bingo → hopes to make it semesterly (first time, so pilot trial)
         2. Coordinating → activity planning (next time : get senate input on what should be on Bingo) → Canva design → prizes budget : secured $350 budget → presented final composition of bingo
         3. Wants to showcase event description, prize bundles, and resources
         4. Please reach out regarding other event ideas
      2. Julia Lee: Civic Engagement & Service — Senator Update
         1. Working closely w/ Jackson, Sophia, and Civic Engagement team regarding National Call to Action
         2. Going to Delaware to get perspective of other students on other campuses on how they’re dealing w/ AI issues
         3. Nice to have a clear feedback loop on what's happening, changing, and current concerns → cool project for students in WSE
            1. Goal : improving communication with students on what's occurring and what we’re working on
         4. Survey regarding what debate we’d like to see be discussed
      3. Jazzlyn Fernandez
         1. FLI Caucus Senator updates : FLI department and community had advisors reach out to Jazzlyn to help them become a registered student organization (Tri Alpha); helping w/ FLI day (November 6th); sharing stories the day prior (November 5th)
            1. RC Point of Information : can anyone volunteer for FLI day

6. 6. Non-Legislative Business (30 min)

   1. Spotlight_Fridays_SGA_GBM.pptx - CSO Chair Kevin Xu
      1. Recurring friday features that will introduce and organization and describe what makes it unique : for students to discover, celebrate, and connect with different student organizations
      2. Consist of who they are & what they do, their individuality, and how to join the org
      3. Orgs will express interest through a voluntary application form → submissions will be reviewed and evaluated based on whether they align with SGA and their uniqueness / niche → will reach back out to orgs to touch base and gain any other information if needed → committee will create the post and send it to Director of Communication who will publicize it on SGA instagram (Sienna is in support)
         1. Including highlighting lesser know student orgs (potential criteria)
      4. Will start reaching out to student orgs
      5. Had a lot of interest from prospective student orgs
      6. Applications approved (for PSOs by LEED) on November 20th (?)
      7. Will have another presentation update next week
      8. Cole : point of information regarding inaccessibility of presentation link
         1. Jazzlyn & Kevin : will be fixed post meeting
   2. https://forms.gle/Fs7zjmgucDrz9rub9 SGA Internal Effectiveness and Governance Survey- Vice President of the Senate Shreemann Patel
      1. Not quick but important, due before Friday night
   3. First Year Career Survey - Senator Noah Sokol
      1. Making a smaller career fair initiative for first years
      2. Fill out form to know where to start in terms of reaching out to companies
      3. Will be meeting w/ LDL regarding this

7. 7. First Reading (20 min)

   1. JHU Digital Stage Act.docx - Academic Affairs Chair Isaac Zhang
      1. Digital website that will be hosting all performing arts; database to easily access recordings of these performances
         1. Veda motions to vote on bill
         2. Unanimously passed
      2. Shreemann point of information : which committee to refer this bill to
      3. Cole: motion to refer to student services
   2. SGA Resolution - Equitable Access to AI Tools revised.docx- Academic Affairs Chair Isaac Zhang
      1. Resolution about AI equity
      2. HopGPT is not enough as a resource for students
      3. Wants Isaac to get SGA’s senate opinion regarding this
      4. Veda motions to refer this to AA committee; passed
   3. Procedural Clarification Reforms - Senator Boyi Chen
      1. There are some outdated facts on procedural roles, how q&a works, and overall procedural rules
         1. Smart phone and laptops should be allowed (for SGA purposes)
            1. Clarify language regarding smart phones and laptops
         2. Enough time should be allocated for committees to meet
         3. Food and drink are allowed during GBMs
         4. Disciplinary mark is in action now
         5. Q & A Sessions : include total duration → optional addition of including response time (to limit rambling and more efficient conversation)
         6. Written out procedures of Senator of the Month nomination
         7. Any meetings regarding senate also now needs to include (CC) Jazzlyn → for transparency purposes
         8. Veda motions to refer bill to IA; passed
   4. Establishing an LGBTQ+ Student Caucus - Vice Chair of Civic Engagement Sophia Baleeiro, Nora, Veda
      1. Rain (prospective representative): LGBTQ+ students make a sizable portion of JHU community; having their voice represented in SGA, we can hopefully better represent them
      2. Cole motions to refer this to IA; passed

8. 8. Second Reading (10 min)

   1. DSAI Tabling Funding Bill - Senator Aishani Garg
      1. Draw distinction that the data center is not being built on campus -
      2. Motion to pass bill; passed

Prospective Legislation & Announcements (5 min)

• Rain: Take back the night on November 1st, 8PM Hodson 110, senator incentives offered
• Jackson: Thursday, November 12th joint debate w/ HPU on National Call to Action
• Tanisha : HSSA tabling Friday 10 AM - 12 PM → answering correctly on nutrition to gain prize
• Email Jazzlyn regarding announcements and running for positions

Adjournment (Estimated 9:00 PM)

Time-length and adjournment estimates are provided for the benefit of guests at Senate meetings. However, SGA meetings are always slated to extend until 9:00 PM and SGA members are expected to remain in the Senate chamber until official adjournment by motion, whether before or after the adjournment estimate.