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The Student Government As-sociation has high hopes for the future of Drew University. SGA President senior Adam Alonso introduced a comprehensive report representing the vision of Drew?s future by its current students, entitled ?The Future of Drew: A Student-Centered Strategic Plan for Drew? at the SGA meeting on Sunday.

The report suggests ideas to increase the student involvement in issues ranging from academic affairs to alumni-student relations. It was written by Alonso, Director of Strategic Initiatives senior Steve Chiavarone and members of the Cabinet.

?We wanted to look at the Drew experience as a whole,? Alonso said. ?We talked to students, faculty, administrators and alumni to look into how they would improve their experiences. Everyone agreed that there students should have more ownership.?

According to Chiavarone, the student leaders surveyed identified common concerns over student life issues, such as involvement in University policies, club issues and student governance. ?This is a document that people can talk about,? he said. ?We identify the issues most important to students and put forth some solutions that are good starting points. We will refine our action plan throughout the year.?

A central focus of the plan is ?aimed at creating innovative classrooms which make students compassionate listeners to the voices of others and help them become creative and independent thinkers,? Alonso said.

To help create that climate, the report calls for more diverse teaching styles in the classroom. Formal debates, role-playing models and peer reviews would compliment traditional lectures to enhance the academic experience.

?While the lecture is an important component ? it is often a passive experience that offers students limited sensory input,? the report says.

To further improve the academic environment at Drew, the report calls for an honors program ?that does not alienate or segregate honors and non-honors students,? according to the report. Although the details are not worked out, the SGA hopes an honors program would attract a higher quality of students who would handle a more rigorous course load while at Drew.

The Future of Drew report also brings forth recommendations in student life issues. According to the report, the SGA ?suggests that the University reaffirm its commitment to student ownership? by creating a relationship between the Student Life staff and the students that is not one of ?supervision? but of ?collaboration.?

?Students want to be a bigger part in decision-making process on University policies, club issues and student governance,? Chiavarone said. ?They want an equal partnership.?

Additionally, the report calls for a more diverse student body ? one not only with racial and ethnic diversity, but ?complete diversity,? it says.

?We agree with the current efforts of the University to increase racial and ethnic diversity, but we need to improve all diversity ? religious, sexual, political and socio-economic,? Alonso said. ?People are here to learn and we learn the most from our peers.?

Lastly, the report seeks to foster a mentorship program between alumni/ae and students.

?A formal program [should] be established between the career center and the almni/ae house to foster information sharing and seek to bring interested and capable students together with willing alumni/ae,? the report says.

Alonso believes that the mentorship program is a ?two-way street,? in which Drew must maintain a ?constant flow of information to alumni [and] offer programs that interest alumni. I have been afforded access to alumni and members of the Board of Trustees because of my position. Everyone should have that access ? it is part of the Drew experience.?

He added that it should not always be ?what Drew should do for alumni, but what alumni should do for Drew.?

Initial feedback to the report has been positive, according to Alonso. ?We have presented it [the report] to a couple of bodies on campus [University Administration, Board of Trustees, and the Senate], and it has been by-and-large received well,? he said.

Vice President and and Dean of the College Paolo Cucchi and Dean of Educational and Student Affairs Edye Lawler attended the SGA meeting in which the report was introduced.

?The students took it very seriously and put together a report that really reflects student interest in a number of areas,? Lawler said. ?We have many new initiatives that will take [the University] in a positive direction while preserving Drew?s unique qualities.?

?[The report?s recommendations] won?t all happen in one year, because the budget is made up of the most urgent items, but I will do what I can to implement some of these items,? Cucchi said.

Chiavarone was happy with the way the Future of Drew report turned out. ?It is the first strategic plan from students,? he said. ?It was definitely a worthwhile endeavor.?

Ultimately, Alonso stated that the report is a ?living document? that may change, as the University?s needs change. The ultimate goal, according to Alonso, will remain ?to create more student ownership of the experience at Drew over the four years spent here and later as alumni.?

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