For the spring 2027 semester, Student Senate will have two options available for accredited courses: a political science course and opportunities with Creative Inquiry\u2019s Campus Social Impact Fellowship.<\/p>\n
Brian Fife, political science department chair and professor at Lehigh, said he first heard of the initiative to attribute academic credit to student senate work on March 2 in an email from current Senate president and former vice president of internal affairs, Drew Smith, \u201827.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sara Runyon, Senate advisor and assistant dean and director for student involvement, said this process is happening faster than she originally thought.<\/p>\n
Fife said student senators are students first and the course is meant to provide an in-depth experiential learning opportunity of real-life politics.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said student senators are often exceptionally busy and when juggling credits, it can be difficult to make time for the role of a senator. Smith said some weeks he averages around 30 hours of contribution to Senate work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Smith said it\u2019s important for senators to prioritize their position, and having Senate stay a club doesn\u2019t fully reflect the weight of the job.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said academic accreditation can act as a form of accountability.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Runyon said the purpose of this new course is to have a space dedicated for senators to explore what it means to be involved in student government as representative peers, make decisions based on equity and student need and define the role of a partner to the university.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the class really will provide some space to have beautiful conversations and think about what (they are) as an individual senator doing,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Smith said he\u2019s been polling student senators on their interest in taking the course and he said there\u2019s definitely enough interest to make the course possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He referenced Coffee and Cosmetics, a chemical engineering 5\u00d710, for being a successful student created project. He said he didn\u2019t know of a course derived from student-driven creation until now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m stoked about the opportunity of something so student-centric, to be coming from the students, and students having a shape in their own curriculum and how it pertains to their everyday life,\u201d Smith said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A new political science course<\/p>\n
POLS 295 Lehigh Student Government is a one credit course under the political science department that will meet from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. There are 40 seats available for the 2027 spring semester. The course is open to all students and not required for senators. Smith said the syllabus has yet to be fully solidified.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The course also provides a chance to discuss democracy and leadership through a student lens.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fife said they\u2019re aware logistics like credit overloads and schedules can halt senators from being able to take the course.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFolks have a lot going on,\u201d Fife said. \u201cI would not expect all student senators to participate in the class.\u201d<\/p>\n
The course description reads: \u201cThis course is designed to enhance the undergraduate educational experience for students serving in representative bodies such as the Lehigh student governance structure. Topics that will be discussed and debated include shared governance; democratic accountability; political power; equity; budgeting; and shared responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
Student Senate bylaws and allocating funds to sponsored organizations and student clubs remain entirely responsibilities of the Senate. Fife said it will be up to the students to decide how this course integrates with the Senate.<\/p>\n
At this time, it isn\u2019t clear who will teach POLS 295.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy colleagues in this department are strong advocates of democracy, regardless of background, regardless of subfield within the discipline,\u201d Fife said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fife said debating democracy in a university setting is an essential part of the undergraduate experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Smith said the course will address real-life problems that student senators face and are encouraged to take the course.<\/p>\n
Senate joins creative inquiry impact fellowship<\/p>\n