SG, business college host forum

On Thursday, March 12, the TAMIU Student Government (SG) and the A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business hosted an open forum in room 116 of the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade.Organized by SG Senators Alejandra Avila and Alejandra Lascurain, who both represent the business school, the event was intended to allow TAMIU business majors to voice concerns, express opinions, and ask business faculty and administrators questions. Representing the Sanchez School of Business were Dr. Antonio J. Rodriguez, associate dean and professor of finance and economics; Dr. Ken Hung, chair of the division of international banking and finance studies; Maria M. Blasco, undergraduate admissions counselor; and Maria Imelda Lopez, graduate admissions counselor. Other divisions of the university-such as the Killam Library, the Office of International Programs, and the Office of Student Activities-were represented as well. Although Avila and Lascurain targeted business majors as their primary audience, all members of the university community were invited.Few, however, took SG up on the invitation: no more than 10 students attended, at least 4 of which were SG members.Despite the low turnout, Avila considered the event worthwhile.”I do wish more students would have come, but I think we still got questions answered. I think it was productive,” she said. Avila and Lascurain asked the majority of questions, which covered an array of topics. One of particular importance to the two senators elicited a good deal of explanation: why can’t business majors minor in a different discipline?”We do offer minors in the area of business,” answered Rodriguez, “but a minor in another subject like a humanity-that conflicts with the required hours of your average business program.”The school offers several Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programs with various concentrations, including management, marketing, accounting, and management information systems. The degree plan for each program includes 120 hours, most of which are heavily concentrated in business courses. For example, the plan for the BBA in accounting requires 75 hours of business courses, leaving 45 hours, 33 of which comprise the core curriculum during the first two semesters of college. The remaining 12 are used towards required state and national government, survey of literature, and general elective courses. The BBAs in management information systems and finance follow near-identical plans, according to the school’s website. Avila mentioned that some students want to major in economics and minor in political science, to which Rodriguez reiterated that the school’s degrees are organized with the strong business core in mind. Suggesting an alternative, Rodriguez stated, “You can always get another bachelor’s. I know that doesn’t solve the problem you’re taking about, but it’s a possibility.”Lascurain asked about the possibility of a bachelor’s degree in economics.Currently, the school offers a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in International Economics (BBA-ECO). Students can also seek a BBA in another area, such as management, and minor in economics. Answering Lascurain’s question about a stand-alone economics degree, Juan J. Castillo, TAMIU Vice President for Finance and Administration, mentioned that the issue is too complicated to be solved at the university level. “Demand has to be very strong,” he said. “Expanding programs is not easy, but it’s something we’re always willing to explore.” Castillo also pointed out the need to hire new faculty who specialize in economics in order to provide a bachelor’s in that area. “Business faculty don’t come cheap,” he said. Adding to the discussion, Rodriguez used the abandoned Bachelor of Arts in Social Work as an example. “We thought there was a demand. There is certainly a need in the community. But we (TAMIU) started the program and couldn’t get enough students to pursue it,” he said. While the low student turnout forced SG members to ask the bulk of the questions, student body President James Cortez, who attended, believed the forum was a step in the right direction. “We need to see more of these,” he said. Typically, the senators of their respective colleges are expected to organize “college forums,” as SG calls them. They provide an opportunity for senators to perform their duties as outlined in Article III, Section 4 of the Student Government Constitution which requires senators to “meet at least twice (2) during each long semester with constituents at previously publicized times and places in order to provide a venue for student input and opinion regarding any aspects of the University community.”Thursday’s forum was the first of its kind held in nearly 2 years, according to Cortez.