Student Advisory Committee Elections 2024 – 2025

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OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

How We Represent You

The Student Advisory Committee (SAC) is a student group established within each academic unit to promote communication and interaction among students, faculty, staff, and administrators. SACs are both a social and academic organization within their academic unit, and as such, they advance involvement opportunities, encourage participation in departmental activities, and work together with others to build campus community.

Student Council

The Chairs of the committee represent your interests at the College of Fine Arts Student Council.

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FAF Grants

The Chairs and FAF Grant Representative of the committee are voting members of FAF Grants, which allots funding to College of Fine Arts Student Organizations

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RPT-SAC

The Chairs and FAF Grant Representative of the committee assist with the Retention, Promotion, and Tenure Process in the School of Music.

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MEET OUR

Candidates

Alexander Harrelson

Graduate Chair

Amanda

Bishop

Graduate Chair

Peter

Girgenti

Undergraduate Chair

Alec

Stevens

Undergraduate Chair

(incumbent)

Saya

Zeleznik

FAF Grants Representative

(incumbent)

PLATFORM STATEMENTS

Words from the Candidates

My goal is to faithfully represent the students of the school of music. I want to be a part of securing funding for important artistic events. Additionally, I will work to build connections between the students, faculty, and administration to ensure students’ needs and goals are fulfilled.

Alexander Harrelson

Hello! My name is Amanda Bishop. I am a first-year master's student in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. Before committing to a master's degree in music, it was a pleasure to be a representative at Daynes Music, the oldest music store in Utah. Through working with them, I was not only able to collaborate and network with musicians throughout all of Utah and neighboring states, but I also learned the inner workings of the arts industry. Not only do I have connections, but I have several years of leadership experience in the arts. I currently serve on the Utah Music Teachers Association's (UMTA) Collegiate State Board. I have also been the UMTA University of Utah Collegiate Student Chapter president for two years and helped restart the organization in 2018 as a music major freshman. I am incredibly passionate about the arts, and I find joy in interacting and collaborating with others and supporting the music community and its amazing people. These are the reasons why I am more than fit for the position of SAC Graduate Chair at the School of Music. I look forward to serving you.

Amanda Bishop

Do you believe the University of Utah is a disgrace of education? Same. Let's change that.

Peter Girgenti

Dear School of Music Students,

I am excited to announce my candidacy for re-election as the Undergraduate Chair of the Student Advisory Committee. I am running for another term on SAC because of my abiding passion for serving the educational institutions of which I am a part.

I have a history of involvement in the School of Music, where I have found immense fulfilment in actively representing and serving the student body. My primary purpose is to ensure that the voices and desires of the students within the School of Music are heard. I want to foster a sense of community within the School of Music so we can grow with each other. I want to ensure that our resources in the School of Music are used appropriately to address student needs. I aim to be a proactive advocate for the School of Music students on the College of Fine Arts Student Council by actively participating in meetings and engaging with the responsibilities of this position. I believe it's crucial that the interests of our students are not only heard but also reflected in the actions of the Schools and Colleges of which we are a part; this involves working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators to address concerns and propose impactful changes that benefit the School of Music community.

As Undergraduate Chair for this past academic year, I have had the privilege of helping student organizations draft grants to the FAF Grants Committee to ensure they had a greater chance of receiving funding. I have worked closely with other members of SAC to make advancements in our administrative operations, including drafting a constitution that solidifies a documented process for how we operate and will help the future leaders of SAC have an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the position and initiating the creation of a unified departmental email for the committee, so we can better serve you as we hear your concerns. Additionally, I have had the privilege of convening the Student Advisory Committee to discuss events that would be helpful to School of Music students, including grant writing workshops and more opportunities for School of Music students to perform with each other.

I am excited to serve for another academic year so I can continue to advance the positive influence of the SAC on the School of Music. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve you as your Undergraduate Chair this past academic year; thank you for considering my candidacy for another term.

Alec Stevens (incumbent)

To my fellow students,

My name is Saya Zeleznik, and I’m excited to announce my candidacy for the position of Fine Arts Fees (FAF) Grant Representative. Having had the privilege of representing you and the School of Music on the Student Advisory Committee this past year, I’m looking forward to continuing to improve within my role.

Throughout my time as FAF Grant Representative, I’ve witnessed the confusion students face regarding grant writing and submission. FAF grants exist solely to enhance the educational experience of students within the College of Fine Arts, whether it be attending conferences, hosting masterclasses, or creating art. With your support, I plan to streamline the FAF grant submission process by providing clear guidelines, deadlines, and expectations. Additionally, I will be available via email or meeting to answer any questions you have to ensure no student faces unnecessary barriers to furthering their education.

As a member of the Student Advisory Committee, I will work diligently to allocate funds within the School of Music to increase engagement and foster collaboration among students, whether through interdisciplinary projects, collaborative events, or facilitating connections between students of varying instruments, majors, and degrees.
If you have any questions or concerns about the FAF grant process, please do not hesitate to reach out. Your input and feedback are invaluable as we work to create a more accessible and collaborative environment within the School of Music.

Thank you for your consideration. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as your representative.

Saya Zeleznik (incumbent)

FAQ

Problems Accessing Your Ballot?

To protect the the accuracy of the election results. The election ballot requires students to sign into the University's Active Directory to record their vote. Sometimes this can be difficult, so some instructions are here. If you have any problems, please reach out to SAC@music.utah.edu.

Who Should Vote?

All students who have a declared program in the school of music should vote!

Why Should I Vote?

Voting in the SAC election gives you the opportunity to choose representatives who will voice your concerns and ideas within the School of Music. Your vote helps shape the direction and initiatives of the SAC, ensuring that student perspectives are considered in decision-making processes.

What Happens After the Election?

Once the voting period concludes, the ballots will be counted, and the candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected as representatives to the Student Advisory Council. Elected representatives will then begin their terms at the start of the 2024 – 2025 Academic Year.

When is the Deadline to Cast Votes?

The deadline to submit your vote will be on Friday, 12 April 2024 at 5:00 PM!

Results will be announced on 15 April 2024.

SAC@music.utah.edu