Keene State’s student assembly held their final meeting before spring break on March 10, featuring recently appointed Provost of KSC Kirsti Sandy.
Senior Representative Nathan Hope asked Sandy for updates on the political science program, a department that may face changes due to staff reductions.
Sandy said that two faculty members will be leaving after this semester, but the remaining faculty were actively having discussions about what the next step will be. Sandy also said that a new faculty member will be joining the department, as well as co-chairing the Holocaust and Genocide studies program.
As for the discussions themselves, Sandy said, “We don’t know that it [political science] will have the same name, or if it will change slightly. The group of faculty working on this are going through a few ideas. One is having a bit more of a government focus, and thinking of how that can be brought in [to the program]. There’s conversations happening, but it’s not complete yet.”
Sandy also confirmed that while the Political Science program was not on hold, the Spanish and Early Childhood Education programs were.
“One of our wonderful faculty members in that area is moving to Spain, however I can tell you that we will continue to offer those courses. I cannot say that we have any upper levels in the plan right now, but we will continue to offer Spanish 101 and 102,” she said.
Sandy shared that the department was hoping to offer more courses and languages in the future, but she feels uneasy about the incorporation of online courses. Sandy said that she didn’t view them as bad, but that the in-person experience at KSC is both important and preferable.
In regard to future staff reductions and open positions, Sandy said the school was in search of a Clinical Line in Safety and Construction Science and Business Management, as well as more faculty in Secondary Education in Social Studies.
Additionally, the Theater and Music departments have been in search of a lead technical director, but the position will most likely be filled by the end of the semester, according to Sandy.
Keene State may be facing more faculty losses after the spring semester ends, which will result in reevaluating the needs of different programs and departments.
Sandy mentioned the rebranding of Keene State under a three-school model, a concept previously mentioned by interim President Donald L. Birx and his cabinet members at the KSC Town Hall meeting in January, according to previous reporting by The Equinox.
Sandy clarified that the leadership structure of the three-school model is being worked on, but the schools–Applied Science and Tech, Applied Health and Education, and the Arts and Sciences–would aid in career development through smaller groupings instead of the current big departments.
“We need to match our curricular offerings and what we do academically to our physical space. We have an interesting campus,” Sandy said. “I want something that shows our values and traditions.”
Prior to her current role, Sandy served as interim provost for two years and dean for five. Sandy maintains a role on both the college senate and Senate Executive Committee, in addition to sharing some responsibilities with Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration Nathalie Houder.
Both Sandy and Houder serve as Chief Operating Officers on campus. Sandy described their sharing of the role as, “If one of us is gone, the other has to be available in case of emergency. It also means we’re both responsible for the operations of the college and making sure it’s running properly.”
Sandy said that her past experience of teaching enabled her to take on her current administrative role, as both involved working directly with students.
In regard to what the role of provost entails, she said, “I’m responsible for making sure we [Keene State] have an academic vision and are carrying that out, and I’m responsible for addressing any academic issues that come up.”
Sandy said she would like to talk with students more so that they have a face to match collegiate leadership aside from President Donald Birx, as he is often managing time between Plymouth State’s campus and KSC.
“We’re in tough times right now, and we need to level those, but I know we will. Stick with us, please. It’s important that we hear about your experiences,” Sandy said.
Sandy encouraged students to reach out to her directly with any concerns to help her be more aware of problems that she otherwise would not know about. She also said she would love to speak at student assembly meetings at least once a semester.
In addition to Sandy’s appearance, Keene State alum Jacob Favolise spoke with the assembly members to share an update regarding House Bill 323–a proposed bill that would no longer consider student ID cards a valid form of identification when trying to obtain a ballot in the voting process.
According to Favolise, HB 323 won’t change the voting registration process until vetoed or approved via signature by Governor Kelly Ayotte. The bill was passed by the House and Senate and is currently awaiting approval by Ayotte.
On March 6, junior Student Body President Kylie Nelson, sophomore Vice President Bria Zimmerle, junior Speaker Amanda Rotigliano and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, Advisor Jen Ferrell, met to discuss the possibility of filming short videos about their respective roles and responsibilities in student government, with the intention of promoting student gov. and aiding with the upcoming elections.
Student government members can expect a Google Form to be sent out to them with opportunities to volunteer for election promotion.
Speaker Rotigliano requested that students, whether actively in student gov. or not, assist her and Nelson with election promotion, as they would like to grow student gov’s presence on campus before graduating this year.
Rotigliano also said that petitions for student elections will open on March 30 and close on April 10, with the actual elections being held on April 15.
First-year Treasurer Karen Cisneros said that she had reached out to organizations with their budget forms on Feb. 13, with the completed forms due by March 13. Budget discussion meetings will occur on March 27 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and April 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Student Center 307.
Additionally, Cisneros said she had been working on transactional paperwork for Spring Carnival, which is still being planned.
Ferrell mentioned some vacant positions on campus, such as Senior Administrative Assistant in Athletics–which has been vacant since last summer–Coordinator of Traditions and Assistant Director of Transitions & Community Living.
The next student assembly meeting will be held on March 24. Speaker Rotigliano said she was hoping to get the University System Student Board [USSB] to speak–as well as the Student Trustees–in regard to the USNH Board of Trustees meeting that occurred over spring break.
Samantha Menard can be contacted at
Hope is the managing executive editor of The Equinox and had no part in the editing of this article.
