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This academic year saw the establishment of a groundbreaking student engagement initiative, the Engineering and Computing Student Council (ECSC) at George Mason University. Established by Professor Girum Urgessa and College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) student leaders, the council is making significant strides in fostering a collaborative environment between administrators and students, addressing academic concerns, and enhancing the overall student experience within the CEC.
“Our mission is to bridge the gap between the CEC student body and CEC faculty and administrators, making it more coherent and being a tool for communication back and forth and really helping uplift our peers," said Paul Wyche, the president of ECSC.
"This council is the place if you want to create change and enable change and empower other students. You have direct access to the decision-makers," said Kheira Bekkadja, a recent alum who helped set up the council before graduating in May 2024.
The council comprises student leaders representing the CEC’s nine undergraduate academic programs, each focusing on a different element of student engagement, from academic concerns to publicizing career development and service opportunities.
"One huge focus is, academically, how can each concentration enhance their current 4-year plan?” said Bekkadja. She explained, “[For example] many transfer students end up having to repeat credits, which is a significant issue."
"Each representative is a leader within student orgs, helping to broadcast opportunities and events that benefit other students,” added Nadin Said, the council's vice president.
Service is another facet of the ECSC's activities, said Wyche. "We volunteered at the greenhouse on campus and made Valentine's Day cards for a local nursing home. Our goal is to instill the passion of giving back to the community," he said. The council plans to partner with student organizations for future fundraisers, with proceeds going to the partnering organizations. Urgessa added, “ECSC members have already supported several CEC events, including the Fuse Building Preview, the Mason Vision Day, and the inaugural CEC Academy of Excellence.”
While Urgessa, the CEC’s director of student leadership and success, selected the initial council representatives with the help of Bekkadja and Wyche, the council plans to transition to an election-based process for selecting council members, ensuring a democratic approach to representation.
"The goal is to have a more democratic process where people submit a packet to CEC’s Dean Office, who does a brief review, and then classmates vote them into positions," said Wyche.
"George Mason is truly one of a kind, and we want to emphasize that you have the opportunity to create change and enhance the university," said Bekkadja.