Within the College of Science, the reestablished Student Council is transforming how students engage with faculty, leadership, and each other. Reactivated in 2023 by Savannah Romney and Rachel Muhlestein, the council fills a void left by the pandemic, providing a platform for voices across all eight departments of the recently merged college.
The council’s mission is clear: amplify student perspectives and foster a sense of community and empowerment. Through intentional representation and specialized committees, the council has become a vital conduit between students and college leadership. “I believe that students should be able to communicate with leadership to create positive change,” Romney said.
Rachel Muhlestein
One standout project is the study aid checkout system, a program born from the council’s intentional approach to supporting student needs. By collaborating with ASUU, Romney and Muhlestein secured funding to purchase essential materials such as calculators, molecular modeling kits, and textbooks. “We wanted to make these resources available for students to check out for up to a semester,” Romney said. “That way, they wouldn’t have to purchase them on their own, which is important because college can be expensive, and access to materials can sometimes be a barrier.” These resources are currently available at the Science Advising Hive. “The materials are constantly being checked out,” said Muhlestein, who oversees the kits.
As the council continues to expand its reach, its impact is tangible throughout the College of Science. By empowering student leaders and fostering collaboration with administrators, this initiative not only bridges critical gaps but also serves as a model for transformative change across the university. “We think one of the biggest takeaways from this experience has been the ability to bring together students from all different majors,” Muhlestein said. “Whether we have students from atmospheric sciences, geology, math, physics, or biology, we’re all working toward similar goals in STEM fields, and everyone deserves equal opportunity and access to resources.”
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