[Special] 2025 DGU Election Hearing – Day1

   On November 18th, Tuesday, 2025, the third session of the public hearing for the Dongguk University student council election was held. The hearing began at 6 P.M. and continued for roughly 70 minutes. After the main session, four colleges— the College of Humanities “Saeum,” the College of Buddhist Studies “Noeul,” the College of Engineering “CONNECT,” and the College of Business Administrative Council slate “BIZ-ON”—participated in a series of candidate question-and-answer rounds.

   As in previous hearings, both the initial and follow-up questions focused on each slate’s key policies, feasibility, and plans for student engagement. The Dongguk Post submitted its own set of questions tailored to each college-level slate, ensuring no overlap with other media outlets. This report summarizes the questions addressed to the College of Humanities, the College of Buddhist Studies, the College of Engineering, and the College of Business Administration.

1.College of Humanities

Q. A plan was announced to promote interdepartmental friendship programs within the College of Humanities. Please explain the specific activities or operational methods currently under consideration.

    The Myeongjin Sports Festival is planned as a joint tournament with the College of Natural Sciences, with teams formed by individual departments. The event will be designed as a large-scale program featuring official sports along with various side events to encourage broad participation.

    Additionally, a joint band performance is being prepared to bring together band clubs across departments. This initiative aims to highlight each group’s unique style while fostering collaboration, particularly as several Humanities departments already operate band clubs.

Q. A branding project for the College of Humanities was proposed. What procedures and methods will be used to implement this initiative?

    To reflect the value of a “jointly created” college identity, an open contest will be held through the official College of Humanities Instagram account. After releasing shortlisted designs, the final selection will be determined through student voting. The contest is scheduled to begin in March, at the start of the 2026 academic year.

    The selected character will be used in merchandise designs, event posters, Instagram content, card news, and other promotional materials. Students whose designs are selected will receive commemorative gifts, and copyright ownership will be transferred to the college through a formal agreement. Merchandise will be produced in group-purchase format to reduce individual financial burden.

Q. Regarding the career exploration lecture series, what fields or job categories are being considered when inviting speakers, given the diverse career paths of Humanities students?

    The lecture series will encompass a wide range of topics. For lower-year students, sessions will address double majors, the teaching certification track, and exchange programs conducted by senior students with direct experience to ensure realistic and accessible discussions.

    For employment-related lectures, a student survey will be conducted early in the year to identify areas of interest. Based on anticipated demand, speakers from business management, finance, and education fields are expected to be invited, with efforts made to provide diverse opportunities for student engagement.

Q. Concerning the pledge to support certification and exam preparation, what criteria will be applied to determine the scope of eligible certifications and exams?

    The primary criterion will be whether the certification or exam provides substantial academic or career-related benefits for Humanities students. The scope will be determined according to two main principles. First, priority will be given to qualifications aligned with the academic nature of the College of Humanities, particularly second-language certifications widely pursued by students such as HSK, JPT, JLPT, and TOEIC Speaking. Second, the scope may be adjusted flexibly depending on partnership possibilities with relevant institutions. Periodic demand surveys will identify which exams or courses students ｒｅｑｕｉｒｅ, and additional support will be arranged through collaborations with institutions capable of offering sponsorship or discounts.

Q. Plans were presented to pursue facility improvements, including classroom upgrades. What standards and procedures will be used to determine which facilities will be prioritized?

    Facility improvement is an issue that generates consistent student feedback. For instance, a request for window screen installation was ｉｎｃｌｕｄｅd in the 2025 student demand report, and the matter remains unresolved. Efforts are planned to address this issue starting in 2026.

    Budget allocation will follow the structure outlined in the 2025 proposal, under which the university agreed to review and assign funding. Following the university’s assessment, active engagement in detailed negotiations will occur to ensure transparent communication of Humanities students’ concerns.

2. Department of Buddhist Studies

Q. Regarding the career mentoring initiative, what criteria will be applied when selecting alumni mentors, and how will the program be structured and operated?

    A preliminary survey will be conducted among all students in the department to determine which fields should be prioritized. Many students in the Buddhist Studies Department pursue double majors, and considerable interest has been expressed regarding the decision-making process for choosing a secondary field of study.

    Accordingly, alumni who previously selected double majors will be invited to hold an informational session, creating a space where students can discuss their concerns and share experiences related to academic pathways.

Q. For the academic temple stay and sunset meditation program, a comprehensive explanation of the operational procedures would be appreciated.

    For the academic temple stay, the first step will be a preliminary review of temples willing to host the program. Based on the findings, the student council will proceed with consultations and subsequently open participant registration. Unlike previous academic temple stays, which lacked preparatory activities and began directly with the temple visit, the renewed program will incorporate advance sessions enabling students to acquire academic background knowledge before engaging in on-site experiences.

    For the sunset meditation program, a practice room will be reserved during hours when most students have completed their classes. The session will follow a structured sequence: stretching, meditation, and writing and sharing gratitude journals. Approximately five minutes will be devoted to stretching, followed by a ten-minute guided meditation with calming music. The gratitude journal activity will provide an opportunity for stress relief and mutual understanding through sharing.

Q. Concerning the pledge to produce department apparel, what procedures and stages will be followed throughout the process?

    A demand survey will first be conducted to determine preferred apparel types and acceptable price ranges. After reviewing cost estimates from multiple vendors, the design will be finalized, and the selected pricing and design will be announced before production proceeds.

Q. In relation to the initiative to conduct satisfaction surveys for each event, how will the results be incorporated into future planning or policy decisions?

    For recurring events—such as late-night snack kits and similar programs—the survey results will be reviewed during preparatory meetings. If improvements are identified as necessary, they will be reflected in future events.

    Feedback regarding the overall operation of student council programs will be discussed at the meeting immediately following the collection of survey responses. As a result, the data will serve as a reference for regular projects and broader policy considerations.

Q. Regarding the expansion of the online suggestion box, how will the scope of the system be broadened, and through what internal procedures will submitted suggestions be reviewed and processed?

    Access to the suggestion box will be expanded by posting a Naver Form link prominently in the department’s group chat. Submitted suggestions will be reviewed on a weekly basis, and relevant items will be added to the agenda of the next regular student council meeting for discussion and processing.

3. College of Engineering

Q. Regarding the pledge to support funding for small-group activities in the College of Engineering, what standards will define eligible groups, and how will the approval process be structured?

    Eligibility will be limited to small groups led primarily by Engineering students whose activities align with academic, creative, or community-building objectives. Groups will be ｒｅｑｕｉｒｅd to present consistent activity records and meet minimum membership ｒｅｑｕｉｒｅments.

    The approval process will be carried out in a manner that ensures transparency and fairness. Applications and activity plans submitted by small groups will first undergo review by the Student Council’s internal evaluation committee. Based on the scale of the requested budget and the purpose of the proposed activities, support will then be allocated according to prioritized rankings.

Q. Concerning the facility monitoring team initiative, what motivated the creation of a separate monitoring body despite the existing responsibilities of the university’s facility management division? 

    Although the university’s facility management division oversees general maintenance, the proposed monitoring team aims to address gaps in the administration-centered system by providing immediate feedback. Many students are unaware of where or how to report facility-related issues, and updates on resolution processes are not consistently communicated.

    The CONNECT council plans to establish a centralized online intake system to collect reports from Engineering buildings and relay them to the appropriate university office. While the university remains the managing authority, the student council will function as a liaison to ensure rapid communication and response.

Q. For the pledge to operate maintenance reporting desks in Wonheung Hall and the New Engineering Building, what procedures will be followed in coordinating with the university, and how will the reporting and processing system be structured?

    This initiative seeks to standardize communication between students and the university. Administrative discussions will be conducted at a later stage. Reports will be submitted through an online portal and forwarded to the Engineering Academic Affairs Office for processing and follow-up.

Q. What operational structure is planned for the Engineering Joint Unity Festival? If joint hosting with other universities is being considered, which institutions are under review?

    The Engineering Joint Unity Festival is intended as an internal event rather than an inter-university exchange. Its goal is to strengthen community ties and reduce barriers between Engineering departments. Each department will designate a set number of participants, and programs will be organized to promote networking across majors. The planning division will lead the initiative in cooperation with other student council departments.

Q. Regarding the Engineering Secondhand Book Exchange initiative, what format will be adopted, and how will item management and operations be organized?

    The secondhand book exchange aims to establish a sustainable welfare system allowing students to obtain major-related textbooks at reduced cost. The program will operate in a hybrid online–offline format. Online exchanges will be conducted through the student council’s official social media channels, allowing students to request and claim available books. Offline exchanges will take place in the Engineering Student Council Office, which will serve as a space for donation, storage, and distribution. Management duties will be distributed among divisions: the Information & Academic Affairs Division will oversee system operations, the Communications Division will handle online postings, and departmental councils will assist with book classification and storage.

4. College of Business Administration

Q. Regarding the corporate visitation program, are there any companies currently under consideration or being discussed? Additionally, what format is being planned for the visitation program?

The current plan is to target accounting firms or corporate departments. However, in order to ensure high participation and provide information that Business School students genuinely need, a demand survey will be conducted prior to selecting any specific company. Based on the results, companies will be chosen according to students’ fields of interest.

The visitation program is expected to ｉｎｃｌｕｄｅ an on-site tour of the company, an introduction to the organization and its work, and a Q&A session with current employees.

Q. For the career-oriented employment seminar linked to the corporate visitation initiative, which companies or speakers are expected to be invited, and how will the seminar be structured?

It should be noted that the corporate visitation program and the career-oriented employment seminar are separate events. The seminar will focus on expanding career possibilities for Business School students by inviting speakers from different areas, such as entrepreneurship or marketing. The seminar will consist of explanations of job responsibilities, essential skills and qualifications ｒｅｑｕｉｒｅd for the field, and future career prospects, followed by a Q&A session.

Q. Concerning the pledge to expand support for small groups and academic societies, what changes are expected compared to the previous support system, and what forms of enhanced support are currently planned?

The expansion of support for small groups and academic societies is expected to encourage the creation of new organizations and promote active interaction and experiences beyond students’ majors.

First, newly established groups will receive support for their initial activity expenses through a payback system. This support will apply to newly founded groups within the Business School, and funding will be provided in proportion to the number of participants once activities are verified. Second, a bulletin board for small groups and academic societies will be established, enabling groups to promote themselves, attract members, and sustain long-term activity.

Q. Regarding the pledge to offer monthly cultural events, what types of programs are being considered, and what general direction is currently under review?

The monthly cultural event initiative aims to create an enjoyable and lively campus environment by offering small but frequent activities. Programs currently under consideration ｉｎｃｌｕｄｅ: a failed timetable contest, an April Fool’s Day school uniform event, a time capsule project, a mini MT, and athletic events.

Q. Concerning the plan to activate the KakaoTalk Channel, what changes or expanded features will be introduced compared to the previous notice-only system?

The primary goal of the KakaoTalk Channel activation initiative is to establish a communication platform through which students can easily share their opinions. To achieve this, efforts will be made to increase awareness of the channel through Instagram promotions and the placement of QR codes on bulletin boards, thereby improving accessibility. The channel will also be used to collect input for projects such as business proposal contests. Additionally, we will utilize KakaoTalk Channel to consolidate and organize announcements and student council event information.