SIMPSON – The Student Government Association (SGA) passed a resolution Wednesday, November 16, to encourage the college administration to sign the EPIC Corporate Challenge.
The EPIC Corporate Challenge outlines goals that promote the retention, hiring, equal payment, and leadership of women within organizations that sign on to the challenge. The state of Iowa, Drake and many other corporations and institutions have already committed to this challenge.
“Simpson College promotes women’s leadership in many areas of the institution, but there is always room for improvement,” said Sen. Britney Samuelson (Sr.) who has spearheaded the effort behind the Challenge. “When I discovered the EPIC Corporate Challenge, I thought it was the perfect way to hold the college accountable to investing in female leadership at the school. After talking with President Simmons and his Cabinet, we learned that the EPIC challenge aligned perfectly with the goals that the administration were already discussing.”
Pierce Carey said “As chair of the advocacy committee I wanted the SGA to make an impact on the diversity on campus. This resolution is a major step forward in promoting women in leadership and reaching that ambitious goal of my committee.”
Members of the SGA’s Advocacy Committee, chaired by Sophomore Class President Pierce Carey, met with President Jay Simmons and members of his Cabinet to discuss the EPIC Corporate Challenge. Of the five areas of improvement put forward by the EPIC Corporate Challenge, the Cabinet agreed to move forward with two (listed below):
-To increase the retention rate of women at all levels within Simpson
-To monitor, discover and address gender-based pay gaps
A third area of improvement, to increase the number of women on the Simpson College Board of Trustees, will be put before the Board at their next meeting in January. If the proposal is approved, the Cabinet will agree to all three areas. If not, the board will move ahead with only the previously mentioned two areas of improvement.
The challenge has not yet been officially signed by the college but the SGA has resolved that it should be adopted.
For more information on The EPIC Challenge: https://www.iwlcleads.org/epic/
Full resolution:
Members of the Student Advocacy Committee:
Britney Samuelson, Casey Nichols, Pierce Carey, Drew Roen, Kelsey Schott
Simpson College Student Government Association 