APSU’s psychology department will attempt to obtain a doctoral program according to Sen. Dylan Kellogg at the Wednesday, Feb. 3, Student Government Association meeting.

“The academic council voted yes [on adding the doctoral program],” Kellogg said. “This is still in the workings and won’t be here for another four or five years but it just goes to show you where the university is heading.”

SGA also confirmed four new senators at the meeting.

Hannah Reece, Travis Hodge, Sierra Salandy and Julia Matthews have now joined SGA as senators for the 2015-16 year.

Matthews joined as one of three senators for the college of behavioral and health sciences, alongside Sens. Blaine Gundersen and Glenna Beaty.

Reece joined as one of four senators for the college of business, alongside Sens. Darrin Jones, Trey Norman and Rebecca Jacks.

Hodge joined as one of four senators for the college of science and mathematics, alongside Sens. Dominic Critchlow, Dylan Kellogg and Peter Ponce.

Salandy joined as one of six senators representing the freshman class, alongside Sens. Jake Bumpus, Colin Crist, Daisia Frank, Jordan Kent and Adam Walker.

SGA Vice President Ankit Patel made all four appointments, and according to SGA President Will Roberts, more appointments will be announced during the Wednesday, Feb. 10, SGA meeting.

There was no new legislation presented at the meeting, though SGA is currently preparing for multiple events this semester including The Big Event and their yearly blood drive co-sponsored with the Student Nurses Association (SNA).

The Big Event is set for March 19, and registration is open online at apsu.edu/thebigevent.

This will be the second year SGA hosts The Big Event after it got its start at APSU with 2014-15 SGA President Zac Gillman.

SGA and SNA are also co-hosting their yearly blood drive Wednesday, Feb. 10, and Thursday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on both days.

The next SGA meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 4 p.m. in MUC 305. TAS