Associated Student 'Student Bill of Rights' gets Academic Senate endorsement

By Laban Pelz

The Academic Senate unanimously endorsed the Associated Students’ “Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities” Monday, after resolving a dispute concerning the responsibility of faculty.

The bill was first given to the Senate for endorsement March 29, but was rejected due to its requirement that professors give students their class syllabus during the first week of the semester.

“ We wanted professors to turn in their syllabus by the first week of class, and they (Senate) had a problem with it,” said Maria Sofia Corona, chair of the AS Legal Committee. “They were on board for everything else.”

The bill now says faculty need to provide syllabi before the last day to drop classes without a serious and compelling reason, which typically takes place during the second week of the semester.

Corona said students receiving syllabi in a timely manner is a pressing matter.

“ Some professors don’t give out syllabi, or give it out late,” she said. “Students need the syllabus so they know to add or drop a class.”

Academic Senate Chair Barbara Birch said the Senate already has a policy on syllabi, which was in conflict with the Student Bill’s wording. She also said there is an expectation that professors distribute syllabi on the first day of class.

After the March 29 meeting with the Senate, AS revised the passage in question, though, Corona saidthere is nothing in the Academic Policy Manual that contradicts the original wording.

Searching the manual, Birch could not find any passage addressing syllabi.

“ Maybe it’s under another policy,” she said, “but I don’t think so.”

The new wording in the bill, under Article VIII: Section 4, says professors must “distribute a syllabus before the date to drop a class…”

“ It’s an excellent document, and we were happy to endorse it,” said Birch, who also said the Senate’s policy on the matter will be changed to concur with the Student Bill.

Due to the changes made Monday, the revised version will be brought before AS representatives once again for approval Thursday, April 29. It will then be placed before University President John Welty for approval.