Academic Affairs Committee
Monday, April 21, 2008, 3:45-5:00pm
Frost Academic Commons
Present: Robin DeRosa, Deb Tobine, Cynthia Vascak, Scott Coydendall, David Zehr, Christian Bisson, Dick Hage, Mark Fischler, Linda Levy, Ali Dethlefs (Student), Gene Martin (Student), David Mackey, Excused: Gene Fahey
Minutes
Announcements:
The Attendance Policy is coming to faculty meeting next month.
82 respondents to the advising survey – Linda will review the results.
Robin reviewed the most common points from the Gift report.
- Some people were unhappy with the pace of the AAC committee at the beginning of the academic year when we dealt with advising
- People would like to meet more often and longer.
1. Leave of Absence Policy
David Z. – Presented a draft of a new “leave of absence policy” for the undergraduate program.
Gene M. – Asked if students have to be matriculated before asking for a leave of absence. – YES
Gene M. – Indicated that the word “payments” should not be removed from condition #4. – YES
Gene M. – Suggested we indicate that students taking a leave of absence should be aware that perhaps their parent health insurance might be suspended.
David Mc – Asked Dick H. what is the financial impact of these students leaving the institution – Dick gave a figure that the cost might be about $7000.00 per year.
Scott – Is asking why this policy can be applied only to students in good standing? David Z. indicated that it is consistent with other similar policies in other institutions.
Dick H. – Supported the question brought up by Scott and wondered if we should not allow students in probation apply for a “leave of absence.”
Deb – Explained that the “good standing policy” is used as a condition because students that have been severe cannot come back without meeting certain conditions.
Robin – Proposed that perhaps we should remove good academic standing and replace it by student “cannot be severed.”
Mark – Argued that perhaps we should not encourage student that are in probation to benefit from a leave of absence policy.
Mark – Asked what do we do when a student is not successful academically because a family crisis occurred in their life? – Dick H. responded that we allow them to withdraw.
Dick H. – Felt that it is a good intended policy but that most students will not take advantage of it since they often leave without letting the administration know about their plans.
Linda – Reminded us that perhaps the advisor can help remind students that are not coming to their advisor meeting that they might want to benefit from the leave of absence policy.
Dick H. – Wondered if our registration system could not send a prompting question to the student that do not register for classes about the “leave of absence” option.
Deb – Explained that the leave of absence policy was removed in initially because before we used Banner at PSU it was difficult to keep track of who had left the school and for how long.
David Z. – Reminded us that the new “leave of absence” policy is simply trying to be in part with the Frost School Policy.
Robin – Proposed that we record the modifications presented earlier and vote to accept the minor friendly amendments proposed by Gene M.
Vote: Unanimous
Amendment about the academic status of the applicant: “student with good academic standing” change to “Student that have been academically severe cannot apply for a Leave of Absence.”
Vote: 11 yes 1 No 1 Abstained
Motion to send the new “Leave of Absence” Policy on to the Holmes Group for discussion.
Vote: Unanimous
David – Will go to the Holmes Group to enquire about the detailed on how to implement this new policy.
2. Class absence due to Room Selection
Robin – Presented that a case where a student requested to be excused from class because she had to pick a room for next year. No ground for absence – the campus housing staff responded that they cannot request to miss class to select their room.
Next Time:
Report from the advising survey.
ACC members will elect a new chair.
Create a summer plan regarding some un-going tasks.
Prepare for advising training for new faculty and for returning faculty (Faculty Week).
Diversity Issue: Dick, Robin.
Need an interim Academic Integrity Panel since Scott will be in sabbatical next fall.
David Mc. will not be returning to the ACC next year.