Syracuse University’s Senate passed a motion Wednesday to ask Chancellor Kent Syverud to extend the class registration deadline until the end of the academic drop session for students with financial holds.

A second motion was presented to the Senate body that would create an ad hoc committee to help students avoid financial difficulties so they can register on time. Syverud said at the meeting he supported the motions and viewed them as urgent for the summer registration period. He said he would do what he could for the current registration period.

Crystal Bartolovich, an associate professor of English, presented the bill with sophomore Ryan Golden, the Student Association’s Academic Affairs Committee chair. In October, SA voted to call on SU to end the policy that prohibits students with financial holds from registering and attending classes.

“We think that it’s important that students are able to register for their classes,” said Golden, who is also a University Senator. “We do think there are alternative methods to making sure the financial situations are remedied rather than just holding them in their ability to register hostage.”

After the motion to create the committee was passed, Francine D’Amico, a professor in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, presented the second motion to urge Syverud to find a solution for students who were barred from registration for spring classes.

The senators passed another motion which approved the six shared competencies for undergraduate education: ethics, integrity, and commitment to diversity and inclusion; critical and creative thinking; scientific inquiry and research skills; civic and global responsibility; communication skills; and information literacy and technological agility.

“We really believe that these competencies will serve us well in ensuring consistency in undergraduate learning and considers a framework for improving an undergraduate education at Syracuse University,” said Mary Graham, a professor in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

The shared competencies will be implemented in different ways across different colleges, said Robert Van Gulick, a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Shared Competencies. No courses of application were specified at the meeting, even when questioned. The first competency will be assessed in fall 2019.

Michele Wheatly, vice chancellor and provost, said the first-year experience will be a shared reading program in fall 2019.

She has asked Deans Karin Ruhlandt and David Van Slyke of the College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell, respectively, to help develop a proposal for a new first year experience, Wheatly said. She said the full proposal will be ready to present in March, but for fall 2019, Interim Chief Diversity Officer Keith Alford will assist in choosing the book.

Syverud, in his report, said he has charged the search committee with finding a chief diversity officer co-chair, which is being spearheaded by Dolan Evanovich, senior vice president for enrollment and the student experience, and LaVonda Reed, associate provost for faculty affairs.

Other business

The Disability External Review Committee will select a firm in January to conduct the university-wide review of disability accessibility, Syverud said in his report to the Senate. He added the early decision acceptances to SU will be sent out soon and he’s happy with the quality and diversity of the pool.

Wheatly said the university is reviewing the faculty salaries for gender equity and expects there to be adjustments in the future.

Published on December 12, 2018 at 7:45 pm

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