The University Senate voted yesterday to change the deadline for adding courses from two weeks to one week after the first day of classes.

After the one week, students will need to obtain the permission of the instructor before adding the class, as they do with the current system, following the two-week period.

Proponents of the motion argued that when students could add a course after a full two week period, they missed much work and introductory information. A one-week period would minimize the amount of catch-up work.

Both students and professors can benefit from the change because it helps them to establish concrete enrollment numbers for each course earlier, and learn how many seats are left in the course, some senators said.

If students decide to add a course a week earlier, then students on the wait list will learn if they can get in that much earlier. Other students may drop some classes more quickly to add others sooner, freeing up space for wait-listed students.

Students taking lab courses also miss too much lab time if they add a course two weeks into it, said Tom Sherman, an associate professor in the department of art media studies.

But opponents to the motion argued that students need two weeks to ‘shop around’ and determine if they should add the class or not.

‘We want to work this issue to make the process as easy as possible for the students,’ said Andrew Lederman, president of the Student Association. ‘Only one week isn’t enough time for a student to see what’s good for them, and it’s easier for them to decide without going through all the paperwork.’

Students also may need the extra week to solve other problems, such as financial aid complications.

‘Some students depend on financial aid and can’t get their resources within that week,’ said Linda Carty, chair of the African-American studies program.

Several students expressed disapproval at the Senate’s decision.

‘I’m very upset and disturbed that faculty members see it as shifting the burden onto the students when students shouldn’t have to go through that added work,’ Lederman said.

The Senate did not spend enough time discussing the proposed change with students, faculty and administrators before making its decision, said Travis Mason, SA vice president. The proposal came before the Senate in mid-March, and therefore they only had one month to consider it.

But if more students had attended the meeting to express their concerns, then the Senate may have been more swayed by students’ opinions, said Jessica Cordova, chair of the SA Board of Elections and Membership.

‘If student senators actually showed up to make the decision, the outcome might’ve been different,’ Cordova said.

In other USen news:

n The Senate also debated a motion by the Committee on Academic Affairs to change the policy on timing for tenure review of untenured faculty. Tenure gives professors more benefits and provides job security.

Within the motion, an untenured faculty member can have a tenure probationary period of no more than seven years at SU. The current policy, however, includes years of full-time service in any accredited college or university, and cannot exceed a period of seven years at SU.

The proposed policy also would also allow candidates to be considered only once for tenure, and after the formal tenure review process begins, they cannot withdraw from consideration and reapply later.

The Committee on Academic Freedom, Tenure and Professional Ethics does not support the motion, said chair and Sen. Diane Murphy.

The motion also can limit academic freedom, as professors would be less apt to speak or act freely if they do not have tenure, and they need tenure because it provides economic security.

Because the senators had many questions and considerations about the issue, they voted to have the committee review and make changes to the motion and reintroduce it next fall.

n The Senate also voted in favor of the creation of a new master’s of arts program within the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications called the Arts Journalism Program. The program will consist of 36 credits and will work within the School of Architecture, The College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Visual and Performing Arts and Newhouse.

n Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw, chairman of the Senate, received thanks and approval from the Senate for his actions and role during his time at SU.

‘It’s been my pleasure to work with the Senate to watch it strength itself and strengthen its resolve,’ Shaw said.

Published on April 14, 2004 at 12:00 pm