Volume 6 Issue 12
Appeal Board Reorganized New Guidelines Set
"Growing with a growing community."
'We, the Students
November 9, 1983
!'.f. MSC .. .'
MSC to Vote on New Constitution
by Kevin Vaughan
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Assistant Editor, The Metrapolitan
by Carson Reed
With the goal of establishing a "court of equity," the Board on Academic Standards Exceptions is drafting new guidelines for considering student appeals. According to Associate Vice President of Admissions and Records Ken Curtis, the board is hoping to make rulings on student appeals involving academic standards more consistent. For example, Curtis said, in theory a student who wanted to graduate with 115 hours instead of 120 could petition the board for an exception to the standing rule. The newly-formed board is composed of three faculty representatives, two MSC students, the vice president for acadeffiic affairs, the associate dean of admissions and records, as well as a non-voting chairperson. In addition to making rulings more consistent, the, board is trying to speed up the process, as well aS providing input to MSC President Richard Fontera concerning rulings on the appeals. "What the committee is trying to do is bring some guidelines to students," Curtis said. "And also delegate down to lower personnel the cases they would normally hear." The responsibilities of the board also include the consideration of cases involving extenuating circumstances, reviewing administrative offices and guidelines, identifying standards where there are to be no exceptions made, and making recommendations to the MSC President when an executive decision is required. But Curtis stressed that the board was not simply there to hear student appeals. "The board is viewed as a court of equity rather than an appeals board, and to me that reflects extenuating circumstances. We are trying to uphold reasonable, high standards," Curtis said. Though still in the organizing stages, the board plans to begin hearing cases just after the Thanksgiving break. "We felt the students needed something right now," Curtis said. "We'll begin hearing cases after Thanksgiving and hopefully have a greater breadth of things on campus than we had before." Of the seven member board, four votes are needed to gamer a decision, and the board will not hear a case unless at least six members are present. []
Editor, The Metropolitan
MSC students will be voting on a new constitution for student government on November 21 and 22. According to Aswciated Students of Metropolitan State College (ASMSC) President Brendan Kelly, the new version of the constitution was drafted as a result of widespread dissatisfaction with the existing constitution, which Kelly termed "vague and confusing." The new constitution, said Kelly, creates a more consistent framework for the branches of student government. "We wanted to create a structure that we could work inside of," said Kelly. "A lot of effort went into this - we wanted to create a document that would be around for the next ten years at least." The new constitution incorporates some major changes in the structure of MSCs 路student government, including creation of a student senate of 25 elected students. That senate, if the constitution is approved, would assume control over "all student fee funded activities," effectively transferring power over student fees - over $600,000 this last year - into the hands of student government. Kelly said the move was meant to provide more student input and control over those monies. continued on page 3
ASMSC President Brendan Kelly is optimistic the proposed Constitution will lead to greater student involvement. Photo by Jack Affleck
by Lisa Dell' Amore Assistant Editor, The Metropolitan
~HIJ)I~ I
A Piece of the Rock Page 4
Hearings Held On General Studies MSC Input Sought
Megacampus Part IV Page 8
The General Studies Review Subcommittee is currently holding hearings for suggestions from MSC students, faculty and staff members on a preliminary proposal for general studies requirements. Following a request by President Fontera last December, the General Studies Review Subcommittee of the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee was asked to review the general studies curriculum at MSC. President Fontera advised the subcommittee to determine whether the general studies program is meeting the needs of present and continuing students. The president is seeking a final proposal within two years. The subcommittee consists of thirteen members from the schools of
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