2012-2013 SG Senate Meeting
4/12/2013
Present: President, Vice President, Finance Director, Public Relations,
Programming, Student Relations, Director of Services, CAST, SCB, CIAS, GCCIS, KGCOE, COLA,
COS, Women’s, Cross-Registered, CHST, Greek, Freshman, NTID, Reporter, Graduate, CAB,
Global Union, NSC, RHA, WITR, SAAC, ACA, OCASA, Ace, Staff Council, Dr. Pine, and Dr. Heath.
Absent: Director of Clubs and Organizations, OUTspoken, Academic Senate, and Content
Manager.
Called To Order at 1:00 pm
Approval of Minutes:
-4/5/13
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1st by CIAS, 2nd by NTID.
For: 13, Opposed: 0, Abstentions: 1
Minutes pass as submitted
New Business:
Student Leave of Absence Policy
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Student Leave of Absence Policy: Student Success Steering Committee, recommendations. Dr.
Lacatoa the associate provost was going to be here, but is at a funeral today. The LOA policy
(current policy), co-chaired a committee to look at this policy. Basically current policy is about 3
sentences long; however it has some good stuff within those sentences. A student leaves and is
guaranteed a spot in the university, and their program will be completed in timely manner upon
their return to campus. Easier to use, and support student’s success (support if leaving for
amount of time and support once they come back.) President and Provost request in March
2012, student success committee from all over campus looking at issues on campus that affect
success. IPEDS at the national level have retention calculations (pull data and can rank) Calculate
in a way that LOA’s don’t count towards persistors. IPEDS doesn’t consider LOA’s as persistors
(students on campus). Wanted to find out if policy was really supporting student’s success.
Freshman who take LOA, 1 in 4 were actually coming back for their second year. Those that take
LOA, 1 in 5 are graduating. Variability amongst colleges of how approving and number
approved. Is LOA student privilege or student right? Then looked at case studies and found that
LOA has a lot of misconceptions. Programs expected to approve LOA’s, misguided generosity,
LOA helps retention (doesn’t look like this with our numbers). A lot of our peer institutions
emphasis on continuous enrollment “in the door, out in 4.” Policy analysis: more structured
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approach, require written request and stated reason, not automatically granted, requires
consultation with advisor and academic unit, re-entry planning required. Reviewed RIT’s LOA
policy language: maintain original intent, collect rationale for LOA. Review implementation
procedures: process and decision-making criteria. Recommend needed changes. Essentially the
sub-committee wanted to lengthen the language. 1) Establish purpose of LOA, leaves and still
has seat when comes back, flexibility in extenuating circumstances, assure student can complete
program requirements, assure student. 2) 2 Leave of absences: Planned LOA: Request for
upcoming term, complete in current term. Second is immediate LOA (Extenuating
Circumstances): requested after term begins, prior to add/drop. 3) Modify Request and
Approval Process. Require LOA request form with stated reason. Require meeting with academic
advisor discuss reason for leave request, require approval by academic unit, if denied, advisor
discusses best course of action with student (can deny with god reason). Maybe students don’t
need to take entire leave <- not to make to keep everyone here but are there alternative
options? 4) establish use of reentry plan to ensure success upon return: At time of LOA request:
advisor and student develop re-entry plan. At time of planned return: Student reviews progress
on plan with advisor, advisor ensures enrollment appointment is assigned; advisor ensures
communication occurs with department head. 5) Length of LOA (up to 3 consecutive terms)
including summer but not intercession. Extension is possible (special circumstances).
Implications for Student in LOA: Pre/post meetings with academic advisor regarding re-entry
plan, opportunity to discuss alternatives, opportunity to understand implications of LOA on
progress toward degree (financial aid), support mechanisms recommended for re-entry
(tutoring, one on one coaching, academic coaching). University Implications: Student Support
and Success: Advisor role increased. Operations: Fewer refunds/tuition adjustments.
Departments: Training in new procedures, policy revisions require “high-touch” practices and
support the team approach. Related Policy Review D18.1: Student Involuntary Leave, D2.C2:
Admission Policy (full time student, withdrawals). Action Needed: Endorsement from each
governance group.
SR: Major concern of mine, page one denial access of Wallace center. If they go someplace else,
don’t have access to their section (isolated). For undergrad, may not have financial means with
family emergency (Wallace center someplace warm to study, by denying student access to these
places, those are my larger concerns).
Student Leave of Absence Policy: We looked into that after Institute Council: We will continue
with the presentation as is, and then talk to Grad Council about reaching. Someone had
mentioned Cornell’s policy and may go off of that. Their id gets shut off. Username and
password is maintained for online resources. With Wallace Center, it’s about taking out
expensive materials. This works to advantage of those on leave looking for jobs or coops.
SR: Meeting with advisors, could be an academic advisor, will this stay through to final policy?
Are you forced to meet with your academic advisor, or meet with academic unit?
Student Leave of Absence Policy: We are talking about that point person so far. It has come up
in other meetings as well, smaller units may not have professional staff advisor around 24-7,
maybe faculty would not just be that.
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SR: Flexibility with meeting style. Not on campus for those meetings.
Student Leave of Absence Policy: I would imagine flexible to have that conversation remotely. In
a situation can’t have communications, and then put on hold until more information is provided.
VP: All in favor of supporting the policy?
17 in favor 2 abstentions.
Stephanie (Policy): If anything comes up or you have more later, just let us know!
Did you know? RIT:
Performance by Latin Rhythm
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Will be performing at next week’s meeting.
Senate Reports:
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SR: Next week Institute Council. All MSO’s have a seat.
WITR: Announce that Friday next week concert in Lovin Cup with Kopps, Wholesale Club and
lots of others. It’s at 9 pm and is free with RIT id.
CHST: Tomorrow is the Rochester Heart Walk. If you are in downtown Rochester area, come
down and watch and support, you can donate online CHST RIT team.
COLA: Next week Thursday, the Grand Opening celebration of the lounge from 4-6 pm!!
Eastman building 1st floor. Free water bottles for COLA students.
COS: Tomorrow the 13th, Alpha Phi Sigma, first annual 5k run walk. Professor who passed away 2
years ago. Best Chemistry teacher!
NSC: Lots of exciting events! Tonight 4-6 Pulse Happy Hour. Save the environment theme this
week. Tomorrow first SG deaf president at 1-4. Big Event of Brick Fest next Friday. Pep rally at
8:30 get everyone excited for Brick fest. The last one is Ellie’s Walk, 5 k walk run next week the
27th!
CAB: Macklemore is sold out! On top of that, after pulse happy hour, top 3 Greek houses at 6
pm in building 8. President’s Cup.
VP: Angela Stallone Club Bash 5-7 on Monday. Second, thanks to those who came to the Event!
LGBT Conference is this weekend! For all that can come! SG sign up for office to hang out and
keep the office more welcoming! ACE is holding elections, looking for people to run for
President and Vice President. Will be having a discussion on TE3 next few weeks. Maybe charge
students for the bus, can’t keep it sustainable,
Old Business:
Speak to the Senate:
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None
Committee Reports:
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VP: Committee reports?
Pres: Update on Global Committee, helping to develop with a formal process for cabinet and
senate over in Zahgreb. Next week will have a meeting with Dr. Watters and MBC, work with
Paul and us.
CHST: Looking for individuals who are interested in smoking policy. More student s interested
would be very helpful. I can’t make all of the meetings right now.
Advisor Reports:
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VP: Advisor reports?
KP: The Link, have half of the groups that are transferred and put in pages and loaded in
information, which is actually a pretty good number. Working on personally contacting other
groups. For those who don’t at end of year, have some manual things to do. We just don’t want
a lot. Event Management launch will be delayed, from EVR to new one. Some things going on,
didn’t want to make everyone miserable, hope to have something in place before opening in
Fall. April 29th, sign idol, have issued a challenge that I will open the show with costume,
gestures, and performance. Full costume with green face from Wicked. At 9 pm in Ingle. I will be
regarding the next few weeks.
VP: I kept last week’s quote, because we didn’t go over it. Did keep for this week, Fernando, you
inspired me.
SR: Sprint Football team on campus, 57-6 last game. Roc City Thunder. $8 a ticket for student.
April 21st at 3 pm in Gordon Field House.
WITR: We will be broadcasting that
Adjourned at 1:41 pm
Motioned by GU, 2nd by SAAC