Senators continue to question general studies revisions

Discussion on general studies revisions dominated conversation at Monday night’s senate meeting.

Vice President James Bahensky said the Academic Review Committee will be looking at the capstone course, which will be a six-hour course. However, he said, the students will possibly have the choice to take the course over two eight-week periods, in a semester, or over a year.

Susan Schaeffer, senate sponsor, said the committee is hoping for more connectedness and interdisciplinary approaches in subjects and learning.

For the second week, student senators expressed concerns with revisions to the general studies program.

Senator-at-Large Corey Paz asked if students who did not get high enough ACT or SAT scores would be accommodated in classes and if classes would be flexible for these students.

Schaeffer said courses will meet students at different levels. She also said pre-courses would be integrated into first year studies, which are meant to introduce students to college through different, blended courses.

Junior Senator Hannah Clark, asked about students who may excel in one subject, but not in another, and how blended classes would affect that. Schaeffer said there would be options for students.

Chief Justice Nisha Durand said that although it’s good that there are questions, everything is being looked into by the Academic Review Committee, and that students would not be able to fix problems until we see the final product of the revisions.

Schaeffer added that the committee is trying.

“I have never seen professors give up their ‘piece of the pie’ to make something work,” she said. However, she said the committee is working together to integrate the general studies program.

Jamie Wada, senate sponsor, said students are asking good questions about the revisions, which is what the committee wants to hear.

Bahensky asked senators’ opinions about an online ePortfolio, which would feature major projects from all the students’ coursework.

Clark said an ePortfolio might not accommodate all classes and majors.

Bahensky said that professors will help, but it is something that will have to be worked on.

Most other senators thought the ePortfolio was a good plan for organization.

In other business, Treasurer T.J. Thomson said that there are $11,721 in un-allocated funds.

Sammy Shaykett resigned as parliamentarian. Current constitutional court member, Nathan Pindell was sworn in as new Parliamentarian.

Faye Wefso, 24, junior of Rapid City, S.D., was sworn into Constitutional Court.

Pindell said that he wanted to remind everyone of some rules such as standing when talking, and that there were to be no cell phones during meetings.

Senator Marley Waugh said that there was a technology meeting with faculty discussing the Help Desk on the Sakai website.

A suggestion at the meeting was putting computer problems on a forum rather than calling the IT department.

Waugh also said Sakai has been slow owing to problems at rSmart, not with the campus Internet connection. She added rSmart is working on fixing these problems.

Finally, she said that the IT department would be working on putting up new televisions and fixing the one in the student center to show upcoming events.

Luke Wright, CAB president, said during finals week there would be snacks in the student center as well as massage therapists.

He also said that free movie night would be Sunday.

Finally, Wright said Jamie Keller resigned as CAB Vice President, and CAB will be looking for a replacement in the spring.

Laure Sinn, student activities coordinator, said faculty from each academic building would provide snacks during finals week in the Student Center and there would be a contest to see which building had the best snacks on Wednesday.

Bahensky said the Senate Christmas Dinner would be Monday.