Big-ticket items:
Pass or fail grading systems
- There is consideration of moving to a pass or fail grading system for the Spring 2020 semester. President Jacob Lockhart discussed this system is being discussed within Faculty Senate and a meeting at 8:00 a.m. today with key personnel across campus.
- The system will likely be an opt-out or opt-in basis, where students will either choose to be included or not. There will be further details to come describing the impact it would have on GPA, grade discrepancies, other universities partaking in the process and further incite into how the system will work.
- The Movimiento Activista Social (Social Activist Movement) has started a petition to allow students to choose to be graded on a pass or fail system.
Lockhart to email
- Lockhart said he plans to send out two emails soon.
- “The first one is going to be regarding student space and athletics for students. It’s going to be a student wide email. And then I’m going to send out a second one to seniors to get feedback on the future of commencement and what would be the best way to recognize senior and graduate achievements,” Lockhart said.
ASUI elections
- ASUI elections have moved entirely online, and the deadline to submit packets has been extended a week. Vice President Faustine Moulton said packets will be due online March 30. Few candidates are running currently, and ASUI would like to see more candidates to run for positions.
- “We are the first line of contact for a lot of students and I’d like to make sure that we’re prepared to advocate… there is a lot of important work that we do behind the scenes,” Moulton said Your positions are not obsolete right now, and especially during this time we have an opportunity as well as an obligation to support and lead the student body.”
Vandal Food Pantry
- The Senate is allocating $500 from their budget to use for the Vandal Food Pantry, the bill Senate Bill NO. S20 B10 will provide $250 in emergency food grants to two students who are in need, given the COVID-19 pandemic.
Small Ticket items
- The Senate passed another bill allowing changes to the rules and regulations during the events of campus closure, national, state or local emergency. Senate Bill NO. S20 B09 will allow the suspension of all governing documents and rather be used as guidelines to be followed to the best of ASUI’s ability.
- Students should also look out for open forums held via Zoom, where anyone can join.
- The Counseling and Testing Center is doing distance appointments, outlined on their website.
- With the cancelation of Finals Fest, ASUI is looking at the possibility of an opening concert for next fall semester.
ASUI encourages students to reach out to them to discuss matters that are occurring during these times. You can reach out to ASUI through their Facebook or website.
Brandon Roberts can be reached at [email protected]