Handbook change fails in Senate

SGA Senate voted in opposition to a resolution regarding grading practices in the faculty handbook Jan. 31.

“Any time there is a change to the handbook, it must pass in the form of a resolution through all three senates: faculty, staff and student,” said Will Riley, SGA president.  

Student senators were confused during the meeting due to certain words and phrases used in the presented document. Riley searched for clarification on certain words in the amendments to help fuel the discussion.

“Does ‘re-evaluate’ mean ‘recompute’ or ‘reconsider?’” Riley said. “I was told they mean ‘recompute.’”

After clarification, senators Tyree Fletcher and Mary-Francis Wilson voiced opinions against it because they had newer versions of the document. Wilson said the document had been amended twice since the previous week’s meeting.

“We can pass it with revision,” Riley said. “We can pass it with our suggestions with what we think.”

Senate will vote on the document later this week once Riley receives an updated copy from faculty senate, Riley said.

Senate also met to discuss extended holiday breaks. SGA has been working to lengthen the breaks for the past year, but the proposal had been turned down by faculty senate due to conflicts with night classes.

Susan Sharp, guest speaker from the registrar’s office, was present to discuss plans for an extended fall or Thanksgiving break.

“If you add two extra days to one of the breaks you have to be willing to give up two days somewhere else,” Sharp said.