OG Resolution Tabled Until Further Notice
At last Thursday's moderately attended meeting, the vote on the proposed resolution to change OG membership was put off to allow certain specifications to be made. Having gone over the resolution, Bentley Cook, a junior gownsman, noticed that the resolution had left out essential details like the need for faculty approval and when the measures would take effect. Other people voiced their concern that the motion was intentionally vague about what "active participation" meant and whether submitting a letter would accomplish this goal. Moreover, several gownsmen voiced concern over the fact that Proctors would lose their OG rights. Since proctors are leaders on campus and are supposed to be representatives of the University, many felt that that warrants gownsmen status. The resolution will be amended and be put on the agenda for the next meeting, which is set for early March.
College Faculty Meeting
The College Faculty's February 4th meeting brought a few noteworthy measures. After some opening remarks and a few formalities, the committee got straight to work passing a measure that raises the standard for retention of several scholarships from the current 3.0 to 3.1 at the end of freshman year and 3.2 at the end of each subsequent year. The Standards Committee noticed that sophomores and juniors who had lost their merit scholarships at the end of freshman year had a hard time making the .25 jump needed to regain their awards. The scholarships affected include the Adams, Baldwin, Benedict, Vice-Chancellor's, Franklin County High School, and Wilkins and become effective for class of 2014 (the incoming freshman) and later classes.
Amid such economic turbulence, the endowment is surprisingly up. The University's Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Jerry Forster, reported that while the endowment was down to $246 million in June of 2009, it recovered slightly to $284 million by December. A surprising shift considering that the economy is still in a recession. While this increase shows improvement, the endowment remains a shadow of its former glory of $315 million in June of 2007. However, the discount rate on student fees (need and merit based aid provided by the University to help cover costs) has increased drastically from 36% to a projected 41%, with each 1% increase representing a $500,000 revenue decrease. To compensate for this huge jump, the admissions office will have to expand applicants by 200 to 3,000 with a resulting 410 matriculates (enrolled students). Applications have been up this year to 2,690, a slight increase compared to this time last year, however this number comes with some "front loading" of the application process. Jay Fisher, acting Dean of Admission hopes to get a "10% [increase in applications] above last year." Regardless, more people are trying to negotiate financial aid, which increases discount rates.
The faculty also unanimously passed three new courses for next year: Teaching Writing in the Community (EDC 221), a half-credit course that is going to be offered next Easter Semester and taught by Dr. Craighill; Anglo-Saxon Language and Literature, a full credit course taught by Dean Bruce; and Latin American Film, an upper level Spanish course offered by Professor Chinchilla.
Student Assembly
The SA appears to be on "recess"-- or at least they are not doing anything. On last notice, they have yet to meet this semester. It looks like another semester-let alone year-of an apathetic, ineffective student government, but they do have a Facebook group. At least that is something.
Be the first to comment on this article!