Classes will no longer start 10 minutes after the hour or half hour. For example, last semester a class beginning at 1:10 p.m. would end at 2 p.m. This semester, the class would begin at 1 p.m. and end at 1:50 p.m. The change will not affect summer or intersession semesters. Faculty Senate approved the change in November 2011.
Faculty Senate also approved an instructor’s right to grade students on attendance. However, the policy is not yet in effect for the fall semester. Holding students accountable for attending class by docking points for skipping out won’t be mandatory, but will be left to individual instructors’ discretion. Any instructor who will enforce graded attendance must include that information in syllabi at the beginning of the semester according to the Faculty Senate.
This semester, Faculty Senate will vote on a resolution to implement a plus/minus grading system at the University. A committee of faculty members assigned to research the system recommended last semester that the Senate approve the resolution. If approved, the system would take months to implement, because it would require changes to the University’s course catalog and software in the Registrar’s Office.
In the last year, two initiatives have come closer to changing everyday life on campus. Initiatives to ban smoking on campus have grown stronger over the last year, and the Student Health Center is now part of the pack. However, smoking is still permitted on campus.
The University also remains a firearm free zone, but legislation that has moved through the state House of Representatives and Senate seeks less restriction on Second Amendment across the state. Whether or not guns will be allowed on campus soon will be clearer after the bill goes to public vote on Nov. 6.
The Faculty Club will begin catering to a wider audience as it extends operating hours on weekends. Evening dining from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday is aimed at offering more options for the University and Baton Rouge communities.
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