In an effort to set grade point average and credit hour requirements for student leaders of recognized student organizations, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Stafford wrote a regulation that met mixed feelings Wednesday night by members of Student Government at a meeting in which Stafford did not appear.
The regulation states that those running for leadership roles in recognized student organizations cannot have a course load below 12 credit hours, must not have a GPA under 2.5 and must have no active disciplinary sanctions.
According to the regulation though, a student may have help from his or her organization’s adviser in devising a plan of action to increase one’s GPA to a satisfactory level.
“In every scenario, each person has an opportunity to voice his or her case and work with an adviser,” Evelyn Reiman, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, said.
Members of Student Government debated what to do about the regulation, with some voicing feelings of support and academic responsibility, while others disagreed, saying students deserve a second chance at recovering from a poor semester.
“My fear is that some unforeseen situation would occur and a student would be told ‘no,'” Student Body Treasurer Adam Compton said.
Student Body President Will Quick who is in favor of the regulations said the plan has an “appropriate recovery strategy.”
“I have full faith in the ability of the advisers to make good choices for the students,” Quick said. “I don’t think there needs to be a task force because the recovery strategies are adequate.”
The Student Senate passed a bill, proposed by Senator James Hankins, that would ask the administration to create a task force of students to voice their concerns about the regulation.
Reiman, who said she opposes the task force, said she hopes to have the regulations in place in time for the filing of Student Government candidates.
“The task force to me is a stalling tactic that diminishes the concerns brought up by students in the past,” Reiman said. “We’re hoping to have things in place in time for elections.”
Another aspect of concern brought up by Student Government members is the part-time student issue — a major debating point of last year’s government.
“Last year, 70 percent of voters voted for part-time student eligibility,” Lock Whiteside, student chief justice, said. “Why would I go against the voters and the students of this University?”
According to the regulation, if a student’s course load is below 12 hours, he or she may appeal to the organization’s adviser for special dispensation.