Minutes
2:00 PM – December 5, 2003
Spalding Hall 300

Members Present:
Jim Bowen – BTS/T&I
Wayne Carroll (Chair) - Education
Pamela Houston – ASLCSC Senator
Diane Johnson, - Registrar
Deacon Meier – VP Student Affairs
Chris Riggs – Social Sciences
Craig Steenberg - Natural Sciences   

I.  Introductions and Approval of Minutes of Oct. 17, ’03.  Minutes as corrected approved by unanimous consent.

II. Old Business

            A. Forgiveness Policy

1.   The committee discussion focused on the consequences of the proposed forgiveness policy.  Committee members perceived one or more possible contradictions.  If the forgiven credits are eliminated from the grade point average and from meeting graduation requirements, why have the policy?  “D” grades, for example, as well as higher grades, are passing grades.  Some students might be required to repeat two semesters worth of academic work.  Forgiveness is for two consecutive semesters, not individual courses.  At present, passing forgiven grades still count toward graduation.   In addition, eliminated credits still count toward calculating graduation honors.

2.   The committee requests a joint meeting with representatives from the Faculty Affairs Committee to discuss these perceived contradictions.

B. Fee for Late Application to Graduate

1.   The committee noted the decision by the Faculty Senate not to charge students a penalty fee for late graduation applications.

2.   The committee acknowledges there will still be continued problems with late graduation applications and felt that the solutions were 1] use of technology to improve faculty advising and 2] increased efforts by the faculty to meet with and advise students.

C. Quality of Life on Campus

1.   A subcommittee composed of Wayne Carroll, Pamela Houston, and Chris Riggs will seek a meeting after winter break with the provost to discuss ideas for improving the quality of campus life with emphasis on multicultural diversity and gender issues.

D. Dangerous Intersections

1.   Deacon Meier reported that the college has no jurisdiction on the streets surrounding the college to the point it may not paint set-back stripes on the curbs.

2.   Problems of limited visibility of approaching vehicles at certain campus access points will be discussed when Deacon meets with the Lewiston police chief.

 III.  New Business

A.     Plus and Minus Grades

3.   Some students have asked ASLCSC senators about the origin and intent of the plus/minus grading policy.

4.   The committee discussed what might be the perceived disadvantages of the policy and asked the ASLCSC representatives to bring additional information to the committee.

IV. The committee adjourned at 3:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Wayne Carroll