The new smoking policy beginning in the Fall 2009 semester and the Chapter 6 policies were the main focus of the Academic Senate meeting that was held on Friday, March 27.
The smoking policy is going to be changing to only allow people to smoke in designated smoking areas within the parking lots.
There will be no more smoking on campus. Designated smoking areas will be included in staff parking lots as well, and students can smoke in staff parking lots and vice-versa. One parking lot that will be excluded is the one near the child development center, for obvious reasons.
Even though there are currently designated smoking spots on campus, they are often in the way of students who do not wish to smell smoke but have to cross through it to reach their classes.
Lori Adrian, who was the sort of expert on this subject, said that “there is basically a smoke free zone on campus now.”
The goal for the people in charge of this project is to clearly indicate where, why and when these changes will be put into effect. Permanent signs will be posted in the designated smoking areas as well as at the entrance to each of the parking lots and will include pockets containing flyers detailing all of the information, including FAQ, regarding the new policy.
All teachers will be told to announce to their classes the new smoking policy. In addition, the new ‘parking lot only’ smoking policy will be put in the class schedules and syllabi.
Enforcement of this new policy will be more lenient during the first year. The team wants people to follow this rule and to become informed. They are hopeful that a year will be enough time to make everyone aware of the situation. If after a year, however, people are caught smoking outside designated smoking areas, student disciplinary action will be taken, such as suspension or expulsion.
Next, the members of the Academic Senate council voted on whether or not individual policies compiled into section 6 should be approved or not approved. 6.21 states that a student can receive either an A, B, C, D, F, P, NP (No Pass), I (Incomplete), IP (In Progress), RD (Report Delayed), W, MW (Military Withdrawal).
6.22 states that a previously recorded D, F, or NP grade may be disregarded if it isn’t reflective of a student’s ability, sort of a “fresh start.” An example would be if someone got Ds five years ago, but now they are consistently getting As and Bs, then they can petition to have their Ds removed.
6.24 states that “appropriate articulation” will be provided to help students transition from one school to another.
6.26 states that students will receive full transfer credit in their major field but will still have to complete all of the graduation requirements in their new school in order to graduate.
6.35 states that academic freedom be required (freedom of thought and expression) and also old ideas will be tested and new ideas proposed. It also mandates, however, that in-class discussions be relevant to the program.
6.45 states that the District will pay for the students who are going on a field trip that is a requirement for a class.
6.60 deals with nursing programs (this wasn’t really discussed because Skyline doesn’t have a nursing program). And lastly,
6.90 states that fee-based classes will be offered for no credit, and the instructors will not be required to meet minimum qualifications.
In a collaboration, the Academic Senate approved 6.21, 6.24, 6.26, 6.35, 6.45, and 6.60 but tabled 6.22 and 6.90. Their main motivation for not approving 6.90 was the professor not having to meet minimum qualifications.
The Academic Senate meets the second and fourth Fridays of every month, and will meet again after Spring Break.
