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MSA pres. requests more student input

With student representatives already on search committees and Code panels, Michigan Student Assembly President Flint Wainess proposed adding students to another University committee at Friday's Student Relations Committee meeting.

Wainess proposed a plan to appoint students to the executive committees of all of the University's 19 schools and colleges. The intent of the proposal is to increase student input and decision-making abilities regarding curriculum, Wainess said.

"Students could actually affect curriculum decisions at this university," Wainess said.

Concern about curriculum control was intensified with the recent restructuring of the LSA pass-fail option, he said. While faculty would still constitute a majority on this committee, at least students would have a voice in decisions like this, Wainess said.

While students are currently represented on committees within the different schools, most serve in a purely advisory capacity, Wainess said.

In the School of Natural Resources and Environment, however, students serve on every official committee, said SNRE Interim Dean Paul Webb.

"Students have the same ranking as do faculty; they are considered equal to faculty (on the committees)," Webb said.

Lincoln Davies, an SNRE junior, said other schools could benefit from the type of student representation present on SNRE committees.

"It serves the interests of the school and it serves the interests of students," Davies said.

The College of Engineering solicits student input in curriculum decisions through a curriculum task force and student-faculty contact, said Catherine Peponis, University of Michigan Engineering Council president.

"There have been curriculum changes proposed and there has been student input on that," she said.

Peponis said she is satisfied with student influence on curriculum committees in the college.

Webb noted that in a small school such as SNRE, some of the committees do not vote, and the ultimate decision is often made by the dean. The students on the SNRE committees do not vote on personnel matters such as promotion and tenure.

Wainess said he expected faculty to object to the student representation due to the confidentiality of personnel matters, but that he would be willing to compromise on that aspect of the committee.

The Student Relations Committee is expected to discuss the proposal at its next meeting in April.