At the Elizabethtown College Student Senate meeting on Sept. 6, 2018, the Senate President, junior Holly Francescone, announced that the senate officially has Academic Council voting rights.

Student Senate then held elections for the two positions available for senators to fill on the Academic Council. Senators in the running for these two spots were seniors Joshua Baker, Emily Seratch, Stephanie Hanus and Steven Reehl.

The two senators who were elected and are now representatives to the council are Hanus and Baker. This is a big deal because this is the first time that there has been student representation on this council.

According to Baker, two senate members have been able to attend the meetings of the Academic Council in the past, but this is the first time they’ve had voting rights.

“To be a representative of the Student Senate on Academic Council means that I have an opportunity to truly advocate for students’ academic needs where my voice can be heard,” Hanus said. “I understand that there comes a lot of responsibility with being able to voice the concerns of the students in this setting, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to do so.”

The council’s job is to determine what classes certain majors include and how many credits a course will be, with what courses will be running and when. They oversee the quality of the curriculum, and they settle discrepancies concerning courses.

They propose academic policies and are the evaluators of the academic programs of the College. They consider academic questions that are fundamental in nature and broad-based in scope, especially when it comes to core courses.

Academic Council continuously reviews policy regarding admissions standards, degree requirements and the content and quality of the academic programs and courses.

All policies, procedures and decisions regarding academics that could have a broad effect on members of the campus community must be submitted at the next meeting of Faculty Assembly.

Baker says that having senate representation at these meetings will be “a great way to combine student interests with those of faculty.”

One of the most prevalent policies that Academic Council deals with is the core curriculum at the College. Academic Council must determine whether courses meet the core requirements.

Courses approved by Academic Council for core that also are required for a major or minor can double count and fulfill both requirements through the council.

When course requirements for an academic program meet the educational objectives for a core requirement, academic departments can petition the Academic Council for a waiver for students completing a particular AU program.

The course requirements supporting the waiver must be an integral part of the academic program.

“When it comes to academic decisions, such as the introduction of a new major or minor, there are impacts to the student body we strive to advocate for,” Baker said.

“Josh and I both share a passion for education as well as advocating for student rights,” Hanus said. “Students will gain passionate and active representation with the council.”

Baker states that former students such as Sean Fiedler ’18, the last Student Senate President before Francescone, and faculty members of the Academic Council, such as associate professor of communications Dr. Matthew Telleen, the chair, have been adamant about having the students’ perspectives heard on the matters discussed by the council.

Having voting rights will give the students “more than just a voice,” Baker said. “We, with the advice and feedback from students, can provide momentum behind academic initiatives.”

Baker and other members of Student Senate are excited about this opportunity to bridge the gap between faculty and students.

“By being able to vote, we are no longer suggesting a student perspective to the Council,” Hanus said. “Instead, we are actively advocating for that perspective.”

Baker and Hanus will not only be bringing student ideas to the Council; they will also be bringing faculty ideas to the Senate.

Faculty Assembly voted to affirm the amendment of the Senate members being able to vote.