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Dear students,
In addition to the information shared in my Spring 2022 update email, there are some other items I would like to share which merit discussion in greater detail. I am proud to share this list of accomplishments with you, and hope that you will be pleased to see what we have been working on this semester.
USG RESOLUTION 2021-2022 #001: A Resolution on the Scheduling of Examinations, Projects, Presentations, and Papers on Election Day. The USG recognizes that many students wish to exercise their right to vote, but balancing this with coursework and other responsibilities can be a challenge. In order to support and facilitate voting at MTU, the USG passed a resolution urging the University Senate to propose that the administration prohibit the collection of regular examinations, major projects and papers, and presentations on Election Day.
University Senate Proposal 2-22. Over the years, the USG and many other groups of students have urged that student comments on end-of-term instructor evaluations be made available to department chairs in addition to numerical ratings. Currently, only the numerical ratings go to department chairs, creating a situation where comments might not be acted upon. The Board of Trustees directed the University Senate to create a policy proposal to remedy this. The USG voted to recommend University Senate Proposal 2-22 for implementation by the Board of Trustees, which then voted to implement it at their subsequent meeting. As a result, student comments on end-of-term instructor evaluations will be made available for the Fall 2022 Semester and all subsequent semesters. The USG thanks the University Senate and the Board for bringing about this much-needed change and we hope that this will improve instruction.
The USG assisted the Dean of Students Office in developing a plan to schedule "Pizza with the President" lunches, where Dean Southerland and President Koubek have met with student groups and discussed their concerns. At these meetings, students have consistently voiced support for Fall Break, a mid-semester recess in the Fall Semester during October. The USG continues to advocate for Fall Break, and will be involved in a working group to discuss the implementation of Fall Break this semester.
This is not an exhaustive list of USG's work during the Fall 2021 Semester and does not include routine business. To inquire about a specific action please email usg@mtu.edu. For documentation of all of the USG's official actions, please view our public minutes.
Yours,
Zack Olson
President of the Undergraduate Student Government