For the first time since 1992, the Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) of Penn State's student government is trying to ensure any disgruntled student can find support when a conflict with a faculty member or adviser may arise.
Over the past week, the committee has taken steps to address problems between students and faculty members. University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) Academic Affairs Chairman Sam Loewner said the committee frequently hears complaints regarding faculty and advisers from students, but it did not have the appropriate program to handle the grievances until now.
Combing through the committee's history, Loewner (senior-political science) learned his committee previously offered such constituent services, but efforts fell off in 1992.
"This is a program meant to supplement the academic policy but also one to help us monitor it," Loewner said.
Loewner said the revitalized constituent service would work similarly to the original service but will add an online component.
Under the new system, when a student has a complaint against a faculty member or adviser, he or she will fill out an initial online form.
The AAC will then assign the student a volunteer student staff member to make initial contact and file a report with the AAC. The staff member will then work alongside a committee representative who will work on the
student's behalf to resolve the issue.
But a Penn State professor said university staff is already more than willing to engage in dialogue with students.
Caroline Eckhardt, a professor of comparative literature, said she was pleased that students were looking into various avenues to solve their issues with administration officials -- but she thinks there's a simpler way.
"It may be useful to have additional roots to complement or supplement what's already in place, but I would prefer to have my students come to me first to tell me what's on their mind," Eckhardt said.
Loewner said the AAC's program should be a last resort for students, adding that the online forms make sure students have already talked to the professor in question.
"I don't think it's a better avenue than a student talking to a professor," he said. "It's certainly no replacement."
College of Liberal Arts representative and AAC chairwoman Chrissy Boggs said all committee members are making contact with each college's individual student council. Committee members are requesting
the colleges' individual student councils release information about the program and alert all students to the casework efforts of the AAC.
UPUA President Gavin Keirans said he's looking forward to returning the service to students.
"Most students don't know where to turn, and we have the chance to return this service to them," Keirans (senior-business management) said.
"It's being re-implemented to impact their academic lives and careers."
