Student Representatives Commitment and Responsibilities While Representing the Student

Student Representatives Commitment and Responsibilities While Representing the Student Affairs Committee

All members of the Student Affairs Committee should have the freedom to express their views on issues that are of concern/ interest to the general college population. All participation should be defined as constructively as possible for all members (students and Staff/ Faculty) as well as equal participation in compliance to institutional policies and procedures which will have an affect on the student body. The committee strives to implement a cohesive relationship between the student population and the administration and openly communicate the needs of all involved in the The students should have clearly defined means to participate equitably in the formulation of institutional policies and procedures which affect student life. Student government is the principal agency for student participation in the decision-making process of the University.

As a Student Representative of the Students Affairs Committee, it is important to know the guidelines set by the College, the Mission Statement followed by all college units, and the College commitments to all students.

Empire State College has embraced the needs of Adult Returning Students. As a consideration of the needs Students provide valuable insight and perspective to community needs and contribute to the college's collective wisdom. Students are in a unique position to speak to diversity by virtue of their varied constituency. As recipients of college services, they provide insight about the college's institutional effectiveness and quality. Incorporating students into the college's decision-making processes promotes greater involvement of students in the life of the college. Recognizing these factors, the college governance system provides for active participation of student representatives.

The Mission of Empire State College

Empire State College enables motivated adults, regardless of geography or life circumstance, to design a rigorous, individualized academic program and earn a college degree.

The Commitments of Empire State College

1. To support self-directed, intellectually curious learners who collaborate with faculty mentors. 2. To document, evaluate and award credit for an adult’s prior college- level life learning. 3. To offer each student an array of learning experiences through independent study, seminars, short-term residencies, and online courses. 4. To develop, implement and assess new approaches to learning that recognize the strengths and needs of adult learners. 5. To provide access to degree programs at multiple locations in New York state and abroad, and through the World Wide Web. 6. To expand degree opportunities for adult learners through partnerships with employers and unions, government agencies and the armed forces, and community organizations and educational institutions. 7. To advocate for adult learners at the regional, state and national levels.

As defined by the College Bylaws: “The Student Affairs Committee shall act on behalf of students in the continuing study, review and recommendations for change in all phases of student involvement in the college. The Student Affairs Committee shall include a currently enrolled student representative selected by each center’s alumni student association, one graduate student selected by the Graduate Alumni Student Association and an elected Assembly member from each center (found on page 9 of the College ByLaws).”

All Student Representatives should feel free to express their opinion on all issues brought up by the Committee, as well as, any matters of general interest to the student body.

As a member of the Students Affairs Committee, you may be asked to serve on other committees at the college (this is voluntary):

 Educational Technology Committee - as defined by the College Bylaws: “The Educational Technology Committee will represent the faculty and students in advising the president or designee on present and future educational needs and implications of the acquisition of technology (including the granting of funds for experimental uses by faculty) designed for use across centers. The Educational Technology Committee will represent faculty and students in advising the president or designee on the technological needs and implications of educational programs that operate college wide. The Educational Technology Committee should play an advisory role in planning and prioritizing technological needs as they relate to mentoring and related administrative and communications systems. Membership: One member elected from and by the personnel of each center, one student selected by the Student Affairs Committee from its membership (found on pages 9 & 10 of the College Bylaws)”.  Alumni Federation Board: All of the alumni student groups at Empire State College are governed by the Alumni Student Federation Board of Governors. Each active center and unit has a representative on the board. The board provides guidance to the Alumni Relations Office on alumni and student issues (Duties found on the Alumni Board of Governors: http://alumni.esc.edu/board.php).

Attendance

SAC is a body of college governance and its success is largely dependent upon the active participation of its elected membership. Regular attendance to meetings (F-T-F or by phone) is an obligation of membership. In order to monitor the effectiveness of its membership it was moved that attendance be tracked at each scheduled meeting for

all members as being either: Present, Absent-with approval, absent- unexcused. Individuals with repeated absences (more than 3x/yr --excused or unexcused) may be asked to re-evaluate their commitment to SAC and/or will be replaced accordingly. It was unanimously passed by all committee members. In addition to the policy decision, the committee developed guidelines for all centers to follow. These are: each staff/ faculty member will contact the student member by October 5th to find out what their intentions are and if they will be attending the next meeting, if they have not heard back by the 5th, they (staff/ faulty member) will contact the their centers Dean and they will attempt to contact the student member and again ask their intentions about the members status and if no response or uninterested in continuing, will be replaced. There will also be an RSVP sent back to the co-chairs – so there will be a number of members attending face-to-face meetings (for food orders). The students in attendance – felt that it is an honor to be chosen as a Representative and should not be dealt with lightly.

As a member, it is important to abide by the Empire State College Student code of conduct and all other College policies.

Conferences

The Student Reps. may be asked to attend other conferences. The conferences begin with the Governance Retreat in June. During the retreat, all standing committees {Academic Personnel Committee (APC), Educational Technology Committee (ETC), Graduate Studies and Policies Committee (GSPC), Professional Personnel Committee (PPC), Student Affairs Committee (SAC), Undergraduate Studies and Policy Committee (USPC) and the Program, Planning and Budget Committee (PPBC) will hold their first meeting of the year and begin the process of Student Reps may have the opportunity to implementing representation for sub-committees (such as ETC student representative, Newsletter Committee, etc.). During the year, SAC will make recommendations to the College Senate, with the college Senate making the decision to approve modifications, or disapprove recommendations and forward them to the President for final action.

Student SAC members have the opportunity to attend the SUNY

Student Assembly Conference, which is held twice a year. Empire State College can send two SAC Student Reps to the Conference. The Student Assembly Mission Statement is: The Student Assembly, an organization created by Article XVII of the State University of New York Board of Trustees, is established to represent the students of The State University of New York. Through the encouragement of the empowerment of students; the Student Assembly seeks to establish recognition of the rights, diversity and complete well being of the student population. The Student Assembly shall support the goals and objectives identified by the students of The State University of New York. The Student Assembly is committed to student life and assuring the representation of its members on the State and national level. http://www.studentassembly.org/.