Academic affairs met a number of times during the year and considered a range of issues including: 1) the status of common hour, 2) student free speech (academic diversity), 3) intellectual property, 4) grade inflation, 5) minimum requirements for annual “Good” merit evaluations, and 6) policies regarding the posting of student evaluations as part of the consumer information section of SB389.
The committee concluded it did not have enough information to address grade inflation and decided that no action was needed on the common hour issue. Common hour currently only exists as a resolution from Student Government expressing support and there is no official academic policy or body that manages the effort. The Intellectual property issue was given to a special ad hoc university committee. The committee could not come to a consensus regarding the minimum requirements for a good rating for annual merit.
The committee brought forward legislation regarding student free speech to preempt the Emily Brooker bill (HB1315) which was being considered in the legislature but both efforts were tabled and died from lack of action. The committee also brought forward legislation regarding the policies associated with the posting of student evaluations as part of the consumer information section of SB389 and final approval will be considered during the Senate's last session.