The A.S. Council overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment that will change the commissioner of academic affairs position to vice president of academic affairs by a vote of 20-0-3 during its Feb. 11 meeting.
According to Commissioner of Academic Affairs Todd Tolin, who submitted the legislation, the changes will expand the position.
“”I’m extremely happy that this legislation passed,”” Tolin said. “”I feel that this is a big step for academics. The legislation gives [the position] probably the same attention that it needs in telling both the administration and students that it’s a priority for students here in campus.””
The legislation amends parts of the A.S. Constitution, giving the position the power to advise the A.S. president and the council “”on all academic matters”” and the power to appoint student representatives, with council approval, to campuswide committees. According to Tolin, the changes give the Associated Students a more official voice in the Academic Senate.
“”The legislation clarifies the position,”” Tolin said. “”The position itself has been doing duties that constitute a vice presidency for some time.””
According to Tolin, there is a possibility that the position could have its own legislative committee similar to the other vice president positions in the council.
While the legislation passed overwhelmingly, with only a few abstentions, some councilmembers have some expressed concerns about whether the changes would truly expand the office.
“”I’m in favor for [the legislation], but I had some concerns about it,”” Thurgood Marshall College Freshman Senator Alan Haimowitz said. “”I don’t know if we’re actually going to extend academic affairs. I want to know that A.S. is actually saying that we want academic affairs to be a vice presidency and not just because Todd has done such a great job. I actually want it to happen.””
The legislation must be approved by at least four out of six college councils before it is officially implemented. If approved by the college councils, the changes will be effective in time for this year’s elections.
Councilmembers discussed the changes in more depth during a senate meeting preceding the council meeting. During the senate meeting, Tolin said that the commissioner of academic affairs office includes duties that differ from the other commissioner positions.
“”ëCommissioner’ has given a false impression of the amount of work that the office really does,”” Tolin said. “”The office does two things ó it’s a job and at the same time it represents students regularly to the Academic Senate, faculty, administration, and regularly speaks on behalf of these students.””
Councilmembers at the senate meeting agreed that because the office services a specific constituency, the position needs to have greater accountability.
“”I think that the office needs accountability,”” Tolin said. “”This [office] is really the only voice that they have on the academic side.””
Other councilmembers agreed, that academic affairs need to receive more priority from the A.S. Council.
“”Why shouldn’t we prioritize academics, because really, when you strip it all down, that’s what we’re for anyway?”” Marshall Sophomore Senator Kat Pillon said
For some councilmembers, the new title for the position is important in working with administrators.
“”Title and status is important to [administrators] and I think that giving this office added status and prestige would help the office be more effective in working with the campus,”” Eleanor Roosevelt College Sophomore Senator Max Harrington said.
However, others said that status and respect come from actions and not from a title.
“”I don’t think changing the name is going to do one thing or another,”” Roosevelt Junior Senator Carol Freire said. “”I think that the clout that you carry is by the way that you speak and who you are, and how you carry yourself.””
