WEDNESDAY, February 20

Meeting Notes: Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Announcements:

Financial Aid Office - Distribution of new FAFSA brochures
Available on web site at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Viable in Financial Aid office
Available in Library, Student Kiosk (next to Reading Room)

Guest Presenters:

Jean DeCosta - Dean of Students

Adrienne Miller - Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities
756-2794 (www.osrr.calpoly.edu) Building 124, room 127

Issues of Faculty to Student Sexual Harassment, and Student to Student

• A student can bring concerns to Jean DeCosta's office. An investigator is hired. Will Bailey handles the faculty part.
• The student is referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
• Once a student brings the concern to the office, there is an obligation to take action. There is no choice in this. Students are informed of the counseling office. Actual sanctions are determined by the University on a case by case basis. The event would have to be severe enough to file an attempt for the faculty to be fired.

  STEPS: Faculty to Student

  1. Student writes down the story in their own words.
  2. The story is taken and investigated (dates, times, people)
  3. The facts are looked at, credibility and variables are weighed.
  4. Students rights are respected, but the student is still required to meet the requirements of class. Jean DeCosta works out the details on these situations.

  STEPS: Student to Student

  1. The steps are the same in a student on student situation.
  2. There is a responsibility of the university to have the student feel safe on campus.
  3. Options for solving situation could be a "Stay Away" order where students are asked to sign an agreement. Students are asked if they want to avoid having classes with the student involved. (The other student would have to move.) It is important to have conversation with those involved.
  4. Other options could result in a formal hearing based on the severity of the situation.

  Other Situations

  1. In situations where students feel danger from an individual (whether in person, email, phone, or my space ) the investigation moves very quickly, and a resolution is created.
  2. There can be a resolution where an individual can be banned from seeing the other person for a one-day period, up to a ten-day period. All evidence is investigated before any sanctions take place.
  3. Procedures on Violence at Cal Poly - If there are reports on a student, there may be a "welfare" check on the student by Jean DeCosta. She will ask to meet with them, and assess the situation and the student.
  4. Advisors should be aware of Alert Buttons available to them at their desk. When there is concern about meeting with a student alone, code words among offices can be set up.

____________________________________________________________

Mary Kay Harrington - Director of Writing Skills

MariKay Pannone - Administrative Support/Writing Skills Office

Responsibilities of Writing Skills Office

EPT

• EPT testing - tracking students, re mediate students who need it. They ensure that students take the appropriate classes. Students are encouraged to come in during fall, and take care of any remediation issues.
• ENGL 103 offered for remedial students; Students must go to writing lab once a week. Students must take ENGL 103 in order to pass Freshman Comp. This information is reported to the Chancellors office.
• There is an appeal process; letters are addressed to Mary Kay Harrington and reviewed with Cheryl Ney/Academic Programs

GWR

• Students are required to complete the GWR by taking/passing the WPE or by taking a GWR course and receiving a grade of C or above.
• 1/3 of students fail the WPE.
• There are three times per year when the WPE is offered. (Fall, Winter and Spring) Dates are posted on the web site. Spring sign up deadline is April 11 for the April 26 WPE.
• The University Writing Lab offers individual help. Hours are posted on the web site. (www.calpoly.edu/~wrtskils/gwr)
• Writing Skills office 756-2067, Building 10, Room 130

Next meeting Wednesday, March 5 - 9 to 10:30 in UU 218

Academic Programs
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Phone: 805 756-2246
Email: acadprog@calpoly.edu