2008 Woodie Awards
Student leaders to sign contracts or lose stipends
Laura Avila
Issue date: 5/15/07 Section: Other News
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All student leaders who receive stipends through the Office of Academic Affairs next fall, will be required to sign an agreement pledging, among other stipulations, to adhere to the University's Catholic values and maintain a specific GPA.
According to Vice President of Student Affairs Stephen Sutton, the agreements are necessary to ensure accountability. "We give students generous stipends, but there is not a given set of expectations," Sutton said. "We are making clear of what those expectations are."
Sutton said the student activity fee task force suggested requiring student leader agreements two years ago. The task force, composed of current and former students as well as administrators, was charged with studying the student activity fee allocation process.
"The idea came up after experience from working with other student leaders at other institutions and knowing if you have something signed," Sutton said.
He said it is important that student leaders be role models for their peers and prospective students. By signing the agreement, student leaders promise* to maintain a minimum GPA, ranging from 2.5 to 3.0, depending on the position and organization. Leaders also agree to meet responsibilities listed in their position description, adhere to the guidelines of the student conduct code and support the University's Catholic mission and Basilian core values.
Stipends are authorized and distributed by the Office of Student Affairs, giving Sutton the authority to oversee compliance with the agreement. Students who fail to comply with the agreement would lose their leadership positions, Sutton said.
However, students will be given a grace period and "guidance" if they violate the agreement. "We will make an effort to treat each situation individually," he said. "In a few circumstances, a student has been prevented from running for a position because they did not have the required minimum GPA. In other cases, where the student's GPA may have fallen below the requirement while in a position, an attempt will be made to develop a plan with the student to increase his or her GPA back to the required level."
According to Vice President of Student Affairs Stephen Sutton, the agreements are necessary to ensure accountability. "We give students generous stipends, but there is not a given set of expectations," Sutton said. "We are making clear of what those expectations are."
Sutton said the student activity fee task force suggested requiring student leader agreements two years ago. The task force, composed of current and former students as well as administrators, was charged with studying the student activity fee allocation process.
"The idea came up after experience from working with other student leaders at other institutions and knowing if you have something signed," Sutton said.
He said it is important that student leaders be role models for their peers and prospective students. By signing the agreement, student leaders promise* to maintain a minimum GPA, ranging from 2.5 to 3.0, depending on the position and organization. Leaders also agree to meet responsibilities listed in their position description, adhere to the guidelines of the student conduct code and support the University's Catholic mission and Basilian core values.
Stipends are authorized and distributed by the Office of Student Affairs, giving Sutton the authority to oversee compliance with the agreement. Students who fail to comply with the agreement would lose their leadership positions, Sutton said.
However, students will be given a grace period and "guidance" if they violate the agreement. "We will make an effort to treat each situation individually," he said. "In a few circumstances, a student has been prevented from running for a position because they did not have the required minimum GPA. In other cases, where the student's GPA may have fallen below the requirement while in a position, an attempt will be made to develop a plan with the student to increase his or her GPA back to the required level."