Committee on Student Learning and Academic Engagement
AY 2009-2010

Chair: Ira Klein, CAS/History, iklein@american.edu

Committee on Student Learning and Academic Engagement, to consist of seven members elected from and by the faculties of the academic units with one each from CAS, KSB, SIS, SOC, SPA, WCL and the University Library, two graduate students designated by the Graduate Leadership Council, two undergraduates designated by the Student Confederation, the president of the Residence Hall Association, and the director of Athletics. The chair is elected by the membership from among its faculty members.

The committee serves as the Senate’s liaison to the American University student community on matters that affect student learning and academic engagement. These matters may include but not be limited to student academic performance and retention, academic integrity and student conduct, student-faculty relations, experiential learning, academic support services, financial assistance programs, co-curricular and extra-curricular programming, and residential life. The committee will carry out its charge with sensitivity to the needs of AU’s diverse student body, which includes part-time, non-traditional, international, and nonresidential students. Matters requiring legislation or a public forum will be brought to the attention of the Senate.

The committee also addresses matters of academic policy pertaining to the university’s intercollegiate athletics program. These include academic standards for student-athletes and the establishment of regulations for the program that conform to the academic purposes of American University and comply with the regulations of intercollegiate athletics. Specifically, the committee will formulate and review eligibility criteria for participation on intercollegiate athletic teams, review the academic performance of program participants, and review decisions on exceptional cases as submitted by the director of Athletics.