Proposal requires pre-drop date exam

ASUA is working for a mandatory student academic evaluation before the last day students can drop a class with a "W."

Associated Students of the University of Arizona President Ray Quintero and Academic Affairs director Amy Armstrong are working to enforce a policy that would require teachers to give a test or evaluation before the drop date, which is seven weeks after the first week of classes, so that students can make an educated guess about whether to drop the class or not.

"Students have to decide whether to drop a class or not before they have had a test," said Sen. Doug Hartz, the ASUA president-elect. "The classes with just a midterm and final don't give students a chance to know how they are doing before they have to drop."

Some professors may give a test or have a paper due before the drop date, although they may not return the grades to students until after the withdraw date.

"Students take tests and leave saying, 'Oh I nailed that test.' Then they get it back and they get a 'D,'" said Quintero. "If they had known that before the drop date, they may not have wanted to keep taking the class."

ASUA is currently drafting a student survey to get the students' opinion, which will be distributed sometime next week, said Quintero.

The survey will be available to students online at the ASUA Web site and possibly through a paper survey accessible at residence halls, club meetings, Greek houses and on the Mall.

If the results of the survey support the plan, ASUA senate will draft a resolution and present it to the Faculty Senate. From there, it will be up to the faculty and administration to take action.

Senate approves new club adviser position

The ASUA senate voted to create a new position next semester to work under Executive Vice President Jennifer Reece.

The Club Event Coordinator will serve a full-year term coordinating events and organizations for clubs.

The coordinator will be appointed by the executive vice president and then approved by the senate before receiving the position.

Club Olympics and a President's Forum will be planned and run once a semester by the coordinator who will also work with the senate and club advocates to actively visit clubs and organizations.

Funding cut approved for automotive club

The request by Wildcat Motorsports Society of Automotive Engineers for just over $6,000 to the ASUA Appropriations Board was cut down to $1,842.

The funding would cover transportation and lodging for the 2002 Formula Car Society of Automotive Engineers held every other year.

The event will be held in Pontiac, Mich., from May 16-20.

As returning champions, the club has designed and built a high-performance, open-wheeled racecar costing $23,593.

The Senate decided to strike the proposal from the consent agenda so that the Appropriations Board could look over the request and increase the amount of funding that ASUA will provide.