By Trigie Ealey
Arizona Daily Wildcat
January 15, 1997

Regents consider community service requirement

The meeting, coinciding with AIC's dedication ceremonies, was held Dec. 10. Regents Donald Ulrich, Eddie Basha and Art Chapa were absent.

The waivers issue has lingered for months on the regents' agenda. Delays pushed the issue into the spring semester before it will come up for final approval.

The community service requirement states that out-of-state students who receive the waivers must perform 20 hours of community service per semester.

The board also eliminated language from current policy allowing waivers to be awarded to students "from groups that historically have been underrepresented in the Arizona university system."

Speaking on behalf of the UA's Diversity Action Council, Jennifer Aviles said the passage addressing minority representation on campus should be maintained.

"As the population of the United States becomes more diverse, it is important that the University of Arizona, a major research as well as Arizona's only land grant university, serve as well as educate this population," Aviles said.

The board will hear the issue for at least two meetings before final approval is given. It expects to implement the changes for students applying for admission for fall semester 1997.

At the December meeting, the regents also:

• agreed to approve the controversial university reports on faculty tenure and service. The report contains each universities' plan outlining tenure standards faculty are required to fulfill. The plan has been viewed by some faculty as negative and punitive. The board approved the reports but allowed room for future modifications as needed to incorporate the reports into board policy.

• heard an update on the enrollment figures for fall 1996. Michael Gottfredson, UA vice president for undergraduate education, said the UA's figures were down in the area of non-resident students due to board directives. He said the university saw a pronounced decline for non-degree seeking graduate students, possibly due to a good economy.

• gave concept approval to the UA to finish shell space of the Life Science North building.