Scholastic Committee
The Scholastic Committee performs academic, curricular, and departmental duties to benefit the students of Occidental College. By communicating with administrators, faculty, and academic support staff, ASOC Scholastics improves, provides solutions, and resolves grievances in educational areas of college policy and resources.
Committee Membership
Two (2) positions comprise the Scholastic Committee: One shall act as official liaison to the ASOC President and Occidental student body. All seats on this committee are permanent and will remain active for a Senator’s full term of office.
General Structure:
The Scholastic Committee shall be responsible for performing three major functions in its service to the Senate and the students of Occidental College:
I. Development and Implementation of Academic and Circular Initiatives
In its duty to faithfully and accurately represent the academic and curricular interests of the student body, the Scholastic Committee must ascertain what issue areas require attention and, if necessary, devise solutions to ameliorate said academic problems. Accordingly, this committee will gather student input and ideas through a range of methods including surveys, the General Assembly, DOCSAC (Dean of the College Student Advisory Committee), and casual conversation in efforts to formulate an annual list of initiatives. This list (which is subject to revision given varying circumstances that may arise throughout the year) will enable the Scholastic Committee to convey student concerns to appropriate administrators/faculty members with the intent of implementing solutions to redress grievances. Ultimately, the Scholastic Committee endeavors to serve as a conduit for expressing student’s academic needs and devising viable solutions when necessary.
II. Schedule Meetings with Administrators and Brief Senate/Student Body
The Scholastic Committee shall be responsible for scheduling meetings with relevant administrators/faculty members to convey student sentiment on specific academic and curricular issues. Moreover, this committee aims to collaborate with Occidental personnel and departments to formulate solutions which satisfy the academic needs of students in the immediate and long term future. As a duty of this body, the Scholastic Committee will regularly brief the ASOC Senate on progress made, announce upcoming projects, and request Senate assistance when desired. In efforts to inform students and solicit their input, this committee may elect to publicize recent accomplishments and present at General Assembly meetings to increase student feedback.
III. Coordinate DOCSAC (Dean of the College Student Advisory Committee Meetings)
In its endeavor to enhance discourse between administrators/faculty members and students, the Scholastic Committee will coordinate and oversee all DOCSAC meetings. These meetings are intended to allow Dean Frank (Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College) the opportunity to hear the scholastic needs of students representing six (6) major academic disciplines offered on campus. The disciplinary groupings represented in these discussions include CORE (namely reviewing the effectiveness of this program), Humanities, the Arts, Social Sciences, General Student Services (CAE-Center for Academic Excellence, SSAP-Scientific Scholars Achievement Program) and Hard Sciences. Through monthly DOCSAC meetings, the administration and student representatives can accurately determine progress being made on current projects and address new issues raised in the course of discussion.
Specific Goals for the Scholastic Committee:
- 24/5 Library Hours (John Wilson ‘07)
- Extended Reading Days (Max Thoman-Tedford ‘08)
DOCSAC- Procedural Guidelines
Responsibilities:
The members of the Scholastic Committee appoint a total of twelve (12) chairs (2 each) to represent each of six (6) areas of responsibility: CORE, Humanities, the Arts, Social Sciences, Laboratory Sciences, and General Student Services such as the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), Scientific Scholars Achievement Program (SSAP). Two qualified applicants should communicate student perspectives in each area of responsibility effectively and impartially. Furthermore, the Scholastic Committee coordinates monthly DOCSAC meetings and works individually with DOCSAC members.
DOCSAC Membership is as Follows:
1. Claire Anderson
2. Elizabeth Cutler
3. John Wilson
4. Justin Laufer
5. Krystal Keough
6. Madison Murphy
7. Max Thoman-Tedford
8. Michelle DeLateur
9. Paul Bird
**Please note some members of the list have been removed