We, the members of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) establish this body for the provision of organizational legacy for the successful continuation of undergraduate students’ meaningful participation in shared governance in the University Faculty Senate (UFS) and administrative academic bodies of The Pennsylvania State University as prescribed in Standing Order IX, Section 5-b of the Board of Trustees.

The AAC shall have the jurisdiction over all matters academic internal to the UPUA and as prescribed by the UFS, while serving as a forum to focus student concerns regarding academics and relay those concerns to the academic councils, ACUE, and UFS. The AAC may hold hearings on any subject within its jurisdiction, and may subpoena any member registered with the UPUA to further its purpose. All sub-committees will be held accountable to the whole AAC, as such major initiatives will require appropriate approval by the AAC at General Meetings.

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UPUA AAC Mission Statement
The AAC strives to promote a climate at Penn State-University Park where students are empowered to work with faculty, staff and administrators to create an environment for all students where innovative teaching and learning thrive and to provide the necessary resources for undergraduate students to receive a high-quality education for participation as successful members of society.

Welcome by the Chairman

On behalf of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) I would like to thank you for your general interest in academic affairs and your apparent desire to learn more about student’s dynamic participation in academic governance.

This semester marks the beginning of a new era in student participation in academic governance and I am glad to report that after much controversy the elected student leaders of this committee are ready for the challenge of representing 35,000 plus undergraduate students.

The Committee is newly restructured, continuing the general theme of student government restructuring, and has taken the role of advising and actively participating in the University Faculty Senate and the Administrative Council on Undergraduate Education.

With an elected academic representative and/or student senator from each college and division along with a delegate from each colleges’ student governance councils, the AAC provides a broad democratic forum where students across University Park can discuss policies and important issues related to inter-college academics. There are many initiatives of the Committee this semester aimed toward educating the undergraduate student body on existing polices, improving the quality of undergraduate education, reducing the cost of education, and revising existing policies to streamline academic experiences.

The dedication of the Committee and the continual reminder that we, the elected and council-appointed members, serve for, by, and at the pleasure of students, which we are directly accountable to by the press and annual elections. I encourage all students with questions, policy ideas, or concerns to attend a general meeting, speak in either the Committee’s or UPUA’s open student forum.

This semester there are four general meetings dealing with specific topics which include: Jan. 23rd - Educate Presentation, Feb. 6th- Provost Pangborn Addresses AAC, Feb. 20th- A.J. Fluehr Presents On Academic Freedom, March 5th- Ricardo Torres Presents On First Year Seminars.

The AAC is also working with university partners to implement a used book exchange, FTCAP policy pamphlets, First Year Seminar reform, partnering with CCSG on real-time elion scheduling, and adjusting the add/drop period. The Committee is only as successful as its members and I encourage anyone who is interested in academic governance to either run in the Spring UPUA elections or contact your Colleges’ council for details about delegates’ positions.

In addition the AAC is hiring interns or staffers to participate in Committee activates. To learn more please click here to read the application.

Sincerely,
Ralph Crivello