The academic calendar, socially responsible investing, and departmental identities were the topics of discussion for the Columbia University Senate monthly meeting on Friday—the first of the decade for University President Lee Bollinger. This was the rescheduled February meeting, after the original was snowed out.
Bollinger, who was unable to attend the January meeting due to a conflict in scheduling, was present. He has attended three of the six meetings this academic year.
The President reported fundraising for the past academic year to be placed around $413 million, sixth in the country in terms of dollars raised. This is a dip from the University’s all time high a year before at $490 million.
The academic calendar—a contentious issue for students—was discussed briefly. Students have protested the scheduling of the calendar, which pushed final exams to Dec. 23 last semester, and students and faculty have both submitted proposals to the Senate for consideration.
The University Senate Education Committee is responsible for reviewing the academic calendar every decade, with input from the student councils. Any changes to the calendar must be proposed by the committee, and may or may not be voted on by the full University Senate. The Senate is not attempting to change this fall’s calendar, but rather looking to enact a long term solution that would plan for fall semesters for upcoming years.
James Applegate, co-chair of the Education Committee, anticipated that a formal proposal would be decided upon at the committee’s March 12th meeting.
Among the recommendations being considered are a student proposal to start the fall semester the first Monday of September. This would eliminate the late finish, and change Columbia’s current policy of starting after Labor Day.
The faculty proposal recommendation is to eliminate the Election Day break and hold finals over the weekend. The proposal created by the Education Committee will be presented during the Senate’s April 2nd plenary for discussion.
“I would hope we have a consensus on how to go forward,” Applegate said of the upcoming meeting.
Rushed holidays aren’t the only things on students minds.
Student senator Rajat Roy, SEAS ’10, raised concern over the success of the Center for Career Education in helping students secure jobs.
Bollinger said that the University is working to enhance funding for career services.
In serving seven schools, student senator Tao Tan, Business ’11, questioned the policy whereby CCE reports only to the dean of Columbia College. Bollinger said in response, “Everything at Columbia is history. ... Whether or not it’s an ideal system, whether it’s the best we can have at this point, I’m not really prepared to say.”
The Senate also passed two resolutions to change the name of the Department of Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures to the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese to the Department of Latin American and Iberian Studies. These changes were proposed to better reflect the curricular expansion of both departments, both in terms of geographic area and discipline, senators said.
Another concern of the meeting was the University’s investments, and the Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing, founded in 2000 to advise trustees on ethical and social issues, made an appearance to share a new resolution.
On behalf of the Committee, Anna Couturier, CC ’10, announced a resolution recommending a non-investment screen in companies that create cluster munitions, which are explosive weapons that eject smaller munitions, with a high risk to civilians.
But Roy raised the issue that divestment might have a negative impact on the University endowment. Courtier acknowledged his point, responding, “It’s a draw. With the issue of arms manufacture there is money to be made there. The question is whether or not the University feels that it should be actively engaging in investment in these companies.”
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