Changes to the foreign language requirement and revisions to the hospitality and tourism management major are two of the major issues to be discussed at the next meeting of the University of Massachusetts faculty senate, the legislative body that focuses on a wide range of issues that affect theUniversity's students and faculty.
The proposed change in the foreign language requirement applies to the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Currently, the college requires that all students demonstrate foreign language proficiency in one language at the fourth-semester (Intermediate II) level.
The proposed requirement offers students more options to complete the requirement. The proposal states that a student may either demonstrate his or her ability by reaching the fourth-semester level of a language, or by reaching the third-semester (Intermediate I) level in one language and the second-semester (Elementary II) level in a second language.
The reasoning behind the new proposal is that some students face a heavier burden than others in regards to the foreign language requirement. The proposal addresses the fact that it may be difficult for students to complete their foreign language requirement in the time frame that they were allotted.
Another major issue that is expected to come up at the meeting is a revision to the Hospitality and Tourism Management major. There is a proposed restructuring in terms of the concentrations within the major.
The Senate met for the first time this semester on Sept. 18 to discuss the University's budget shortfall issue.
Massachusetts Society of Professors President Jenny Spencer brought up the budget issue at the beginning of that meeting. She inquired as to what was being done at a state level to solve the problem of the faculty contracts that have not been funded by the Commonwealth in about a year and a half.
State senator Stanley Rosenberg fielded the question, explaining that the word from the state's House Ways and Means Committee has not been positive.
"They are sick and tired of me talking about it," Rosenberg explained. "I bring it up at least every other time and the last couple of times I brought it up, some people started pushing back and saying, 'Hey, don't those people still have a job? You know, my people are losing their jobs. I have x-people laid off.'"
Another issue that was discussed at the Sept. 18 meeting was the Student Government Association elections, which took place last week. Brian Long, SGA secretary, spoke for the Association saying that this year's senate will focus on, among other issues, organizing activities on Friday and Saturday nights in an attempt to keep more students on campus during the weekends. Long said this is an attempt to curb large parties such as last year's "Hobart Ho-Down."
