Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Carlos A. Moreno Sigurd Meldal, new chair of the Academic Senate, sorts a busy schedule on his palm pilot.

Outside the four walls of a classroom and beyond the borders of the university's campus, instructors and students interact actively in each other's lives and cultures, sharing their diverse backgrounds for a better understanding of the world.

That's what the chair of the computer engineering department envisions.

Professor Sigurd Meldal has seen a 133 percent rise in international students at San Jose State University and sees it as an opportunity for student exposure and bonding.

"The university becomes a semi-parental figure," Meldal said, "and if we take good care of students' rights, we become part of their extended family."

The Norwegian professor said the notion of an extended family is very important for the university as it means that students have access to "family" resources around the world.

This semester, however, Meldal is taking on a new role within the family of SJSU. He is stepping in as the new chair of the Academic Senate after one year of apprenticeship as a vice chair.

"It's a wonderful job," he said. "To be in the thick of being part of the conversation, determining how the university is going to run - that's very exciting."

On campus, the Academic Senate carries out the role of a legislative assembly, similar to the House of Representatives of the U.S. government, Meldal said.

Eva Joice, administrative analyst and the only full-time employee in the office, said the Academic Senate's job is to recommend policies to the president, who ultimately has the power to accept or reject proposals.

She said it also has the power to revise already existing policies.

"The Senate picks up an issue where there is vagueness and tries to solidify it and make it clear," Meldal added.

For example, issues such as cheating and disabilities were reviewed and reformed by the Academic Senate to ensure students' fairness and equality on campus.

"It is a co-governance model where administration, students and faculty run the university as a joint project," Meldal said.

SJSU President Jon Whitmore is a senator on the board as well as Associated Students President Vosa Cavu-Litman.

As for the chair, he carries out the United Nations figure of the facilitator, Meldal said: setting an agenda, facilitating an environment that promotes dialogue and carrying out the flow of the meeting.

Continued...

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