I wanted to give you a status report on the items referred to ASRAC:

1.  Admissions:  The Committee was presented at its 3/26 meeting with a proposal.  The Committee needs to discuss the proposal further.  So we don't anticipate bringing this to the Senate this year.  But we think it's very likely that we'll be able to present it early next Fall.

2.  Copyright:  ASRAC has heard from Marianne Gaunt about the proposed copyright policy.  As we understand it, the policy is intended to restate current practice.  All the same, committee members are concerned about the phrasing of various items, e.g., the copyright treatment of the productions of teaching assistants and graduate assistants.  Ms. Gaunt met with ASRAC in February to give committee members a chance to express our concerns.  At our 3/26 meeting, Ms. Gaunt presented us with a new draft intended to respond to concerns that she has heard from our committee and others.  We will review this draft and then be in contact with Ms. Gaunt if there are remaining issues.  Ms. Gaunt has told us that she does not want the draft to move forward to the floor of the Senate unless there is consensus, and so we will work with her to attempt to develop that consensus to bring to the floor of the Senate early next [year].

3.  2009-2010 Calendar:  This calendar has turned out to be rather difficult to change.  Canceling classes on Monday, August 31 means that Monday-only classes will not meet until the third week of class.  It also appears that the only way to make up the missed Monday will be to have two consecutive Mondays Thanksgiving week.  We are exploring with the administration whether it might be possible to make the Tuesday of Labor Day week into a Monday, but there seem to be logistical problems with this.  Again, the Committee needs to discuss the matter further, and we hope to have a resolution to bring to the Senate in the first part of next year.

4.  Plus-Minus Grading:  As you'll remember, I promised the Senate in March that the Committee will be moving ahead with this.  Once again, I anticipate that we will be able to present this in the first part of next year.  In this way, the Board of Governors can act on any changes in the grading system that the Senate agrees on.

5.  Big East Athletics:  The Committee has had little opportunity to discuss this, in part because we needed to respond to the COIA framework.  The issue is an important one. We would prefer to make more progress on our other matters before turning to this one.