TEXT OF PRESIDENT McCORMICK'S MAY 25, 2010 RESPONSE TO THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHARGE S-0807, ADD/DROP PERIOD

I am writing in response to the Report and Recommendations on Charge S-0807 on the Add/Drop Period, as adopted by the University Senate on January 29, 2010. I thank the members of the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee for their timely attention to this issue and for their reconsideration of the issue on April 30.

My administration is pleased to accept the Senate's recommendation to lengthen the add/drop period by one day to an eight-day drop period and a nine-day add period on a trial basis for the fall 2010 and spring 2011 semesters. In accordance with the Senate's recommendation, I ask that the Academic Standards, Regulations and Admissions Committee evaluate the results of these changes near the end of the spring 2011 semester and recommend whether further changes to the add/drop period be made for fall 2011 and beyond. In addition, by copy of this letter, I am asking Executive Vice President Furmanski and the Chancellors to redouble their efforts to encourage the faculty to make their syllabi available online during the preregistration period so students can make informed decisions about which courses to select at the outset of the process. In those cases where full syllabi are not available, faculty should be asked to post whatever information can be shared at that time, particularly the basic course requirements and the methods of assessing students' work in the course. In addition, students should be strongly encouraged to attend the courses in which they wish to enroll in advance of officially adding them, so that they are not at a disadvantage due to missing the material covered during the initial class periods.

I appreciate the Committee's thoughtful deliberations on this issue, and look forward to their evaluation and further recommendations regarding the extension of the add/drop period in future semesters.

Sincerely yours,
Richard L. McCormick

c: Steven Diner, Chancellor, Newark Campus
    Philip Furmanski,Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
    Ken Iuso, Registrar
    Wendell Pritchett, Chancellor, Camden Campus
    Barry Qualls, Vice President for Undergraduate Education