The Legislative Body of Macalester College Student Government (MCSG) unaminously passed a resolution on Tuesday, Feb. 25 that calls for "greater [student] understanding of, and inclusion in" the tenure, or faculty hiring, process.

The resolution, entitled "MCSG Proposal: Increasing Student Representation In Macalester's Academic Government Structures," recommends that each academic department appoint or elect one student representative - a major in the department - to serve as a liaison on faculty issues.

The representatives' primary objective would be to explain allocation and tenure procedures to fellow students, to gather opinions, and to bring feedback to the faculty in a systematic way.

Before any actual changes are implemented, the proposal must go before the Faculty Personnel Committee and the Educational Policy and Academic Governance Committee. If these committees approve the resolution, which would affect all departments, it will go before the entire faculty for a vote, possibly as soon as next month.

The student representatives would be obligated to meet with faculty members on a regular basis and to hold two department-wide student forums each semester. In each forum, the representative would disclose any ongoing searches, any faculty members up for review, and any pending allocation requests for department positions.

The Academic Affairs Commission (AAC), the MCSG committee which developed the proposal, would coordinate the representatives and assist with their duties as needed. However, the departments themselves, not MCSG, would have direct oversight.

Nonetheless, Dean of Students Laurie Hamre said that she questioned whether the structure could be sustained with a weaker student government. Aside from that, she expressed nothing but admiration for the committee members. "They put into place a system that I think both students and faculty can be happy with," said Hamre. "I think it's a very respectful way for students to enter into this process."

Linguistics professor Sarah Dart also expressed enthusiasm about the proposal, saying that student feedback is very important. "It is better if a student is in charge of this, because then students will be more likely to respond," said Dart.

The proposal does not request that students be allowed into confidential meetings. Representatives will be asked to leave department faculty meetings when confidential personnel matters are discussed. According to AAC Chair Cate McDonough '05, the aim is not to take over the process, but merely to get students involved. "What was lacking was a student face," said McDonough. "We wanted to establish a structure for students."

The other duties of the representative, who would serve one year, would include serving on search committees for faculty hires, listening to students, and, with the aid of MCSG, surveying students on proposed department changes or hires. Departments without allocations or faculty reviews in a given year would maintain a representative position to ensure that lines of communication remain open.

Each department could choose one of three methods for selecting the representative: selection by department faculty or chair, MCSG spring elections, or appointment by the AAC through an application process. Those departments with a system already in place would be able to retain that system.

The committee cites an MCSG survey conducted last fall whose results show that a large majority of students felt that they lack sufficient information on the tenure process and wanted to be included in it. McDonough also mentioned the controversy over the granting of tenure for Professor Terry Boychuk as a factor leading to the creation of the proposal.

MCSG President Haris Aqeel described the proposal as "a remarkable document. Cate and her committee have created a proposal which is substantive, responsible and constructive. This is the most important resolution MCSG will pass for a long time to come."

Provost Dan Hornbach declined to comment, citing the fact that the proposal has not yet been discussed by the Faculty Personnel Committee.