Senate may relax credit restrictions

It might be getting easier for students to study abroad during their last semesters at the university, thanks to a University Senate proposal akin to similar measures that were derailed last year.

The change would relax a policy requiring students to take their final credits at this university, which makes it hard for seniors to take advantage of study abroad opportunities or job offers in other states. The University Senate, which directly advises university President Dan Mote on policy decisions, is set to consider the issue at its monthly meeting next week. There appeared to be enough support to pass similar changes last year, but a technical error prevented a vote.

"I'm cautiously optimistic that it will pass the senate, and it should solve that problem for strong students who just want to be able to do things off campus in their senior year," said Charles Delwiche, chairman of the Academic Procedures and Standards Committee, which developed the proposed changes.

As it is now, students are required to take their final 30 credits at this university. The policy makes an exception for "unusual circumstances" in which students may take up to six credits at another institution. Further exceptions can only be made in "highly unusual circumstances" and must be cleared with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

"That rule ends up being difficult for some of the best students on campus, which is not the intent," Delwiche said. "The intent is just that students should have had a significant part of their education from the University of Maryland to receive their degree from [the university]."

The committee's proposed changes would provide exceptions for study abroad programs and internships. The dean in charge of the student's major would make the final approval.

"If I could go back and only redo one thing from my undergraduate days it would be to have studied abroad," senate Chairwoman Elise Miller-Hooks wrote in an e-mail. "We need to find ways to help our students take advantage of opportunities to study abroad or gain valuable work experience through internships."

Last spring, the senate was poised to vote on similar changes when Dean of Undergraduate Studies Donna Hamilton noticed the amendments cited the wrong university documents. The bill was sent back to committee, which prevented a vote, against the wishes of former senate Chairman Ken Holum. At the time, Holum had said he had "no doubt" the changes would pass.

Members of the Senate Executive Committee — the most powerful committee charged with setting the senate's agenda — said the new policy would ultimately benefit students.

"For some people, study abroad just doesn't work until their senior year, [but] they should have an opportunity to study abroad even so," undergraduate senator Jonathan Sachs said.

Before the policy change could take effect, Mote, who usually listens to senate recommendations, would have to approve it.

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