SGA approves parent, professor conference day

By Kelly Griffith
Managing Editor

SGA senators Oct. 6 voted to approve board of trustees member Breeden Blackwell's idea for a parent/professor day in the coming school year. Blackwell presented his idea to SGA Sept. 29. He said his idea would attempt to improve parental involvement in students' learning and increase the university's retention rate.

Parents would have the ability to meet with their student's professors individually one day during the semester. Parents would have the ability to meet the professors and discuss their student's grades.

Although federal regulations prohibit professors from talking about a student's grades with anyone other than the student, Blackwell said he was optimistic that the university could find a way around the rules.

While Blackwell has no official implementation plan for the concept, he said he wanted the SGA's feedback.

Sophomore senator and Parliamentarian Jermaine Perry said he believes it would be practical for the SGA to adopt the idea on a provisional basis. Blackwell is expected to return to the SGA with a plan on how to implement the parent/professor day.

"I think it kind of takes away from the student's autonomy a little bit, especially initially. I think one of the great things about college life is that what students do is they are on their own and have to figure out their own work schedule. It is a lot of making mistakes and making up for your mistakes. It is part of growing up," Perry said. "But, from the university's perspective, I can see how this would help, not only retention but also recruiting. When a parent sees that the university has this kind of program, they are obviously going to want to send them there so that they can keep an eye on them."

During discussions, SGA President Vanessa Jones said she talked with her father about the issue and does not understand how the parent/professor day will benefit upperclassmen.

"I am a senior now and if I was failing a class there is nothing (my parents) can do about it. There is no repercussion for me to go to that class. (My dad) can't pull me out of school," Jones said. "If I was a freshman, he would like that better. It's a nice way for him to meet my professors. It's a nice way for him to know if I am going to fail out of school."

Blackwell said he hopes the support of SGA will help him when he faces the Faculty Senate.