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STUDENT FORUMS

Approved Student Forums - Spring 2012

Printable Application Forms - Fall 2012 Student Forums

STUDENT FORUM PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

  1. Any student or group of students may propose a Student Forum on their own or in consultation with one or more faculty members, provided the forum does not duplicate a course regularly offered by a department or program. Student forums and individual and group tutorials never carry a general education designation.

  2. In addition to a brief description, the proposal must include:

    • a statement of purpose and rationale
    • a statement that indicates what qualifies the student to lead the forum
    • an outline of topics to be discussed
    • a partial reading list
    • a description of written and other work to be done by each student
    • a description of the role of the faculty sponsor
    • the method by which the work will be evaluated
    • a statement from the faculty sponsor clearly explaining what s/he sees as the academic value of the proposal

    The maximum enrollment is 15 plus the student leader(s).  When more than one student leader is proposed, a justification for having additional leaders must be provided.

    The minimum enrollment is 5, including the student leader(s). Student Forums that enroll fewer than 5 students will be cancelled.

  3. The student or group of students will enlist a faculty sponsor.  The sponsor will review the proposal, suggest changes, and sign an agreement with the group covering the work to be done, the sponsor's role, and the method by which the students' work will be evaluated. The faculty member's participation might include attendance at some or all meetings, consultation at intervals with the student leader and/or the group about progress of the forum, reading of some written work, etc.  The role of the faculty sponsor will be examined closely and must be clearly stated in the proposal.

  4. The student proposer and the faculty sponsor must sign the proposal (side A & B) and submit it to the department or program chair for review by the end of classes in the semester before the one in which the forum will take place (Wednesday, May 9).

  5. The department or program chair will review the proposal and, if it is found satisfactory, submit it to the Registrar’s Office by Friday, May 18. The Registrar’s Office will forward the proposal to the appropriate Academic Dean for review.

  6. The proposal will receive final review by Academic Affairs within two weeks of the submission.  The review will include attention to the student leader's academic record and specific experience that would qualify him/her to lead the proposed forum.  

  7. If a student forum proposal fails to receive approval, the student leader may address the deficiencies noted by Academic Affairs and submit a revised proposal. By Friday, June 1, the student leader should communicate in writing to the Office of Academic Affairs his or her intention to do so and the revised proposal should be received no later than Friday, June 15.

  8. A list of approved Student Forums will be maintained in the Registrar's Office.  Student leaders will pick up Student Forum Registration forms from the Registrar's Office and return the forms to the Registrar's Office by the last day of the Drop/Add Period.             

  9. By the last day of the Drop/Add Period the student leader will submit a roster confirming who is registered for the course.

  10. At the end of the course, the faculty sponsor will complete and submit grade forms and Credit/Unsatisfactory evaluations to the Registrar's Office.  The faculty sponsor will submit a final report to the department or program chair, who will forward a copy to Academic Affairs.

  11. For students who entered Wesleyan before the fall of 2000, no more than two Student Forum course credits could count toward graduation. For students entering since the fall of 2000, a combined maximum of two credits in physical education and student forums may count toward graduation.