1. THE UNIVERSITY PARK UNDERGRADUATE ASSOCIATION
The Pennsylvania State University
16th Assembly
2021-2022 Session
Bill #20-16
December 1st
, 2021
Be it decided by the Assembly of Student Representatives,
having been brought to the floor by two-thirds (2/3rds),
a
BILL
Establishment of the “Know Your Rights” Academic Integrity and Student
Rights Campaign
Nature of the Situation:
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In the 7th
Assembly of the University Park Undergraduate Association, (UPUA) the Academic
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Affairs Committee established the “Know Your Rights” Campaign to inform students of their
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academic rights, both in and outside of the classroom. This campaign focused on compiling
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relevant University Faculty Senate academic policies and transforming them into student-friendly
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advertisements. This information was disseminated to the student body via an interactive website
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and a downloadable PDF booklet.
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The majority of Faculty Senate policies are not transparent for students. Though the policies are
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published on the University Faculty Senate website, they are note easily accessible. To combat
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this problem, the UPUA’s 11th
Assembly reestablished the “Know Your Rights” Academic
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Campaign. Representatives distributed posters to the student body to raise awareness about
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unknown senate policies.
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Representatives from the UPUA’s 13th
Assembly met with the Associate Vice President and Senior
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Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and the Chair of the Administrative Council on
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Education (ACUE). They determined that the posters were outdated and should not be distributed
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anymore. The UPUA’s 13th Assembly transitioned the “Know Your Rights” campaign to a social
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media-driven platform with one day of tabling. This day allowed students to become more aware
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of their own academic policies through a series of engagement activities.
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2. The 14th
Assembly of UPUA transitioned further into four days of tabling events during the month
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of March 2020 for the continuation of the “Know Your Rights” Campaign. In collaboration with
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the Department of Communication, ACUE, and the Office of Undergraduate Education, UPUA
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made graphics to be posted on social media accounts and informational flyers to be distributed
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while tabling.
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Within the 15th
Assembly participated in the Academic Integrity Working Group which strives to
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educate students about Academic Integrity violations as well as resources at Penn State to avoid
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violations. Along with this event, the 15th
Assembly turned toward a social-media driven platform
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to inform students of their academic rights due to the restraints of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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In the current assembly, a return to campus has led to a large readjustment for the student body
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with the move from Zoom to in-person learning. With this, students may not be aware of some of
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the Faculty Senate Policies that may alleviate stress during this switch from online learning to in-
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person finals and their academic rights.
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Recommended Course of Action:
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The UPUA, on behalf of the University Park undergraduate student body, hereby resolves to
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continue the UPUA “Know Your Rights” campaign with a combination of flyers with a QR code
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linking to the UPUA Resource Center that will be distributed to residence halls in partnership
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with ARHS as well as Residence Life and social media graphics that will be sponsored from
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December 6th
, 2021, to December 10th
, 2021. As well, the “Know Your Rights” will table within
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the HUB on December 7th
, 2021 from 11 AM until 3 PM.
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Through the continuation of this campaign, UPUA will provide students with an opportunity to
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learn about their rights within the classroom, as well as what restrictions are and are not placed
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on their professors. The Faculty Senate policies be promoting include, but are not limited to:
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• 47-20 Grade Remediation
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• 43-00 Updates to Syllabi
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• 34-89 Course Drop
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44-20 Examinations
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• 42-27 Excused Absences
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o Election Day Leniency
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• 47-20 Basis for Grades
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89-00 Student Privacy Regarding Letters of Recommendation
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Name of General Expenditure
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Item Cost Quantity Total
Flyer Prints $0.92 500 $460
Print Tax $27.60 1 $27.60
Sponsored Post $210 7-day period $210
Total $697.60
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3. Amount remaining in Type-40: $88,166.11
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Designation for Know Your Rights Campaign: $1,000.00
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This allocation is provided to the General Assembly annually to cover the costs for the Know
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Your Rights Campaign and is based on the previous year’s spending. As well, the Department of
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Public Relations is hereby charged with disseminating this information and sponsoring the post.
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Respectfully submitted,
Zach Perrin
First-Year Representative
Owen Haddad
College of Communications Representative
Lewis Richardson
Chair of Academic Affairs
Schreyer Honors College
Noah Robertson
Vice-Chair of Academic Affairs
College of the Liberal Arts
Jordan Deibler
At-Large Representative
State-Federal Liaison
Special Consideration and Thanks to: Ava Phillip, Kelly Sautner, Layla Gilbert, Sanjana
Devarakonda, and Isaiah Johnson
Committee Vote: N/A
Assembly Vote: 26/0/0
Speaker of the Assembly ________________________________________________
President of the Student Body ________________________________________________
The University Park Undergraduate Association
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