Student Senate voted in favor of the proposed changes to Chapters 17 and 18 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. If passed by the state Legislature, the changes will be put into effect for the Fall 2009 semester.

A review committee was set up in Spring 2007 to look into the chapters, Kyle Duerstein, a student member of the committee from UW-Milwaukee, said. The committee consisted of eight faculty and two students. The chapters were last looked a little over 10 years ago, and a lot of updates needed to be made.

Student Senate was in favor of the proposed changes in a 21-6-0 vote.

Revisions of the chapters include eliminating hearings for student misconduct that would not result in suspensions or higher consequences, Egley said. If a situation arises where a student would need to be put into emergency suspension, a preliminary hearing would not be required under the proposal.

The university will also have the power to punish students for nonacademic misconduct. Legislative Affairs Sen. Andy Lanza was concerned that students could potentially be wrongly accused and punished by suspension for actions off campus.

Egley said he did not foresee that being an issue on any campus, especially at UW-Platteville.

“It will take extreme behavior with serious consideration based on various reports,” Egley said. “This is not something that will often happen.”

In his time at UW-P, Egley has only expelled one student, based on academic reasons, which are not what Chapters 17 and 18 address.

Although students will no longer have an option to have a hearing for minor offenses, Egley did not see a real difference in how situations are dealt with currently.

“In most cases people want to see just one person,” Egley said.

It is more practical to set up a time with one person and solve the issue than to set up an entire committee to hear every issue, Egley said.

“This is a pretty well due proposal,” David Nevins, Administrative Liaison to Student Senate, said.

“At UW-P it is not our policy to throw the book at students,” Egley said.

For concerns about the university going after minor offenses, such as drinking tickets and noise violations, Egley said that will not happen.

“If I brought those cases to the Chancellor, I’d be looking for a new job,” Egley said.

“Don’t be over concerned about the negative impact, when students are setting themselves up for repercussions,” Frank Moullet, Student Senate president, said.

Egley said it is unlikely that most students will see the changes of Chapter 17 and 18 in action. Only the most severe or extreme circumstances will result in emergency suspension, and that decision will not happen quickly.

“We try not to be in a rush of judgment here,” Egley said.

Other revisions made to the chapters included technology-friendly changes. Egley said the proposal will allow e-mail to be valid official communication from the administration.

Although no one will ever be completely please with the changes, Egley said, the law is the same for all secondary education institutes in Wisconsin. UW-Milwaukee will have different concerns than here, but this is the best proposed way to handle all situations.

The revisions can be found online at wisconsin.edu/admincode/.