Jennifer Arledge VP for Academic Affairs

​BODAcademic@cwu.edu | (509) 963-1765 | cell: (509) 306-0138

First and foremost I am here to help serve the students here at CWU. I am here to listen to any academic issues, concerns, or comments students have. From there it is my responsibility to pursue a resolution if need be. I also chair Student Academic Senate (SAS). SAS is comprised of a senator from every academic department. Senator’s responsibilities include relaying any academic concerns from their specific department to the General Senate. SAS also allocates money to clubs and individuals for pursuing academia outside of the classroom such as attending conferences, guest speakers, any sort of learning done outside of the classroom. I also am a student advocate on numerous task forces and committees. I also chair the BOD scholarship advisory committee. My office has so much to offer students from reimbursement to ways of getting involved and having a voice in their academic experience. My door is always open and I encourage students to ask me for any help they need.

1. How do I become a senator?
a. There is a senator application online under central’s website on the ASCWU page. You will need to fill it out which requires getting your chair’s signature. After you turn in the completed form and it is reviewed and then you will be appointed at the next public meeting.

2. What does a senator do?
a. A senator attends Student Academic Senate (SAS) meetings once a month and communicates within their department to raise any issues, concerns, comments about any given academic topic.

3. Does a senator get compensated?
a. It looks great on a resume! Right now we are trying to get some sort of tuition waiver for senators.

4. How much time does a senator need to put in?
a. SAS meetings can range anywhere from 1-3 hours. A senator also has to complete 1 office hour a month as well as advertise well for it so it is utilized at its full capacity.

5. What if a senator needs to miss a meeting?
a. If a senator misses one meeting they are not penalized. If a senator misses two meetings in one quarter they are on suspension and that department is unable to request for funds until they are reinstated.
b. We encourage you to have an alternate. Alternates go through the same process as full time senators.

6. What happens at a SAS meeting?
a. Department senators all meet and talk about the issues/concerns/comments that were talked about within their department. They also vote on allocating money to students to ask for funds.

7. Where can I find a SAS funds request?
a. Online! Under the ASCWU website. There are changes made to the packet. I tried to make it more user friendly for everyone. There is a checklist at the end of the packet that needs to be filled out and turned in.

8. What can I get reimbursement for?
a. Hotel, travel, gas, registration, etc. almost everything… except for food costs.

9. What are SAS’s guidelines for requesting?
a. Any kind of activity that enhances your academia. This can range from going to a guest speaker, bringing one in, going to a conference etc. It is decided on a case by case basis.
    i. Ex. Nutrition went to VegFest in Seattle and got reimbursed for             travel costs.

10. What happens if the funds request paperwork is filled out incorrectly or late?
a. I will pass any information along to the board and let them know that it was done improperly and they have the option to ignore the request or knock of money for not following procedures.

11. What is the process to request money?
a. Look at the front page of the request packet. Attend the first Executive Board meeting of the month. Then attend SAS. Go to your event. Come back to SAS and give a report back. Once you have reported back we will release funds and a check will be mailed to you in two weeks.

12. If I have an academic issue how do I solve it? What can I do?
a. It should always start with yourself and who you have the issue with. Once you speak to the person you have an issue with and it does not get resolved talk to the department chair. If it does not seem to go anywhere or you feel rules and/or regulations are being broken come to me. I will ask you for a FORMAL WRITTEN REPORT. I do not do he said she said so this document is vital before I take any sort of action. After I receive that, depending on the situation I will start taking different avenues to see how we can resolve the situation.

13. What kind of things can you help me with?
a. My door is open to anyone. If you need help getting organized, figuring out your student rights, how to take good notes, if you need help with Safari, Blackboard etc. you can come to me. I am always more than happy to help you.
b. If your student rights are not being followed
c. If you have a situation with a professor
d. If you have ideas about changes in curriculum
e. If you want to sit on a committee
f. If you have an idea(s) for First Year Experience and/or University 101
g. If you feel a certain way about textbooks
h. If you have a problem or feel a certain way about academic advising
i. If you are looking into ways to get involved