Academic Affairs Committee
Welcome to the internet home of the Academic Affairs Committee, a permanent standing committee fo the University Park Undergraduate Association. We have our roots in the predecessor to the UPUA – the Undergradaute Student Government (USG). One of the houses of the legislative branch of the USG was called the Academic Assembly. This body had its own president and staff and led many important intiatives for over 35 years. We are the modern version of the Academic Assembly, except that, because UPUA has a unicameral legislature, we are a standing committee instead of a house. We still, and always will, continue to focus on enforcing and creating academic policies that benefits students and their education while at Penn State University Park.
Our important projects are listed below:
Penn State Book Exchange
The Book Exchange is a multi-year project designed to provide more affordable textbook options to Penn State students. The Book Exchange is a service that allows a Penn State student at any campus to list books he or she is trying to sell and to name a price for those books. The Book Exchange listings are searchable by ISBN, Title, or most other fields. The Book Exchange is programmed by a student and operated jointly by the Academic Affairs Committee and Student Affairs Information Technology. Send your thoughts on the Book Exchange to the AAC lead for this project, Representative Nathan Andrews at nca5010@psu.edu.
Academic Casework
The Academic Affairs Committee is dedicated not only to monitoring academic policy changes but also to service through casework. This model is an adaptation of the model used by the Federal Congress, where each Representative has caseworkers who take the concerns of constituents and act on behalf of that citizen to various agencies within the federal bureaucracy. We use this model by having our staff and Representatives represent students who have problems in the classroom – including problems with professors, TAs, grading, or advising – to academic offices in the colleges and in Old Main.
You can submit a case by filling out this form and submitting electronically to Committee Vice Chairwoman Chrissy Boggs or by dropping off the form to 314 HUB between 10a and 4p Monday through Friday.
Read our media release on the project.
Academic Council Conferences
The AAC holds conferences once a semester that brings together the leaders of the individual college student governments to discuss ideas and learn what the other councils are working on. We plan this conference in advance and use it to encourage college student councils to become more active and influential.
Finals Frenzy
The Friday before every finals week the Academic Affairs Committee hands out food and finals supplies like pens, pencils, and bluebooks to every undergraduate who requests them. We are in the HUB on those Friday mornings with a table. You can’t miss us.
Opportunities in Academic Affairs
Want to get involved in Academic Affairs at Penn State? You can attend meetings, which happen several times per month on Thursdays at 8pm in the HUB.
Are you interested in being involved in student government? Want to take on a role? Apply to be a staff member for the Academic Affairs Committee. Staff are volunteers that take part in some of the best parts of being on the Committee. To find out more about the positions and apply, click here for our job description and application form.