President Lester Lefton spoke about the importance of the election and government on higher education at the Faculty Senate meeting Monday.

Lefton said 48 percent of students across Kent’s eight campuses rely on Pell Grants. Any changes to those grants, he said, such as adding caps or limits, will affect students’ opportunities to go to college.

He said people have a responsibility to discuss grants on the local and national level.

Lefton offered advice: Go vote.

“It’s one freedom we can’t let slip by,” Lefton said.

Therese Tillett, director of curriculum services, presented revisions to the policy on awarding credit hours and determining standards for different types of courses.

Members discussed the revisions, which were made to match definitions from the federal government. The revisions act as guidelines for consistently assigning credit hours per type of course, such as for a lecture or lab.

The Higher Learning Commission will review policies and ensure the university is following the rules when it comes time to reaccredit the university next year.

Other items discussed at the meeting included various changes to the senate’s bylaws and the progress of the Academic Affairs Strategic Plan, presented by Stanley Wearden, dean of the College of Communication and Information.

Contact Alicia Balog at [email protected].