The recommendations from both units were not unanimous, said the Council of Graduate Students, or COGS, President Stefan Fletcher.

At last week’s Faculty Senate meeting, student leaders from ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, and COGS were concerned the expedited process lacked input from students and encouraged members not to recommend the waiver.

Waiving the process is within the university’s bylaws, according to council members and Fletcher.

Simon said she will take the students’ input into account.

She said she plans to make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees, one way or the other, at the next board meeting in June.

Fletcher said he believes Simon will be meeting with student leaders from ASMSU, COGS, the Greek community and the Residence Halls Association in the near future to discuss how to move forward.

“It’s important that (the students) have an opportunity to voice any concerns that they have or opinions that they have. … Because ultimately, this is the vice president for student — key-word, underlined — affairs,” Fletcher said after the meeting. “And at least in my mind, that individual has to provide at least the student perspective when it comes to administrative matters, and having student input in terms of both the process and how we move forward from here is pretty salient.”

2013-14 academic year Faculty Senate and Steering Committee chair and vice chair
Sue Carter, a professor in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, and William Davidson, a professor in the College of Social Science, will be chair and vice chair of the academic governance units.

The terms last one year.

Carter is filling the position held by John Powell, while Davidson is stepping into Carter’s previous role.

“I have wonderful shoes to fill — looking at my feet, I don’t think I can do it,” Carter said jokingly after the meeting. “So, (improving) faculty life across the continuum — I hope to just be able to continue a lot of those initiatives.”

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon reflects on the academic year
At the meeting, Simon addressed council members about this academic year’s achievements, referring to commencement ceremonies May 3.

She also noted the tragic events that shocked the country this year, such as the Boston Marathon bombings and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Simon encouraged the MSU community to reflect on these incidents and persevere.

“There is a time to remember and join in spirit, but it’s also a time to have resolve and to be sure that each of us does what we can to make the world, simply, a better place,” Simon said addressing council members.