The “ten-minute rule” is a staple of college student lore, but it is not officially written anywhere on campus.

The Student Government academic affairs committee is looking into codifying the rules for when faculty do not show up for classes.

“We are going to work with the Faculty Senate and its appropriate committee and see if we can get a written policy,” said committee chair Jill David. “Maybe something a professor has to put in their syllabus.”

The committee serves as a liaison between the student body and the faculty, and is working on measures that could benefit Eastern students.

“We are here for their academic concerns,” David said. “Any issue that deals with their education we can work with the faculty and staff to find a solution.”

The five-member committee is currently looking into several major concerns that they have discovered through personal experiences and input from students.

While some issues deal directly with the concerns that have been brought up by students, one issue has to do with the way things are run within the committee so that it can do a better job performing its duties.

The committee’s bylaws are somewhat vague as to the number of outside meetings the committee member must attend, said David. But they are considering making attendance at more meetings mandatory.

“It would be extra work for the senators,” she said. “But it would make the committee more effective.”

David is a sophomore political science major who was appointed as the chair of the committee by Speaker of the Senate, Adam Howell.

“She’s one of our up-and-coming student government members and was a student senator all of last year,” he said.

An issue that David categorizes as “an uphill battle” is one that is in the early stages of research. Several students have voiced concerns about professors locking classroom doors right at the class’ start time.

While David admits that they do not know how widespread the problem is-a survey is planned to find out-she does know that there is more than one professor in a certain department who uses this practice.

“We are going to try and see if we can set precedent,” she said. “We are paying to get an education here. I can understand that if you are late and they take points off but to miss a whole lecture” puts the student at a disadvantage with note taking.

David also wants students to know that the committee is easy to reach if a student has a concern they want addressed.

“All of my (contact) information is on the website,” she said. “And our senate meetings are open to the public every Wednesday. We love it when people come to us with their concerns.”