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"Measuring graduation rates is indeed a charade. Yes, some programs have a “respectable” rate of graduating athletes, but these grads often take gut courses, major in fields that have little academic rigor (coaching, general studies), and are placed in courses taught by profs who wouldn’t recognize an academic standard if it slept in their bed. The whole enterprise ought to be called academic gerrymandering."
—Gary
NCAA Imposes Stiffer Penalties for Academic Performance of Midlevel Division I Teams
U. of Nevada at Reno, Facing Dozens of Lawsuits, Spends Big on Outside Legal Help
The university, which says most of the complaints are meritless, has spent about $1.7-million on lawyers to help in just four of the cases.
Canadian Panel to Investigate University's Halting of Controversial Research
The university had approved a study of assisted suicides, but changed its mind after getting legal opinions.
Dispute Over Academic Freedom Roils Turkish-Studies Institute
Some scholars say the Turkish government forced a professor to resign from a research center’s board because of his views on the massacre of Armenians in 1915.
U. of Evansville President Arrested on Drunken-Driving Charges
In a statement released today by the university, Stephen G. Jennings acknowledged making “a very serious mistake” and apologized.
Petitions Are Filed for Arizona and Nebraska Referenda on Affirmative Action
The backers of a similar measure in Colorado filed petitions months ago, but legal challenges may complicate such campaigns.
Darwin Defeated in the Bayou: Louisiana Encourages 'Critical Thinking' About Evolution | 88
ACLU Complains About Noon-Meal Prayers at Naval Academy | 77
Columbia U. Fires Teachers College Professor Accused of Rampant Plagiarism | 61
U. of Phoenix's Report on Students' Progress Is 'Disingenuous,' Critic Says | 49
Student Who Died at Professor's Home Suffered a Drug Overdose | 47
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May 22, 2008
Washington State U. Proposes Slashing Its Course Offerings
Washington State University has proposed a universitywide audit of all courses and degree programs with the goal of cutting its course offerings by 20 percent, reducing the number of majors and minors, and concentrating university resources on areas of academic strength.
An 18-page report by the provost, issued last week, calls for an overhaul of the university’s general education programs, a moratorium on new courses, and a retraining of faculty members to focus on top-priority areas.
According to a news release, the university offers 6,700 courses, but many are rarely taught and have small enrollments. The university hopes that eliminating some of those offerings will let faculty members devote more energy to core areas of the curriculum.
The report also recommends restructuring several schools and departments to bring together faculty members in related areas and to eliminate underenrolled programs. It proposes cutting the bachelor’s degree in forestry and consolidating the programs in earth and environmental science, natural-resource sciences, and community and rural sociology into a single unit focusing on environmental sustainability. It also proposes dividing the College of Liberal Arts into three divisions: social and behavioral sciences; arts, culture, and humanities; and interdisciplinary and area studies.
“In some areas, structures have been created that no longer make sense in an era where both research and teaching are increasingly interdisciplinary,” said Provost Robert Bates, in a written statement. “This report provides an excellent opportunity for the university to realign academic programs in a way that best serves our research and teaching missions.” —Paula Wasley
Posted on Thursday May 22, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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Good luck with that, as people endlessly say nowadays. Evidently, Washington State hasn’t yet learned that, next to Republican bankers and trade-union majordomos, faculty members and academic administrators are some of the most conservative, change-resistant, risk-averse members of our society. I suspect that the WSU provost will soon get a crash course (if they don’t cancel it first).
Slyest sentence from the report: “Many of the recommendations agreed with those made by the deans and area administrators, others differed.”
— S. Britchky May 22, 01:40 PM #
The main advantage of the four-credit, four-course system is that it automatically increases tuition revenue by one credit per student. Yes, that adds up – significantly
What is also not discussed is the fact that many institutions with the four-credit system continue to teach their courses with three contac hours per week. Another profitable scam.
The loser in this scheme: the student, of course, who gets to pay more for less.
— Anti-hypocrisy advocate May 28, 12:19 AM #