University faculty members tackled the scheduling of this fall’s Civil War during the final days of the term at the monthly meeting of the University’s faculty Senate on Wednesday afternoon in Columbia 150.
Philosophy faculty member Cheney Ryan proposed to amend the joint senate resolution between the University and Oregon State University regarding the academic calendar and athletic events scheduling. Ryan said that many University groups, including the University Senate, were ignored when the athletic department scheduled the Civil War football game for the Saturday before finals, upsetting faculty committees that would have advised against the change.
Frustration with Athletic Department officials was evident, and Ryan’s passionate presentation prompted discussion that was cut off by Senate President Suzanne Clark, who said the discussion was inappropriate for the legislative process.
This schedule change has been an ongoing issue for both faculty and students. Ryan cited a poll in which most students reported that the scheduling would either cut into their studying time or keep them from attending the game. Ryan said he wanted neither.
The resolution currently states “we suggest that major events should not interfere with dead week and final exams.” Ryan’s resolution reaffirms this suggestion, and states that in the future, the athletic department should inform related parties of scheduling conflicts, rather than scheduling with no consultation.
Course evaluations
Associate Professor of Psychology Bertram Malle also caused a bit of a stir when he made a motion to rescind a motion passed Jan. 10. Malle’s intent is to change the timing of course evaluations. As of now, some students fill out their evaluations during finals week, which Malle said is “potentially disastrous.”
Malle wants the evaluations to be filled out during Dead Week only. Because some professors collect the evaluations during finals week, Malle said, many of the evaluations are invalid because “(students) will be influenced heavily by the subjective experience of the final exam, which is not diagnostic of the course’s value or the instructor’s teaching quality.”
ASUO Student Senator Nate Gulley began to comment on evaluations from a student’s perspective, and said that the final is a part of the class and should therefore be included in the overall assessment, but he and other faculty members were asked to save their thoughts for the next meeting’s discussion.
Priscilla Southwell also addressed course evaluations, and formally announced the Joint Senate-Academic Affairs Committee on Teaching Evaluations membership list. The committee’s objective is to reexamine the evaluation effectiveness and validity, and make alterations where necessary. It will also consider shifting the evaluations to an entirely online format.
A relatively heated argument between two faculty members over the technology used and the people involved concluded with the announcement that the committee will begin business soon and report back to the Senate before its final meeting.
New Athletic Director
Athletics were a prominent subject at the meeting. Associate law professor Michael Moffitt, chair of the athletic director search committee, explained the selection of Pat Kilkenny as the new University athletic director. His committee, assembled in Dec. 2006, attempted to find the “best possible candidates for the job” and reported the results “detailed and uncensored” to University President Dave Frohnmayer, who ultimately made the decision to hire Kilkenny.
Moffitt also said he hopes the hiring will promote a new “innovative relationship between athletics and academics.”
Students spoke as well. ASUO president Jared Axelrod informed the Senate that on Feb. 22, buses will be available for any students, faculty and staff wanting to travel to the capitol and attend a higher education rally. He encouraged faculty to be “lenient” with attendance that day.
The Senate Budget Committee
Committee Chair David Frank reported University faculty are making 91.2 percent of their peers’ paychecks, moving closer to the 95 percent goal set in 2000. Frank also addressed the potential new retirement system, suggesting the University follow the University of Washington model.
Mathematics professor Peter Gilkey of the Interinstitutional Faculty Senate briefly mentioned the “College NOW!” program, which allows high school students to transfer credits from certain classes to their college transcripts.
The Intercollegiate Athletics Committee
IAC chair Jim Isenberg updated the Senate on the IAC’s perspective of current University athletics issues.
He briefed the audience on the IAC’s purpose, which includes dealing with graduation rates, NCAA rules, and communicating between “folks on both sides of the river” – both athletic and academic officials.
Isenberg addressed learning services for student-athletes and the general student body alike, calling for more attention to be paid to tutoring. He also asked for the opinions of senate members, faculty, students and community members about next fall’s football schedule adjustments.
Contact the higher education reporter at [email protected].
Faculty debate campus issues
Daily Emerald
February 15, 2007
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