1972-05-01; Central Michigan Life

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Universit
^52, Number 83
Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48858
Monday, May 1,1972
LIFE today presents its second annual
State of the University issue, in an attempt to review this past year and explore
programs and ideas planned for the future.
We realize some areas of concern might
Ifdt ifei covereibrasniaequaTeiy as is necessary, and areas missed will be published in later issues. •
-But as of May 1, 1972, this is the
State of the University. We hope you'll
find this compilation interesting and informative.
By HELEN PARKS
LIFE Academics Editor
With the External Students' Degree
Lgrarn heading the list, three-issues
took top priority at Academic Senate this
fear.
• After nearly two months of discussion,
hearings, review and spirited delate last fall, Senate—with only a quorum
unanimously approved the External Students' Degree Program.
Initially called the Adult Degree Pro-
bm, the self-supporting program is one
If few underway in this country. Its
pin function is to serve individuals or
groups whose careers and- family responsibilities limit their access'-to higher
■education.  _. •   .-  ..
I Objections to the initiation of such a
^program, stemming from all sides of
(the University, centered on who exactly
tvould be served by the program. Stu-
&at Senate went so 4ar^.s voting to
M back the program because, they said,
itte original aim of the program -had
[changed from attempting to assist, those
Jgroups of people unable to receive structured University training to serve big
'business and military Mitefests.
But the objections were passed over
jnTnow progress on the program is in
(nil swing. A special committee is now
jetting up the format Jo get^the pro-
:fr»m underway.
, Heading down the list of priorities,
JWs"year saw Senate'approveCMU's
Hirst doctoral program. /Like the con-
itroversy which accompanied the External
Degree Program (which dominated the
; Senate floor in the fall) the doctorate
-of psychology degree (Psy. D.) was the
-center of discussion for three spring
^sessions. ..",'■        -I
-The degree progra_n^#_.ieB^ Imrhegas
issues
tion this year was a detailed proposal
changing the requirements for students
seeking admission into the school of Edu-"
cation. With the new requirement, students must now have a grade point average
of 2.3 to be eligible for admission. They
must also show evidence of 90 clock
hours of work experience with children
or youths.
The Senate defeated, however, a provision which called for students to answer questions pertaining to their past
criminal records of convictions and sentences. An amendment instead was inserted requiring that applicants satisfy
the School of Education's approval for
"possessing good health, high moral
character and pronounced teaching aptitudes and interests."
A new grade grievance policy also took
a high place in Senate business this year.
The policy, only recently approved, will
allow students to take a disputed grade
beyond, departmental and school levels
to an impartial committee which will render final judgement on the issue.
.   Please turn to page 14
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■ ~~~ LIFE photo by Chuck stappnicK
SIDEWALK SCRAWLERS - - Doing their own part to
beautify campus, these small-fry from married housing
apply chalk to concrete.  Result?  Sidewalk art.
Boyd discusses The University
. -   .. By JOANNE CLEMENT
LIFE Administrations Editor
During an informal interview, President
William B. Boyd reflected on the University Is academic growth, future enrollment, campus beautification, studentacti-
vism and CM LIFE.
Further and successful development of
Central's current . five-year plan (the
school's projected academic and physical
|the State Board of Education's" approval, growth) and development of the Institute
wil train practitioners in field settings of Personal and Career Development (a
![°r applied, service oriented positions program which brings education to those
Imschools, clinics arid institutions. who could not otherwise attend on campus
^ And taking third.place in Senate ac- classes) were cited by the President as
important and significant aspects of academic growth.
Because Central's enrollment is now at
a 60/40 ratio (upper-classmen and lower
classmen respectively) the school's departments  are offering more advanced
class work.
More advanced work calls for a change
in faculty qualifications, a factor which
the President feels also relates significantly to the University's increased academic growth. "Since assuming the office
of .president, the Ph.D rate of faculty
has doubled," Boyd said'.
Changes in faculty qualifications leads
to greater academic growth as well as to
changes in curriculum.    "De-emphasis
on teacher preparation programs and
more emphasis on professional training
as well as the development of the residential honors college (like that found
in Larzelere Hall) are direct examples
of these curriculum changes. More and
more Options are being offered each
year," Boyd said.
Of special interest to the President
would be development of special "throw-
away colleges". According to Boyd,
this system would develop through a number of students and a few faculty members
who would, for a semester, intensively
study together a special area of interest
to all.' An aspect of the environment
Please turn to page 14
Academic body underwent change
Open forum proves itself invaluable
3y HELEN  PARKS-.
LlFE'Acqden.ics Editor
For
many Mondays this year Academic Senate
, « Jumped the hurdles of debate, waded through
,|a,.c°nfused tactics of parlimentary procedure and
aJ?    pr°P°sals to bring new dimensions to the
academic life of CMU. .    **     ■
Three
$*, was
years ago this open forum-, as it is known
non-existent and in', its place was another
%m       body-~Univers(ity Senate.    Composed of
Spnof   members and administrators, the University
; enate contained no students.    -
'%sonlr V?ices were always heard,  says Richard
Acadp • history department chairman and former
&i, i c Senate chairman, but. they had no bffi-
la-!hVote in Senate. .      .    ■ -, .;'-
UndM. iS- Where the change came.   There are six
WHS   in   £p<_<a<vmi„ : o .-.4.- ... _..,«. cm.-.-,  <?..».><*
Political
"? Academic Senate now but Elias Sam'o,
science instructor; says this is less than
Percent of the entire .student, body , which is
. ow the percentage of faculty members and
Sam>Strat°rs wh0 hold vote's'
.ehr'q0.believes  there   should  be   more  student
foere t       n  in Sen*te **° equally represent the
a8rees     °-  the University  community.    Wysong
c0niDr. adding  that "student" representation should
f lse a multi-facited or cross sectional repre-
•:,*MrtMWiWuW&&
sentation of the Student Body.   This is necessary,
he says, to give a true representation of student
- opinion. .
Half of the students, in Senate now are quite
involved with Student Governm ent so it is questionable
just how true a cross sectional student representation, exists.
Last year there was a constitutional amendment
before the Senate asking for more student representation which would have increased the number
from six to 15 but even though a majority of the
senators voted in favor of the amendment, it lacked
the necessary two-thirds assent to enact it.
Provost Charles Ping commented that Academic
Senate affords the opportunity for student participation but added that the frequent absence of stu-
^dent senators is disappointing.
Long winded and repetitious debate may also
be a criticism lodged at Senate but if. viewed in its
full perspective, the ..discussion time devoted to
separate issues is really very short.
As Wysong .points out, Senate discussions seem
- lengthy because they are extended over a number
of, meetings. Computing the usual length of a meeting for three regularly scheduled sessions the time
. of discussion would only be six or seven hours,
but.  this     would extend over    a six week period.
Wysong says that a proper amount of time should
be given to important considerations and six or
seven hours is not really too long at all.
But it is this open forum for discussion which
Senate insures, says Robert Kohrman, chairman
of the Senate. Very simply, he says, Senate exposes
the decision making process in a democratic, framework.
It is also this decision making power that Sam'o
questions.    He contends that Senate rarely makes
Please turn to page 18
^    Inside
State of the University, .throughout
Adult degree program. . .Page 3
Placement outlook. . . .Page 16
Absentee  voting.   .   .   .   .Page 17
x   Outside
Today. ...... .Fair all day long
Tomorrow. .Increasing cloudiness
Lower 40s to upper 60i
Showers Wednesday
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