The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, December 06, 1971, Page PAGE 11, Image 11
EDUCATIONAL REFORM J Faculty Senate seeks student input Today The Daily Nebraskan starts a four-part series on educational reform at UNL. Today's segment deals with channels of reform in the Faculty Senate. The series will also look at channels in ASUN, college advisory boards, and other areas open to students. by Bart Becker The UNL Faculty Senate, through several committees, is working to assess academic programs and suggest priorities for needed programs. Many of the committees include student representation and seek student input. The Academic Planning Committee has established a series of long-range priorities designed to allow administrators to allocate resources more efficiently, according to J.A. Fagerstrom, committee chairman. The 10-member committee includes a student representative. The geology professor said the committee will decide on tentative priorities, let the faculty know the priorities, and wait for faculty reaction. He said he expects faculty reaction to the priorities would be registered by spring or next fall. "We're under no illusions that our priorities are binding," he said. "They're just suggestions." He said it is natural for students to want more rapid change than faculty because the students are involved in the University for only about four years. The faculty, who stay in the University for a longer period, are slower to innovate. "The students have some say now," he said. "When I first came to this University student voice was unheard. I can understand why the students are impatient with a slow-moving process. "The faculty is less anxious than the students for innovation, but believe me, the faculty innovates infinitely more rapidly than the state legislature." T.E. Beck, Jr., who serves on the Curriculum Committee, said a program similar to the Centennial Education Program has been proposed and approved by the administration and the Board of Regents. The program, oriented toward a scientific environmental curriculum, cannot yet be budgeted, however. Beck said the administration is "working hard" on getting new programs instituted. He mentioned, an ethnically-oriented American Studies program, and the NOVA program. Students in NOVA receive a year of University credit for community service. He also said the intergrated studies major is open to students. The integrated studies major give the student more leeway in planning an acceptable curriculum. He said the student must "first know the options available to him and, secondly, take it upon himself to enjoy the benefits of the programs which are available. "The - student can, with initiative, create a fascinating, coherent academic career," Beck said. Another faction of the University working for innovation reform is the Teaching and Learning Center. The center went into full operation in the fall to work with faculty on improving teaching methods. Vernon Williams said the center is focusing on helping faculty members evaluate their teaching. This is being done with the use of student evaluation forms, and occasional videotapes with the use of student evaluation forms, and occasional videotapes of classroom performance. In addition, forums and seminars to suggest new approaches to the classroom are being set up. "We have a need for students to express their options about education," Williams said. "We're trying to involve students in semi-formal programs." He said he would be "pretty depressed if I didn't think we could get a number of changes at the University." He indicated the structure of the University makes sweeping changes unlikely. "I'm certainly more encouraged than discouraged," he said. "If what I'm doing doesn't fit what the students want, I'm wasting my time. And if the faculty are not teaching in a way that affects students positively, they're wasting their time." But while changes are more work for instructors, Williams said he thinks the rewards of exciting students are incentives for most faculty members. "My impression is, I can't imagine many instructors who aren't joyful when a student is turned on," he said. Wednesday: educational reform via ASUN. Fees hearing set A hearing will be held in Federal District Court Dec. 14 on three UNL students' suit against mandatory student fees at the University. The suit was filed by students Ralph Larson, Bruce Wimmer and Fred Otto. The suit challenges the use of mandatory fees for support of The Daily Nebraskan, ASUN, political and theological speakers and political and religious conferences. Soo tho Country. Go by bus. includes: Comfortable Continental Trailways Bus Orange Bowl Parade Tickets Tickets for entry to 'Disney World" Three nights in Miami Beach Hotel Game Ticket Total trip of 6 days LI FOR $ 1 59.00 .for more information call: 423-8250 or 432-9382 Lincoln Tour & Traw I Laymen learn emergency medical care "II.av t.: do it" ;::-.d "h .w to teach it" will be conbued h a ;Cv .dae.:tionr.l program at the ::U 'I-Uical Ce::ter di:ri:is sor.u-st.r brea!:. Fiftev : lr incn will participate i a .'or.r week i ter.sive crirse i;i how to d-ilhvr emergency medical care a ;d how to teach the car tech iiqc in their home a:id s".rrov..".tli'-.g communities. The c ursc begrs Dec. 6 with ih. first two weeks devoted to the techniques of care for a vide variety of medical emergencies. On Jan. 10 the group wil return to the Medical Center where they will be taught how to convey the techniques they have learned to the rescue squad teams in their own areas. The course material will cover such subjects as heart attack, airway obstructions, bleeding, shock, drowning, poisons, convultions, childbirth fractures, skull injuries, stroke, and heat and cold exposures. mm cocoa mnxmniro rnrvr 0 xxcococo Nebraska Student Fee : 3 0 p.m. Union-CSL Committee :30 p.m. Nebraska Union-Builders Scholarship p.m. East Union-Education Committee p.m. East Union-Social Committee :30 p.m. Nebraska Union-Tassels : 3 0 p.m.. Nebraska Union-Towne Club Pledges :45 p.m. Nebraska Union-Alpha Gamma Sigma p.m. Nebraska Union-Special Services p.m. Nebraska Union-Phi Epsilon Kappa Initiation p.m. Nebraska Union-Prayer and Praise Group p.m. Nebraska Union-NFU "Libertarianism" p.m. Nebraska Union-Unicorns :30 p.m. Nebraska Union-Math Counselors BREAKFAST Eggs Bacon or Sausage Buttermilk pancakes or toast 7-1 1 a.m. Every Monday thru Friday Thelntenutional House of Pancakes Restaurants 15th 'Q' Streots 00 MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1971 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN PAGE 11