Advisory boards face lack of student input
by A.J. McClanahan
Several student advisory board chairmen are
complaining about lack of student input this year and
they generally agree that students are not aware of
the advisory board's existence, or more importantly,
their potential.
The title of advisory boards itself is significant,
according to Phil Lamb, chairman of the agricultural
college advisory board.
"Advisory boards are for the college dean and can
serve as a channel for students to communicate to the
dean or faculty," he said.
The boards are one of the most viable
organizations on campus, he said, because if a good
relationship exists between the board and faculty, the
board's suggestions will be followed up.
Teacher's College Advisory Board: A random
sampling survey of upperclassmen is the most,
important project this board is working on, according
to member Eleanor McGovern.
"The survey will hopefully define various roles
that the board could play in improving Teacher's
College," McGovern said.
She said she was a little disappointed in the board
this semester because nothing yet has been achieved.
Members are waiting until the survey is completed,
she added.
Another project of the board is a proposed
freshman seminar that would Rlace more stress on the
academic side of campus life than the recreational
side, according to McGovern.
The board also is considering a revision of the
advising system in the college to improve the faculty
and student relationship. McGovern also said one
member is picking up on a topic dealt with by the
board last year-increasing field experiences prior to
student teaching.
Agricultural College Advisory Board: "We're
completely overhauling the curriculum of the
college," Lamb said. He added this is the biggest
endeavor the board has ever undertaken. .
Lamb said the advisory board appointed eight
students to a 21 -member student faculty committee
which will study requirements, majors, options and
whether or not there should be minors.
The board will open up special meetings and invite
students to attend. The eight appointees will be at
these meetings and report progress.
The course and study committee for the Ag
college has two students appointed by the advisory
board. It is reviewing changes in the curriculum and
examining the behavioral objectives of all courses,
Lamb said. '
When its results are compiled it will publish a book
which will explain each course in depth, he said.
Another project is writing a position paper saying
the board is in favor of keeping bio-chemistry
facilities on East Campus. According to Lamb,
Chancellor James Zumberge wants the bio-chemistry
departments of both campuses combined.
The biggest problem for the board is that it has
more contact with the administration of the college
than with the students, he said.
Arts and Sciences Advisory Board: Establishing a
completely new general studies degree is one project
of this board, according to chairman Laura Renard.
Kansas State, Stanford and Michigan State
Universities all have general studies degrees and their
programs are being examined, she said. The new
degree necessarily would require a new college,
except administratively.
The board is working with the modern language
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department and has suggested an experimental course
in Spanish. The course would replace the fourth
semester and be an oral approach. The course has
been approved, and one section probably will be
offered next summer, Renard said.
Another suggestion to the department is increasing
' credit for third year language courses to three hours
and including this in the language requirement. The
proposal suggests that the second year courses stress
literature and the third year courses stress
conversation. The student then would be offered the
choice of either, in fulfilling his second required year,
Renard said.
Renard said action is'befng taken on a proposal the
board submitted which $quld set up resource rooms
in the language department. The rob?ri would have
resource materials and a.uatified fesoVrce person to
answer questions. """" M
Other board projects include teacher and class
evaluations, making more students aware that the
board can serve as a "gripe board" for students and
finding out how well course description booklets are
used, Renard said.
Student Advisory Board for the College of
Business Administration: This board is considering
working on a course description booklet, according to
chairman Janet Turner.
She said the board needs students' suggestions on
what to pursue. "We don't want to do anything just
for the sake of doing it."
Student Advisory Board-College of Home
Economics: The main projects of this board include
teacher evaluation, revising its constitution and
advising students, according to chairman Nancy
Anderson.
She said the board set up a goal for teacher
evaluation to be used for the purposes of improving
instruction. "We're developing a form they can use,
which will probably consist of two or three essay
questions."
A communication gap exists within the college
because some courses are taught on East Campus and
some on City Campus, Anderson said. She added that
one member of the board is working on this problem.
"I've been really optimistic, we seem to have a
sense of what we're about this year as opposed to
other years."
Engineering Executive Board: Some students have
expressed a desire for a separate graduation for
engineering students, according to Norm Newhouse.
Hesaid his, board is acting on this and the suggestion
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societies, which are national honorary societies.
"Somebody has to come to us with a need," he
said, and that, is how the board establishes its
projects.
Two functions of the board include choosing
members for various things, such as E-week or
co-chairmen and editor for Nebraska Blue Print and
coordinating college activities.
He said the board also tries to serve as a
student-administration go between. i
Student Bar Association: The function of this
board is different from other advisory boards,
according to Kirk Brown, chairman. "It's analogous
to a student council."
He said the board is considering a faculty or course
evaluation to be published for the college's students
and is considering establishing a scholarship program.
The board also publishes a directory of students
and provides freshman orientation.
Languages offer course options
Next semester, foreign language students will
be given an option in their required 202 classes.
The addition of several special sections in
French, German and Spanish will allow
students to pursue either a traditional or
linguistic approach to language, according to
Donald E. Allison, chairman of the Modern
Languages Department.
The special sessions plan for emphasis on
conversation "as related to current
developments in Latin American countries, for
example," Allison said.
Mark E. Cory, assistant professor of German,
will direct the classes required for the language.
"The regular class offers a balanced course with
some writing, reading and conversation. The
class will be conducted in German. It explores
the cultural history of Germany- art, music,
philosophy and literature."
The special section is designed for people iri
natural sciences. It will be taught in English and
will give students a slant on the specialized
vocabulary they might need later for science.
The emphasis will be on the passive skills of
reading and writing. Cory stressed that this
Wednesday, november 8, 1972
section is not for people who want conversation
practice. "It will offer students an opportunity
to move in different directions," he said.
Spanish and French classes will have a
somewhat different approach. Instructor Paul
Rosell will be teaching the special session in
Spanish, which will take a more linguistic
approach than the traditional Spanish class. The
section will not ignore grammar, but will stress
learning to communicate in a more natural
fashion through listening, repeating and
reading. There will also be discussions of
current issues in the language, "We will stress
learning the language in a cultural situation. It
is a practical approach," said Rosell.
Assistant professor Frans Amelimckx will
teach the new French section along much the
same lines. The emphasis will be on reading
emphasizing political science, history and
current topics of general Interest.
Both French and German sections will be
offered next semester. The Spanish section is
scheduled tentatively for the 1973 summer
session, pending approval of the summer school
budget.
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