Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Che (Bamecock Faculty, staff discuss SACS technology report by Mary Hartney The Gamecock A newly released report on Infor mation Technology at USC was pre sented to faculty and staff Wednesday. Dr. Dan Barron, co-director of USC SACS Self-Study, presented the draft of “USC 2006” at a meeting in the Russell House. He then allowed for an open fo rum for discussion. The study is part of USC’s reac creditation process. Every 10 years, USC is required to reaffirm its status as an ac credited institution under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. USC was allowed to do an Alternative Self-Study this year and focused on In formation Technology. Reviewers from SACS will arrive at USC on April 1. The report is a compilation of the studies of 18 task forces that gathered information from Web surveys, focus groups and an analysis of the current USC IT system. However, Barron stressed, feedback is still welcome and extremely impor tant. “Everything is on the table,” Bar ron said. Recommendations made by the task forces include creating a “Palmetto College.” This college would serve as a seamless university between the regional campuses and reach out to South Carolina junior and senior high school students to allow them to take univer sity courses. This will improve library and information services and create a Web presence that will tie people to the university, whether they are prospec tive students or alumni. Lee Goodman, Technology Planner for the Office of Distance Education, explained how IT would need to work in the future. “IT should be like your electrical outlet. You should be able to use it all the time,” Goodman said. In the forum for the faculty and staff, questions were raised about the reality of implementing the report’s recom mendations. Department of Geography Chair Dave Cowan wondered whether recommendations should be realistic or idealistic, and he questioned the coor dination of large committees and facul ty motivation to participate in im proving IT. Cowan’s concerns were echoed by other faculty members who ques tioned how much time staff would have to devote to IT committees between classes and research. They also won dered what type of incentive faculty would have for participating. “You’ve got to have one hand reach ing for the stars while one hand is playing in the dirt,” Barron responded. He said faculty needed to continue to work toward and ideal that will constantly change because of the nature of Information Technology. He cited implementation of the In ternet system, Blackboard, as a good ex ample of how faculty can work to gether to implement a program. They used a small group of people who con sidered all the recommendations and made a decision about whether to adopt the system. “It’s like when you have a large group in a classroom and you split up into groups A, B and C,” Barron said. “You ask, ‘What did you come up with?’, put it on the board and decide which everyone wants to work on.” The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com • University says professor has last word on grading scales by Jarvis Holliday The Gamecock Though USC faculty members have to follow many academic regulations, they have substantial freedom with grading policies, according to university officials. Professors may determine their own grading scales and methods of grading. The university publishes its academic regulations in the Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Bulletins and in the Faculty Manual. But a grading scale isn’t outlined in any of these policies. “Students’ grades in their courses are determined by class standing and examination grade, combined in such proportion as the professor may decide,” the academic bulletin says. That makes it possible for students to encounter different grading scales in courses with the same „. material but different professors. Chrystal Hodges, a third-year student in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, said she thinks there should be a standard grading policy in her college. “In a previous journalism course I took, the grading scale for an A stopped at a 93,” she said. “This caused me to get a C+ instead of a B for receiving an 81 in the class.” The way professors set their grading scales can play an important role in determining a student’s cumulative grade point average because letter grades determine the grade points for a course. Don Greiner, associate provost and dean of undergraduate affairs, said professors’ academic freedom allows them to determine how to calculate students’ grades. “Students have the right to ask for the grading policy on the first day of class,” he said. “We’ve all been told not to take Professor X ... he’s hard. Word gets out, and professors develop reputations for how they grade,” he said. Greiner said in certain departments, numerical grades carry no relevance because on ly letter grades are assigned. . English professor Benjamin Franklin said professors receive no guidelines for grading. He considers himself to be a demanding grader. In Franklin’s syllabus, his course is weighted heavily on evaluation of students’ writing. “This is to let them know that they may not get the grade they expect,” he said. Chemistry professor Mark Beig said he doesn’t usually give a grading scale because scores vary. “There is a significant variation from one semester to the next on difficulty of tests, who’s grading them and how they are grading,” Beig said. “Some (teaching assistants) grade harder than oth ers.” Beig said not having a mandatory grading scale helps students, in some cases. “If 90-100 was an A, I wouldn’t have any A’s in my class,” he said. Students may confront professors about grading policies at the beginning and end of the semester. At the end of each semester, students evaluate course and professors through surveys. Asurvey designed by the National Exam Educa tion Testing Service asks whether the instructor clearly stated the method by which the final grade would be determined. Greiner said he would advise students to read their bulletins and become more aware of university policies. The Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Bul letins are available in print and on the university’s Web page at www.sc.edu. “The university considers its students to be responsible adults. This is your bulletin... It’s not hidden,” he said. The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Nominations 5 for advocates i due Monday * r * by Mary Hartney The Gamecock, Monday is the last day to submit nominees, for USC’s 2001 Outstanding Freshman Advocate* Award. . s The freshman year is one of the most, important years in college — it’s when new stu-'. dents become acclimated to university life,. Visitor Center Director Denise Wellman said. . The USC Award for Outstanding Freshman Ad-. vocate honors someone who has significantly im pacted a freshman’s life. It isn’t meant solely for . faculty, staff or students. Anyone can be nominat ed, sai'd Jim Bums, Transition Year director and ’ past winner of the award. j* “It is designed to recognize somebody who has made a real difference in the life of a freshman,” • said Wellman, also a past winner. “It celebrates the university family in trying to make a difference in the freshman experience.” Bums said past nominations have been Uni-’ versity 101 teachers, sorority mentors and* English 101 professors. The nomination sheer, also suggests nominees that have worked with, freshman in advising, residence life and., extracurricular activities. . Wellman, who believes her University 1U1 class was responsible for her nomination, said she was, dumbstruck when she was asked to interview for; the award. „y “I was highly humbled, deeply honored and ex tremely surprised,” Wellman said. Wellman has previously worked on the review < committee and said it’s interesting to look through > the nominations. Bums encouraged students to nom inate anyone who impacted their freshman year^ even if the person doing the nominating is no longer' a freshman. This year’s award submissions are due on Monday. Applications can be picked up in the' Student Government office, the Russell House. Information Center and the University 101 of-', fice. Submissions must be turned in to Harriett Williams at the University 101 office at 1629' Pendleton St. For questions, call 777-6029. --!! The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com ! f. Just buy anything Clinique for 16.50 or more and get this 9-piece gift—free. Quantities are limited. One Bonus to a customer, please, per event. While supplies last. ■ ,T Great skin specialists, makeup must haves and more are yours, to-go: • Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion • Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick in Berry Berry • Clinique Happy Body Smoother • Folding Mirror ' ’ JP • - P 100% Fragrance Free. 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