Newspapers / North Carolina Wesleyan University … / Nov. 20, 1967, edition 1 / Page 6
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PAGE t THE DECREF Monday, November 20, 1967 OPTION from Page 2 At Ohio State University, seniors, graduate students and professional students have been allowed to take certain courses under the pass-fail system in selected schools and colleges including the Graduate School and tfie Schools of Medicine and Education for “several years,” Included are all courses in Medicine and specified courses either in or outside the stu dent's major, e.g., thesis, minor problems, special semi nars. There is no specific policy on the number of such courses a student may take and while the students will re ceive credit hours for an “S” (satisfactory) neither the “S” nor the “E” counts in his GPA. The respondent regarded their program, as outlined above, successful. The California Institute of Technology began a pass-fail grading system in the fall of 1964 as an experiment to “en courage the development of an attitude in which a student sees himself as a self-guided scholar rather than as a competing grade-getter.” Their program is unique in that there is no real “option” since all courses in the stand ard freshman curriculum, which all freshmen must take, are graded this way but no upper division courses (with one exception) are available under the pass-fail option. This policy was so successful that it became permanent in May, 1966 as a result of a “un animous less one” faculty vote. Among the reasons for adopt ing this policy permanently was the fact that the freshman at trition rate decreased consid erably and that freshmen anx iety was not as evident. The morale among sophomores who had participated in the pass- fail program was also consid erably higher. One negative effect was that some fresh men had “so conditioned them selves to the top awards that they suffered a real psycho logical shock when these awards, in the form of grades, were not obtainable.” Of the remaining six respond ents presently offering the pass-fail option, only Stanford University,, with one year of experience, has had this policy in effect lopger than one term. At all six schools the option was available to both juniors and seniors and at all but one to sophomores as well. All freshmen at Stanford and the University of California (Berkeley) and second term freshmen at Tufts University are allowed to participate in this program. At only two of six institutions was the op tion limited to selected schools, but four of these respondents limited the option to courses outside the student’s major. At Berkely students were al lowed to take courses in their major for a pass-fail grade with their major department’s consent. At Oberlin College, although the option is generally available only in courses out side the student’s major, “a faculty member may elect to have the Satisfactory-Unsatis- factory grade option apply for all students in a course. En rollment in such a course does not deprive the student of his option.” At Tufts, Mount Holyoke Col lege and Lehigh University, stu dents were also allowed to take distribution requirements un- d^er the pass-fail option although a*t«Lehigh foreign languages are excluded. At all six institutions a stu dent was limited to one pass- fail course per term. Mount Holyoke restricts the number of such courses in a student’s college career to three, Le high to four and Tufts to eight. At none of these schools was a grade of “Pass” entered in the student’s GPA, but at Tufts, Lehigh and Mount Holyoke “Fail” is included in the GPA, schedule a “safe” pass and re duce study and grade pressure. Although there are many var iations on the regulations gov erning pass - fail, several practices seem widespread. Generally, freshmen are not allowed the option. The student is usually only allowed one course a term, frequently with a maximum number of credits to be earned this way, and then not generally in his major field. Practice seems split on whether it should be available in all schools. There is some indication that individual schools or departments should be allowed to decide which courses will be available. And finally, although a pass does not affect the GPA, fail often does. THE CLOSED DOOR by Kathy Upton On Friday night, one will likely find the halls of the Administration Building de serted except for a few people who, in order to escape the cold, wander through on their way to the SU. But, as these people pass by Garber Chapel, they may hear shouts of laughter or murmuring voices filtering through “the closed door.” If one of them happens to be a Freshman, he may ask, “What’s goin on in there?” His upper- class friend would answer, “Oh, it’s just the MSM.” The Frosh comes back with, “What the hell is the MSM?” What _is the MSM? It is a group. Yes it is a group, a small but dedicated one. Ded icated to what? Well, it is dedicated to serving not just the Methodist students but all stu dents of Wesleyan College. How do we serve the students? Well- that is a good question! I’m afraid that we have not suc ceeded in serving all of the students at Wesleyan College, Why? Because, we are such a small group, only 19 out of approximately 650, It is hard for 19 people to know what Will please 650, We receive criticism but sometimes we hesitate to accept it as con structive because we wonder how people know what is wrong with our organization if they have never attended our meet ings and don’t really know what goes on behind “the closed door,” The conversation continues as the Frosh asks his friend, “You are a Methodist, why aren’t you in there?’ His friend laughs and answers, “are you kidding me? That’s the ‘group,’ They won’t let any outsiders in. That door is closed to anyone other than the select few.” That group! that’s what the MSM is according to the “out siders.” But, we can honestly say that it isn’t true. We are eager to make the MSM an all- inclusive organization. We need some new blood. The MSM is your organization! It can be whatever you want it to be! We welcome any constructive crit icism that you may have. We already have a list of ideas giyen by interested persons that we are considering seriously. What about yours? BOB HOWARD’S SHOES Fashionable Footwear For You TARHYTOWN MALL SHIFT from Page 2 the opportunity for a much more thorough investigation of cer tain areas and the basic prob lems involved. Other comments -- Dr. W. Maurice McLean, ctiairman. Education Department: “I am very pleased with the new unit system. There is now the opportunity to pursue course content in greater depth, an increased chance for inde pendent study, and more flexi bility in class scheduling. “The unit system permits the student to give his attention to fewer courses at one time. For our teachers particularly there is an increased freedom in scheduling their time be cause of the consolidation of the former one and two hour courses.” Dr. Charles S. Schutz, chair man, Political Science Depart ment: “The unit system in politi cal science curriculum has had ambiguous results at this stage in its implementation. It de pends upon the point of view of the student or the professor. I think that from the profes sor’s perspective it can be said that the narrowing of the range of courses and the deep ening of their content through Save 20% to 40% BIG DISCOUNT SAVINGS • Photography Needs • Cosmetics • Prescriptions • Health and Beauty Aids Here You'll Find the Lowest Prices in Town STOP IN SOON . . . . . . STOP IN OFTEN ttULY -T Take The Family & Go Saving At Tarrytown Mall, Rocky Mount Open Nightly Til 9 P. M. FREE STORE-SIDE PARKING the unit system has increased their academic content. ' In some instances the previous courses have had to be com bined into a new one with ad ditional work added to justify the extra credit. The addition al work has generally fallen into the area of more books to read and more comprehen sive papers to be written on the part of the students. “It would appear that many students still regard a course as a course, regardless of whether it is certain number of semester hours or one unit. The necessity of attaining greater depth to justify the additional credit hour is then regarded by some as an im position upon them. The fur ther comprehension demanded of them upon a particular sub ject is also looked upon by some as unwelcome. “In seeking a balance be tween the students’ capabilities and the academic need for greater depth, probably some courses have gone too far in one way or the other. The attainment of the correct bal ance will probably be achieved over a period of several years. As a professor, I regard the academic enrichment of the Al bion curriculum to be highly favorable in this day of great er demands upon education.” Carolina Cafe "We serve Wonderful Food and Our Cofhe Can't Be Beet” Ckmnk 8L N. CHMiTf OPEN YOUR STL'DENTS CHARGE ACCOUNT He loves mel Whatever the shape, a dia mond* cut by Lazaro Kaplan & Sons tells her there’s no ques tion of his everlasting love. Th'3 dazzling fire and perfec tion of its beauty, idealize his dream of her. ‘Recognized among gem authori ties as the world's finest cut diamonds. G£ H M A N’S SPECI.VL TERMS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS 139 S. Main Downtown Kockv Mount AT PEOPLES ARE WORKING FOR 2^/ PEOPLES BANK & TRUST COMPANY
North Carolina Wesleyan University Student Newspaper
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Nov. 20, 1967, edition 1
6
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