2008 Woodie Awards
A-Senate accepts Honors culture class alternative
By: Beth Kieda
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The Academic Senate on Tuesday rejected a proposal that would stop honors students from taking a six-credit diversity and culture class as an alternative to a foreign language.
James Jones' motion not to allow HON 150: Racism in the American Experience as an Area Two alternative failed.
"Racism in the American Experience is not an alternative that should be approved," the foreign languages and literatures professor said before the group voted on the issue. "This is a waiving of the requirement."
The Area Two requirement states honors students must complete a minimum of six to eight hours of a single foreign language at the college or university level or an alternative approved by the Honors Program director.
James Hill, honors program director, said the wording of the requirement is clear.
"People can disagree with the results, but I don't think they can disagree with the language," he said. "It's pretty clear that this is the discretion of the director to determine what is an alternative."
In the past, certain math classes, computer programming classes and a marketing class have been approved as an alternative.
"I would encourage us to support some level of discretion on the part of the honors director, so they don't have to come to us every time there is an alternative," said Jeff Angera, associate human environmental studies professor.
Hill said Area Two is not meant to be solely a foreign language requirement.
"We have honors students in every single college and every single major and they all have different needs," he said. "One size does not fit all."
One reason for alternatives is to accommodate students who have difficulty fitting a two-semester foreign language sequence into their schedule.
"(The honors students) are in the 300 level classes; you don't have to take those classes in sequence," Jones said. "You can take one, you can take a break and then come back and then take another one."
If the motion had passed, students who already had enrolled in the class would not be able to count it for the Area Two requirement.
Honors students, who have priority registration, began enrolling in the class before the motion was made.
Jonathan Knapp said he did not agree with the reasoning of the class as an alternative, but wanted to consider the best interest of the students.
"At this point, I don't think it's fair to the students to say that we revoked it," said the Laingsburg senior and senator.
A Senate also approved a resolution from the Student Government Association encouraging faculty to meet deadlines when turning in their textbook lists to the bookstores in the interest of helping students save money.
news@cm-life.com
James Jones' motion not to allow HON 150: Racism in the American Experience as an Area Two alternative failed.
"Racism in the American Experience is not an alternative that should be approved," the foreign languages and literatures professor said before the group voted on the issue. "This is a waiving of the requirement."
The Area Two requirement states honors students must complete a minimum of six to eight hours of a single foreign language at the college or university level or an alternative approved by the Honors Program director.
James Hill, honors program director, said the wording of the requirement is clear.
"People can disagree with the results, but I don't think they can disagree with the language," he said. "It's pretty clear that this is the discretion of the director to determine what is an alternative."
In the past, certain math classes, computer programming classes and a marketing class have been approved as an alternative.
"I would encourage us to support some level of discretion on the part of the honors director, so they don't have to come to us every time there is an alternative," said Jeff Angera, associate human environmental studies professor.
Hill said Area Two is not meant to be solely a foreign language requirement.
"We have honors students in every single college and every single major and they all have different needs," he said. "One size does not fit all."
One reason for alternatives is to accommodate students who have difficulty fitting a two-semester foreign language sequence into their schedule.
"(The honors students) are in the 300 level classes; you don't have to take those classes in sequence," Jones said. "You can take one, you can take a break and then come back and then take another one."
If the motion had passed, students who already had enrolled in the class would not be able to count it for the Area Two requirement.
Honors students, who have priority registration, began enrolling in the class before the motion was made.
Jonathan Knapp said he did not agree with the reasoning of the class as an alternative, but wanted to consider the best interest of the students.
"At this point, I don't think it's fair to the students to say that we revoked it," said the Laingsburg senior and senator.
A Senate also approved a resolution from the Student Government Association encouraging faculty to meet deadlines when turning in their textbook lists to the bookstores in the interest of helping students save money.
news@cm-life.com
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