"Faculty votes pass-fail option"

Faculty votes pass-fail option


By Glenn Waggoner
Editorial Editor

Students have been given the option of having their performance evaluated as "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" for all courses they are taking this quarter.

A ruling to this effect was passed by Faculty Senate in a special session Sunday afternoon, and was endorsed by President Jerome

The text of the ruling reads:

"The Faculty Senate extends for the remainder of the Spring Quarter of 1970 only, the established Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory option to all students for all courses. To avail himself of this option the student must record his decision with his instructor and a central agency to be determined later, no later than May 15. 1970.

According to a notice distributed yesterday from the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, students may elect to continue their entire schedule of classes under the present grading system.

Or students may elect to take one or all of their courses on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis. In effect, students have a choice of two grading systems under which they may operate.

Any course a student is now taking--in his major, minor, or other requirement--may be taken on an "S-U" basis, and will be given full credit towards graduation.

The notice continues that in order to earn an "S" in a course, a student must complete the requirements of the course with work that the instructor judges to be of at least "C" quality.

If a student earns an "S" in a course, he will be given hour credit toward graduation but it will not affect his accumulated grade average. If a student receives a "U," he will get no credit in hours earned, but neither will the grade affect his grade average.

The notice stresses that a student cannot assume if he is presently doing "C" or better work in a course that he need do no more work. This decision rests with the individual faculty member.

Students have this week to decide how they will be graded. Within this week, students may change their decisions, but after May 15, decisions are finalized.

Students must register their decisions on how they will be graded with the instructor of each course they are taking, then record their decisions with representatives from the Registrars office. These representatives will be in the reading room of the Graduate Center each day through Friday, May 15, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The action by Faculty Senate came on the heels of a week of student unrest on campus. A student strike largely curtailed normal class operation at the end of the week, and a number of informal workshops on current issues supplanted for many students their regular course attendance.

These workshop type courses are being continued on an indefinite basis under the name of the "New University."

The organizing force behind the movement is largely the University's graduate students at this time.

Dr. Allen Kepke, chairman of Faculty Senate, said Senate's involvement began with an informal meeting of a number of students, faculty members, and administrators held Saturday afternoon.

At this meeting, according to Dr. Kepke. students expressed their desire that students be allowed to continue participation in the teach-in type workshops such as were held last week without being academically penalized in other courses.

Dr. Kepke said the "S-U" proposal was consequently hammered out Saturday night at a specially called meeting of the Senate Executive Committee.

At the special Sunday meeting of Faculty Senate, the S-U" proposal was presented to the body by Dr. Frank Miesle, chairman of the speech department.

"The motion was passed, after debate, by an overwhelming majority of the Senators." Dr. Kepke said.

"The students had presented their problem, which was how to continue the workshops now called the New University, and the Faculty Senate presented its answer, which is the "S-U" system." Dr Kepke said.

"Due to the different demands of different types of courses, we also wanted to leave with faculty members the option of what exactly constitutes the satisfactory completion of a course," Dr Kepke said.

He stressed that it was not the Senate's purpose to encourage faculty members to award grades based only on work done to date.

"There is no difference in the expected amount and quality of work from the students." Kepke said. "If a student becomes involved in the New University activities, he will pay a price, but through the "S-U" system he can lessen the effects on his grades."

Dr. Stanley Coffman, vice-president of academic affairs, said he did not forsee any problems in implementing the "S-U" system for those students who want it.

"The purpose of the "S-U" system is to allow those students who feel sufficiently committed to the program of what's being called the New University to participate with the least possible damage to the regular academic program," Dr. Coffman said.

All students participating in student teaching, tutoring and similar programs, however, will be expected to continue their activities.

Dr. Coffman said he didn't anticipate faculty members purposely blocking efforts by their students to participate in New University programs, but stressed the professor is still in complete charge of what constitutes the successful completion of his course.

"The faculty's receptive attitude suggests that the New University will bring changes if it operates successfully." Dr. Coffman concluded.


New U. to start Thursday


Classes in the New University are expected to get underway by 8 a.m. Thursday, according to John Wierwill, graduate student and one of the organizers of the program

The University has tentatively been divided into five col leges--Peace, Minority Problems, Ecology, Community Relations and Curriculum. and Governance.

The goal of the College of Peace is to end the war. Action will be aimed at political pressure on state and national legislatures, and continuing community action on ending the war.

Minority Problems will include discussions of boycotts, the Farm Labor Organization Committee (FLOG), the Black Student Union, Black Panthers, and discrimination in housing here.

The College of Ecology will re-schedule much of the present ecology program while the Community Relations college will include discussions on housing, student co-ops, local prices and book stores.

Topics for the College of Curriculum and Governance will be the Community Council, the grading system, White Paper proposals and student involvement in financial decisions.

Classes will be offered by faculty members, graduate assistants and undergraduates.

"Students don’t have to register; they simply go to class." Wierwill said.

Students will receive no grades, credit or degrees for attending classes in the New University.

Offices have been set up in 406 Student Services Bldg. Students may call there 372-2954 or 225 Williams Hall. 372-3807 for further information.


Council alive; Coate is new student head


Roger Coate Thursday was elected president of a Student Council that received a "vote of confidence" from the students by a grand total of three votes.

In a referendum to decide the future status of student government. 1034 students voted to maintain Student Council with a primary emphasis on establishing a community council, while 1,031 students voted to abolish council and have all student efforts go toward the community council.

The other two alternatives in the referendum, maintaining student government as it is now, or abolishing it completely, received only 133 and 71 votes respectively.

In the Student Council election, which would have meant nothing if four more students had voted for abolishment, Coate far outdistanced his closest rival, Rich Schager.

The votes for Student Council officers and members were:

-President: Coate, 1154; Schager, 417; Veroan Jolley, 280; and Peter Nestor, 127.

-Vice-president of academic affairs: Jeff Sherman, 1238; and Bill Feil. 496.

-Vice-president of rules and regulations Bruce Mabee, 758; Tony Marano, 526; Charley Cohn, 335; and Terry Fowler, 218.

-Vice-president of cultural affairs: Jim Szoka, 617; Russ Haber, 613; and Lynn Robinson, 536.

-Student Council representatives (eight to be elected): Elaine Fortney, 911; Chris Evans, 767; Andy Getainger, 674; Barb Klein. 694; Joe Jerome, 650; Mark DBlasio, 574; Evelyn Foster, 541; and "Rabbi" Goldenberg, 522. These eight were elected.

Others were: Harry Ausderan, 464; Tim Jackson, 502; Lynn Obee, 494; Jim Vandenberg, 475; George Amer, 362; But Murray, 507; Allan Mononen, 503; and Wally Scheerer, 479.

In the Union Activities Organization election, Tim Strawn and Fran Capusello wore chosen directors-at-large. And in the commuter election. Scott Heslup was chosen president. Other commuter officers are: Sally Wilson, executive secretary; Thomas Sayers, financial secretary; Kay Guthrie, communications secretary;and Pam Lintner, recording secretary.

In a UAO entertainment referendum, students chose Three Dog Night;Dionne Warwick; Creedence Clearwater Revival; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; Peter, Paul and Mary; and Simon and Garfunkel as the six entertainers they preferred to see appear on campus.

The total voting turnout was 2,353.