THE CAPITOLIST Vol. VII, No. 2 AUTONOMY-WHAT IT MEANS On March 9, 1972, the University Faculty Senate passed the autonomy measure for Capitol Campus after several weeks of discussion and investigation. Autonomy just what will it mean to Capitol? It has nothing to do with student affairs or Student Government activities, so nothing will change in that area. And it has nothing to do with Housing and Food rules, so Tasha will have to gain residence through the same old channels. (Tasha is a dog. The pet rules are not changed.) And as yet, not much else has changed. But there is a new system by which changes can be made. In this light, there has been a big change both at Capitol and in its relationship to University Park. The changes, though, are in the academic aspect f Capitol. In effect, autonomy cuts the academic umbilical cord with UP. Now, we can nearly establish our own courses without any help or prior approval from the University Senate's Academic Affairs Committee. Previously, all new courses were presented to this committee for study and approval. Under the new system, the committee can review any new course or program, but does not have to do so in order for the program to be instituted. The procedure to establishing a new course at Capitol is as follows. A faculty member or student can present the idea to the program head for his approval. It then goes to Capitol's Academic Affairs Committee and then to Capitol's Faculty Senate. If everyone agrees, we have a new course or program. The system may sound familiar to some of you. It is the Interview With Terry wimmer by R. W. Bonaker Student Government President, Terry K. Wimmer, asserts that there are many matters which should be brought to the. attention of the Capitol Campus community. Only seven weeks remain in the current academic term but there are many goals yet u n r eached. One concerns registration practices and procedures. The current registration policy concerning the number of students allowed in each class gives the initial preference to 12th, 11 th and 10th term seniors enrolled in the program under which a specific course is listed. For example, a 10th term social science student will get first crack at So Sc 418 over a 12th term business student. "I think that procedure is wrong," Wimmer states. "12th term people, whether they are in the course's program or not, should always have initial preference when a course is in danger of being closed. After all, these people are graduating; it's their last chance to pick up a same system as before with the exception of approval from University Park. Knowing that the autonomy would come at some time, the Capitol Faculty Senate set up this procedure earlier so that the transition would be easier. There is, however, one other important way in which the procedure has not changed. Capitol is still not financially autonomous. As before, then, once the course is approved, the Capitol Provost will have to approve funds if they are needed. If so, the University Provost will also have to approve or supply funds perhaps for the professor to teach the course or for equipment. So while academically we are nearly autonomous, we are not so financially. In two years the matter will come up for review to the University Senate to see how things are going. Autonomy then is on trial for that period. And it must be remembered that the University Senate or any 10 Senators can review a course proposal if they wish. An important factor of this autonomy is that, now, the buck stops at Capitol. If someone wants a new course, no one can say that it will never pass the University Senate. And, theoretically, any student or faculty member can propose a course. With this in mind, we hope that a student committee will be established for the purpose of proposing and reviewing new courses at Capitol. In this way, the students can have a direct influence on their education. And now, there is no reason why such a committee cannot be instituted here. More on autonomy next week. course they will need." Wimmer also points out that there were cases during the recent undergraduate registration juniors were given preference over seniors as courses were closed, an occurrence p that contradicts actual policy. "There are probably more cases of that happening than we realize," he says. "I think something should be done to (continued on p.. 3) "All The News That Fits . . . . We Print" CAPITOL CAMPUS - MIDDLETOWN, PA This Week in the SGA The most recent boisterous banalities of the SGA took place this past Monday. President Terry Wimmer called the meeting to order when a quorum was reached. Dean Robert J. Brown was a special guest. The Finance Committee reported that the SGA currently has $1,400 in its budget with an additional $l,OOO in the hands of the Finance Officer, Mr. George Dressler. The Teacher Evaluation Committee said that Winter Term evaluation results will probably be ready next week. It reported that as many as 200 forms will be available, a huge increase from last term. In was announced that Dr. Oliver LaCrone of Capitol reknown has been tentatively contracted to sculpt a bronze bust of the late Dr. James Jordan, which will be the permanent portion of a newly established teaching award in his memory. The award will be presented to a member of Capitol's faculty at the June Commencement. The Election Committee is preparing voting procedures to be conduc 'ng during the General El tion on May 18. Gene B an was named chairman of the Constitutional Revision Committee. The ad-hoc Committee on Student Participation, Chaired by Mike Dini, presented its report. Wimmer submitted a resolution to the Senate that if passed would recommend that Fall, 1972 Orientation activities not be entrusted entirely to the Admissions Office. The program would then become a joint activity of the Admissions Office, the Office of Student Affairs and the Student Government Association. The Senate will act on the resolution at next week's meeting. Malcom Gregory discussed his activities in petitioning various administrators to present more detailed descriptions of courses as they appear on transcripts and grade-reports. John Stack presented an argument in favor of changing degree nomenclature, specifically a Bachelor of Humanities to a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Humanities. During a discussion with Dr. Brown, Pres. Winner said that he believes that teacher and course evaluations, as published by the SGA, are not seriously considered by dision heads. The Althouse Report on Academic Affairs highly recommends that the student evaluations are of a ranking priority. The SGA quietly adjourned after a lengthy discussion concerning possible changes in registration procedures and practices. Food? WANT CHEAP, GOOD FOOD? ORGANIC FOOD-COOP BEING FORMED. IF INTERESTED CALL 233-2446. mcAree Resigns As Program Head Dr. James McAree, Professor of Social Science and History, recently resigned as Head of the Social Science Program. McAree, who assumed the post last year, stresses that he is giving up his administrative duties to devote more time to his family, his research project, and classroom teaching. He will serve as program head until June 30. In no way will his resignation change his plan for individual consultation with graduating seniors; a plan which was elaborated in last week's issue of The Capitolist. "Teaching has always meant a great deal to me," he says. "In my administrative post, I found I could not devote enough time to it." Prof. McAree also announced the establishment of a new social science course which he plans to teach in the Fall Term, 1972. The course, which will be listed under special topics, will concern the inter-relationship between the United States and Canada. Dr. McAree received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He is an expert on Hugon sung in faculty Aimed Region conference by Mike Dini Capitol Campus Education Students and Faculty recently attended the Southern Regional Student PSEA "Spring" Conference held at the Harrisburg Area Community College. The Conference was sponsored as a joint effort of the student PSEA Chapters of the Capitol Campus and HACC. The Theme of the Conference was "Let Us Teach ALL Our Children." Those attending the Conference discussed education matters relative to teaching in our "urban-city schools." Topics discussed and evaluated included: class room control techniques, curriculum development in and for the inner-city schools, a "rap" session on student teaching in inner-city urban schools and an investigation of the Code of Ethics of the Teaching Profession. Capitol Campus professors attending the Conference and acting as constultants and seminar leaders included: Dr. Duane Smith, Dr. Robert Lesniak, Dr. Elmer Lear and Professor James Gray. Students PSEA members in attendance included Capitol Campus Student PSEA President Andrea Verna, Vice-President Mike Dini, members Michael Kowalcheck, Tony Lombardozzi and Sue Willens. Southern Region Student PSEA is one of eleven regions of PSEA throughout the state of Pennsylvania. It is a ten county area composed of eight Student PSEA Chapters on the following campuses: Capitol Campus, Elizabethtown, HACC, Lebanon Valley, Messiah, Millersville Thursday, April 20, 1972 African and Middle East history, especially India. As a native of Canada, he is deeply qualified to teach such a new course. He says that, "The American view of Canada is that it is some kind of open-air ice box inhabited by Indians, Eskimo, and Mounted Policemen, all geography and no people. The objective of the new course is to remedy that belief." State College, Shippensburg State College and Wilson College. Capitol Campus Student PSEA leaders are now preparing for the upcoming State Student PSEA Convention to be held at the Harrisburg Sheraton Motor Inn on Friday and Saturday, April 21 and 22. Yearbook Spring Sale Despite heavy advertising that last term's yearbook sale would be the last for 1972, many seniors neglected to buy their annual and have since inquired about the possibility of purchasing one. For this reason, the Capitolite staff announces a Spring Term yearbook sale on April 24, 25 and 27. That's Monday, Tuesday and Thursday only of the week of April 24. Staff representatives will be on hand at a spot near the roundtable to take either new yearbook orders (at $6.00 apiece) or to receive the balance due payments on your annual. Pass Fail The period for filing S/U request during the Spring Term 1972 will be from Monday, April 24th, thru Wednesday, April 26th. A description of the Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading system is presented in Section 11, rule M-12, on page 94 of the student handbook, The Cats' Tale. 1.4.5" t Da . l . 1).-z C.: 2:4, IM Z.
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