2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty vote to give LPWG direction
Brittany Friesth and Andrea Kemp/Staff Writer and Editor in Chief
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
The Education Policy Curriculum Committee called for a special faculty meeting last Wednesday to vote on various aspects of the Learning Programs Working Group's proposals.
At the meeting, Dean Griffith, vice president and dean for academic affairs, said the votes serve as a directional guide for the LPWG and not as immediate changes in Simpson's curriculum and academic structure. He also said the details of implementation are yet to be determined.
"There are important details that need to be addressed before any such plan can be approved," Griffith said. "Is this the right direction? Do you agree with this direction?"
A majority of faculty supported the number of regular semester courses required for graduation for the Bachelor's of Art degree should be 32 and the Bachelor's of Music at 36.
While a majority of faculty supports May Term, 86 percent voted to decrease the number of required May Terms from four to two.
Another supported change in Simpson's academic structure is to extend the one day break between the end of the spring semester and the start of May Term and place graduation before May Term.
The dialogue of the meeting exposed a variety of faculty opinions on the future of Simpson's curriculum and its structure.
This is not the first time Simpson has discussed complete overhaul of its academic structure. During the '60s, Simpson changed from its current credit system to a unit structure before referring back to the current, credit-based system. Bruce Haddox, former vice president and dean for academic affairs, was anassistant professor of philosophy and religion when Simpson switched back in the late '70s.
"I believe we wanted more flexibility within departments," Haddox said. "Also, I think it was because we wanted to be aligned with most schools in the country for transfer reasons."
Kedron Bardwell, associate professor of political science, discusses how the previous shift is irrelevant compared to the current proposed structure change.
At the meeting, Dean Griffith, vice president and dean for academic affairs, said the votes serve as a directional guide for the LPWG and not as immediate changes in Simpson's curriculum and academic structure. He also said the details of implementation are yet to be determined.
"There are important details that need to be addressed before any such plan can be approved," Griffith said. "Is this the right direction? Do you agree with this direction?"
A majority of faculty supported the number of regular semester courses required for graduation for the Bachelor's of Art degree should be 32 and the Bachelor's of Music at 36.
While a majority of faculty supports May Term, 86 percent voted to decrease the number of required May Terms from four to two.
Another supported change in Simpson's academic structure is to extend the one day break between the end of the spring semester and the start of May Term and place graduation before May Term.
The dialogue of the meeting exposed a variety of faculty opinions on the future of Simpson's curriculum and its structure.
This is not the first time Simpson has discussed complete overhaul of its academic structure. During the '60s, Simpson changed from its current credit system to a unit structure before referring back to the current, credit-based system. Bruce Haddox, former vice president and dean for academic affairs, was anassistant professor of philosophy and religion when Simpson switched back in the late '70s.
"I believe we wanted more flexibility within departments," Haddox said. "Also, I think it was because we wanted to be aligned with most schools in the country for transfer reasons."
Kedron Bardwell, associate professor of political science, discusses how the previous shift is irrelevant compared to the current proposed structure change.
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