(04-22-2016 02:30 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Interesting in-depth Thresher article on the meeting/vote/issue: http://www.ricethresher.org/article/2016...e-cuc-vote

Among the several interesting passages:

Quote:Computer science professor Luay Nakhleh, a voting member of the Faculty Senate, sent out an email to students expressing his rationale for voting in favor of the proposal in spite of student opposition.

“For me, the overriding issue was a simple question: What are students learning when they take too many courses?” Nakhleh wrote.

In his email, Nakhleh explained his concern that students who enroll in too many courses don’t master the material as well as if they had taken a lighter load. Though they may succeed grade-wise, he said they still fail to delve into content at a deeper level possible with fewer classes. In addition, Nakhleh said curves in difficult courses have become a crutch for students who are performing at a lower capacity due to overcommitment.

“What we end up with is shallow knowledge in a large number of subjects,” Nakhleh said. “As a professor at this institution, I advocate for deep knowledge in a smaller number of subjects.”

Nakhleh also said that students are unaware how often professors are asked for extensions and alternatives for making up missed work, additional results of student overcommitment. ...

“I also do hope that students recognize that faculty members want the best for them, and have a much broader view of the issues and much more experience dealing with hundreds and even thousands of students,” Nakhleh concluded his email. “I truly believe that our mission as a university is to educate and produce scholars, and not to give away accolades.”

Curves these days are a crutch to all students. Saw an interesting article the other day that looked at the average GPA at universities over time. More students get A's now than any other grades and it started during the Vietnam war when professors didn't want to fail their students out of college. Since then universities have become beholden to the consumers (students) and their money so grades keep inflating.