December 9, 1985 Vol
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James Madison University Monday, December 9, 1985 Vol. 63 No. 26 JMU works to take lead in academics By Kyra Scarton The goals included: assistant news editor • funding institutions at 100 per- cent of their "ideal" budgets. The JMU might not win a national state uses a formula to determine championship in football, but it can how much money an institution be the best in another area, President should receive. Last year JMU was Ronald Carrier told the Board of funded at 88 percent of the Visitors Friday. guidelines. The state average for It all depends on the success of the comprehensive institutions was 93 five-year plan for academic ex- percent. cellence, which was developed by Carrier's target figure for the Dr. Russell Warren, vice president 1986-88 biennium is 93 percent. for academic affairs. Dr. Frank The board in October voted to Luth, professor of special education, seek approval to spend $72.5 million presented the board an update on the in 1986-87 and $75.7 million the program. following year. Warren said the university will re- • moving three state universities quest $225,000 from the Virginia into the top 25 percent nationally for General Assembly and the State research. Council for Higher Education for Warren said the state office is us- each of the next two years to con- ing JMU's five-year plan as a model tinue the plan. "At the moment for other state schools. The program we're not discouraged that we'll get will show others how to develop this money," he said. The assembly goals and measure success. awarded JMU $125,000 in January A major aspect of the plan is an to implement the plan. assessment of the liberal studies pro- "The nice thing about this is that gram. Freshmen, sophomores and we're playing in the national seniors would be tested not on the league," he said. The university will facts, but their ability to use infor- request additional funding later to mation taught in their courses, Luth continue the program. said. Hanffc off sta"photo by STEPHEN JAFFE Carrier also told the board about a ■Freshmen also would be tested to report from the state council. The determine attitude assessment, he Sophomore Robert Blankenship performs a front flip on the report outlines objectives for the said. parallel bars Friday night during intrasquad competition. state to improve its higher educa- See BOARD page 2 *• tion. Students, faculty at odds on B.S. degree By Gwen Farlss quired to take the additional three hours of math Dr. Les Bolt of the College of Education had editor and three to four semester hours of social or similar hesitations. Some students and faculty here favor adding natural science beyond the general studies re- "If you took the B.S. degree and added all those more course requirements for the bachelor of quirements. hours . you would virtually strip all the elec- science degree, but others oppose such a move. Carl Drummond, a sophomore seeking a B.S. tives out" of some curricula, he said. In the pro- . Under the proposal, which the Faculty Senate degree, said he sees no need to change the re- fessional fields, departments must offer a certain tabled two weeks ago, the requirements for a B.S. quirements. number of hours and a certain number of courses degree would be more extensive. "I think everybody should have a solid basis in to be accredited, he said. Many programs are left Students in a B.S. program would be required to general studies, but I think it's good what they with only six to 12 hours of electives. "If you add- complete one year of a foreign language. They also have right now. ed an additional 12 hours, you would take all those would have to take three semester hours of math "In general, the B.S. degree, because you're tak- electives." and six to eight more hours of social or natural ing more classes in your major, is a lot harder than Bolt said the proposal to add more classes stems sciences beyond current general studies re- the B.A. degree. There are a lot more (required) from the national trend toward a liberal studies quirements. classes, and more technical classes," he said. "It education. Currently, students seeking a B.S. degree are re- might put a strain on some people." See DEGREE page 2 ► v^ Dazzling Special effects dominated Julie Franken's last-minute shot in the Thompson Twin's concert Big Saturday's game with Wake Forest Thursday more than talent. gives the women's basketball team a display 12 shot 60-58 victory. * 15 Page 2, The Breozo. Monday. December 9. 1985 Board Cct'^oed •'Of page 1 interview rooms, private offices, a library and Another pan of the program is testing seniors in According to Warren, about 75 percent of the their majors so the university can determine the students who enrolled at JMU in 1980 had audio/visual equipment. quality of its major programs. The test could be a graduated from here in five years or are actively The facility will cost about $450,000, Hilton national standardized test or a department test. seeking degrees. Nationally, about 50 percent of said. Funds had been allocated to renovate part of "If JMU is truly serious about student outcomes the students who enroll at an institution graduate the campus center for the placement office but assessment, it will be very expensive to implement. from there within five years. more money is needed to build a separate struc- However. ! think the outcome will justify the ex- A majority of the 25 percent of students who did ture. pense. " Luth said. not graduate from JMU transferred to other The board also approved reducing the scope of a Warren also commented on progress of the five- universities and graduated within five years, said new residence hall. The proposed 450-bed high rise year plan. About 100 faculty members and 20 Fred Hilton, university spokesman. has been modified to a structure similar to students are serving on 12 committees to imple- About 63 percent of the students who enrolled at McGraw-Long Hall that will house 250 students, ment the program- JMU in 19T2 graduated from here within five Carrier said. The dormitory will be built below Bell Tests would determine student progress under years, he said. Hall and the Hillside trailers will be removed. the plan so the university can measure success, he Warren said the five-year figure is used because said. The tests would not be graduation re- many students take "rejuvenation" time while The new dormitory will cost about $3.9 million. quirements. others need to work. Also, some students find Carrier reviewed the university capital projects. By measuring JMU against other schools, of- completing a five-year program more feasible than Renovation work has begun on Keezell smd Moody ficials could see strengths and weaknesses in new fitting all requirements into four years. halls, he said. Renovation of the Wilson Hall and old programs. Warren said. In other business at the meeting, the board ap- auditorium is scheduled to start in May. Studying student attitude is studying student proved redistributing about $240,000 for Greek The proposed fine arts building will be prepared motivation, he said. housing and about S 100,000 for a free-standing to go to bid by March, he said. The new telephone Tests will be difficult to write because the building to house Career Planning and Placement. system is scheduled for installation in May. university wants to review broad skills. Warren The recommendation came out of the Financial "We await the action of the governor before we said. It wants to see how a student uses critical and Physical Development Committee. tell you anything new," Carrier said. thinking, interacts, creates and synthesizes infor- Carrier said additional funding had to be sought The board also approved awarding tenure to 18 mation. for the Greek houses after plans came in over the faculty members. Nine associate professors were One definite outcome of the plan is that depart- university's estimate. "We want to build them and promoted to full professor, eight assistant pro- ments are establishing teaching objectives, he said. the students want them," he said. fessors were moved to associate professor and four Carrier said courses are added continually to the A group of four units will be constructed near instructors were named assistant professors. JMU catalog, but none are taken out. Depart- Newman Lake. Each unit will house 28 students Carrier also told the board an architect will be ments now will have to justify each course and and will cost $2.3 million. requested to design a loft that will best utilize the determine what they want to teach and ac- The placement facility will be constructed across space in Bluestone dormitories. Full and half lofts complish. from the Phillips Center, he said. It will have nine will be banned at the end of the academic year. Degree —— »• (Continued fro"! cege D Dr. Norman Garrison, chairman their hours are mandatory." across somebody like me, why Historically, liberal arts programs of the academic policies committee Garrison said he had n^ quarrel should that deny them a degree? have offered credit in such languages which made the proposal, said he with incorporating a foreign "I have no facility for foreign as Latin, Hebrew and Greek, he understands the complaints. language requirement into general language," Liss said. "I've tried it in said. Requiring a modern foreign "The people who have reserva- studies.