Fordham Faces Re-Evaluation by Marie Reres Evaluation Is Based
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The Observer's 1984 Graduation Guide In The Centerfold' Volume 3, Issue 16 College At Lincoln Center, Fordham University, New York December 7-13, 1983 Fordham Faces Re-evaluation By Marie Reres evaluation is based. dham," Conn said. "Any institution which wants to be honest is going "Since Fordham as been accredited several times in the past," said to try to be as representative as it can in conducting the self-study, Fordham University will be evaluated for reaccreditation next Fall Executive Assistant to the President of Fordham, the Rev. James even if there's some bad news because the institution would want by the regional accrediting association in this area, The Middle Conn, S.J., "it has the freedom to choose those areas of the univer- to use what it learns to improve itself." States Association of Colleges and Schools. sity's life that it feels are important to study or worthy of study at Normally, Middle States simply validates many of the conclu- Automatically, every 10 years, each college and university in the this particular stage in its history." sions, both positive and negative, which an institution draws about United States is evaluated by its regional accrediting association. The educational institution usually spends one year preparing the its own life, Conn said. "This sets a task for the institution in the If the institution meets certain standards and criteria established by self-study. Middle States sends a team of people to the institution years ahead-to try to maintain its strengths and correct its the association, it is said to have received accreditation. If the stan- to look at the study, talk to people at the institution to test the validity weaknesses," he said. dards are not met, the institution is not accredited. of the study and then respond to it, Shea said. The decision con- , As well as improving the educational programs, the accredita- "Middle States concerns itself technically with the entire univer- cerning accreditation is made by the Commission on Higher Institu- tion procedure insures them to be of high quality. • sity," Dean Shea said. "It doesn't go very deeply into the curriculum tions of Middle States. "Middle States is a means by which a university like Fordham and policies of the professional schools." A document known as a This evaluation procedure encourages institutions throughout the can engage in peer evaluation," Conn said. "It is not in a sense an self-study or self-evaluation is prepared by the institution, which United States to improve their educational programs. external agency, but rather a membership agency to which Fordham specifies certain areas of concentration. It is on this document that "This study is as much for Fordham's benefit as it is a duty of For- has voluntarily committed itself, by participation of our own peo- ple in various other visiting teams." "It [the accreditation procedure] preserves 'the autonomy of higher TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DAY AFTER education in the United States,' " Conn said. "To the extent that in- fi Continued On Page 3 SABC Holds Forum On Gannon Debate By Anthony Lisi Rizzo, the past SABC decided to defund Gannon with the expectation that the club would be fund- The Student Activities Budget Committee ed by the University. The Administration has told (SABC) sponsored an open forum on the issue of both Rizzo and Foley that the club will/lot receive funding the Gannon Debate Council on Thursday, funding from the University since it comes under December 1. The event turned but to be a the student activities jurisdiction. monologue, however, as the person to be speak- Rizzo said that the purpose of the forum was "To ing against Gannon did not show up to counter increase public awareness on the issue of the fun- former Gannon President Mark Fbley, speaking ding of the Gannon Debate Council." Foley, citing on behalf of the club. % the club's victories and contributions to CLC. said Foley called the situation indicative of the lack that Gannon provides valuable benefits to the of support for the "three evening students who are students and brings added prestige to CLC. He said spearheading the drive against Gannon." that the club needs adequate funding to remain According to chairman of the SABC Robert successful. Marchese, Gannon has been temporarily funded pending a student referendum. This was in re- The Gannon Debate Council won the first place sponse to an appeal Gannon made to the SABC, sweepstakes trophy at Bradley University in including the signatures of over 650 supportive Peoria, Illinois over the weekend of November 17. students, after last year's SABC defunded the club. "The victory is particularly significant," said Marchese said that the forum was the first step former club president Mark Foley, "in as much as in holding a referendum; to be followed by peti- both the number two and three rated teams in the tioning to get 15 per cent of the student population nation - Eastern Michigan and the University of to call for a referendum, and jinally the vote itself. Illinois -were both present and we defeated them " According to Marchese. the SABC will petition The tournament drew 36 schools from ten states until they receive the required number of and the top two speakers were Gannon's Raymond signatures. Enright and Foley. Marchese also said that the referendum result "Prospects for winning the National Champion- would not be binding to the SABC, but merely ship this year are brighter than ever." said Foley. advisory. "With club members performing at their peak, the Albert Rizzo Robert Marchese According to Gannon Debate President Albert title can be Fordham's." Open House Fights Enrollment Crunch By Doris Suen special programs designed specifically for incom- At the Theatre", Assistant Professor of Italian, ing freshmen-the Freshmen Interdisciplinary Joseph Perricone and Chairman of the Social From the attendance in the annual CLC Open Program (FIP) and the Mellon Project. Science Division Peter Schneider were present to House, held Saturday, Nov. 19, Associate Direc- Dean Shea elaborated on FIP and the Mellon answer questions about FIP, and Assistant Pro- tor of Admissions Steven K. Lenhart anticipates Project in his discussion. Shea said that there it fessor ,of Mathematics, Fred Marotto displayed a that next fall's enrollment might increase. "It is still more to a college education than just a bachelor's robot controlled by a computer during his discus- hard to say, but things are looking up," he said. degree and said that CLC tries to encourage par- sion about computer science. Other faculty "With recruitment drives in Texas, Milwaukee and ticipation in all aspects of college life. He also said members were available in the second floor lounge Florida which has been successful, we do an- that the administration feels that small classes arc for consultation. There was also a financial aid ticipate some increase in enrollment." the best way for students to know their professors workshop which, according to Lenhart, was pro- This year's enrollment has dropped by 5 percent, since small classes form a smaller student to bably the most popular because financing an but with the plans for dormitories in the near teacher ratio. education seems to be of great importance these future, the possibility that enrollment will increase Associate Dean of Student Affairs the Rev. days. is quite strong. "Our reputation is reaching outside Denis P. Moran, S.J. discussed student life at CLC Although there was not any particular field of the NYC area and I'm proud of that," Lenhart said. Jind the functions of Career Planning and Place- interest that students and parents were inquiring The Open House was sponsored by the Office ment, Counseling, Student Affairs and Student about, there were, many questions about the pre- of Admissions under the direction of Lenhart. Activities. profcssional programs CLC has. "There was a "There was a nice mix of high schools present," Following the introductions, professors from diversity of interests, even though computer Lenhart said. Students from the metropolitan area, various departments discussed their courses in science seemed to be the most popular," Lenhart as well as New Jersey, Westchcstcr, Connecticut, designated classrooms. Associate Professor of said. and Pennsylvania attended. Biology, Grace Vcrnon was in the science "The attendance of this year's Open House wus phenomenal." said Assistant Dean Pat Circclli. In his opening remarks, Lenhart discussed the laboratory to discuss the science programs offered. i !h Jium I'tn; "This was the best Open House turnout we've had." desire for smaller classes, the variety of ways in Gene Youngpf the Arts department guided a tour Sloven K. Ixinhurt which students can combine majors, and the of the Pope Auditorium culled "Behind the Scencs- Lenhart added. The Observer/December 7,1983 CAMPUS MINISTRIES AT Student Msitatidn XMXM CENTER Program Set Up By Eric Sinter school, the drawback being that the program must CALENDAR OF SPECIAL be approved by the dean's office at CLC before go- Starting in September 1984, students at CLC will ing west. Earned credits will receive full be able to spend up to a year at the University of equivalency at CLC and, in a change of school EVENTS San Francisco (USF) or two other Bay Area col- policy, grades earned will also become part of the leges and receive full Fordham credit under a plan students record and be considered in the grade being formulated by Assistant Dean Patricia Dec. 8 point average. Feast of the Immaculate Circelli. Admittance to the program hinges on good Thursday The program will enable a student here to attend academic standing and three letters of recommen- 12:30 p.m.