james Madison Urivesty JUNE 24,1993 VOL 70, NO. 53 May term enrollment hits all-time high by Ed Gray news editor More students attended May session this year than ever before, according to JMU's Office of Institutional Research. Over 3,000 students were enrolled in the three- week term, and 263 more students attended this year than in 1992. "I think May and summer sessions are good programs," said Jeff Noble, Assistant to the President "The facilities are here and the professors are willing to teach the classes." Senior Rachel Stouffer attended May session and plans to live in Harrisonburg all summer. Though she studied a lot for her May session course, she felt "it was nice to get that class out of the way." "I didn't take as many courses as I should have my freshman and sophomore years so I'm really playing catch-up now," Stouffer said. "But I am determined to graduate next May." Director of Institutional Research Frank Doherty said the total number of students enrolled for summer courses will not be available until late July or early August It is too early to determine if this summer's enrollment exceeds last summer's total of JANET DRISCOLL/THE BREEZE 2,464 students. Combined May and Summer enrollment for the working at jobs they've established during the year, suggested he take summer classes at JMU. 1992 summer sessions was 4,206, the highest especially out-of-state students who have to pay "It was kind of my parents' decision for me to combined total ever. higher tuition. stay this summer," Allen said, "but I don't mind. It's According to the June 9, 1993 issue of The Senior Betsy McGrath from New Jersey is not bad." Chronicle of Higher Education, an increasing spending her second summer in Harrisonburg And for still other students, summer school is number of students are taking summer courses to working and taking classes. simply a way to get away from home. avoid tuition increases in the fall. Some California "I am here mainly to take classes, but the fact that "The reason I am here is not educationally community colleges, the issue reports, could have I have a job in town made the decision to stay oriented. One month at home was plenty for me," student fee increases of 200 percent this fall. definite," McGrath said. said senior Derek Anderson, who returned from Though the increases are not so severe at JMU, Other students, such as senior David Allen, are home but did not attend May Session, "After three tuition has risen steadily over the past few years. attending because of special circumstances. Allen's months at I'd go crazy. Even though Harrisonburg is Some students remain in Harrisonburg to continue parents are currently moving to Chicago, and boring, at least I can come and go as I please." INSIDE Fund shortage closes Madison Institute - Women's Studies, Freshman Seminar will continue Contingency by Rachel Bunyard Allain said the restructuring "provides an Courses stqffwriter opportunity jo reevaluate and change the focus of the programs." JMU students tell how The Madison Institute, whose funding grant ran Women's Studies, which will continue to be they couldn't take the out this spring, no longer exists. class they registered offered as a minor, and Freshman Seminar will now The programs it sponsored for the last three be contained in the College of Letters and Sciences. for/2 years—Freshman Seminar, Women's Studies and the "The college is very interested in these programs, Madison Fellowship—have been taken over by other and we can absorb them," said Jack Armistead, dean 'Late Night' JMU offices. of the College of Letters and Sciences. "We're trying The Institute, originally located in Hillcrest, was quiz hard to make sure that the functions of the Madison funded in pan by a three-year $150,000 grant from Institute continue. Find out how much the State Council of Higher Education that ended this "Women's Studies has a home here right now," you know about May, which was matched by the University. The Armistead said. David Letterman's university has decided to assign the programs to But it is not certain how long women's studies talk show/9 different areas within its infrastructure. will remain in the College of Letters and Sciences, "It's cost effective and more practical," said Vice INDEX Armistead said. President of Academic Affairs Bethany Oberst "We Offices are being left vacant with the News look at resources to try to make the best allocation of 4 Humor 10 resources, and that sometimes means restructuring." redistribution of these programs but jobs are not Features 9 Classifieds 10 Former director of the Madison Institute Violet INSTITUTE pogt 2 2 • THE BREEZE THURSD/V, JUNE 24,1993 Contingency courses working well despite some student frustration during the May and summer sessions, all six of the courses had very low enrollment and could not be by Ed Gray contingency courses available were filled. He gave offered. Another section of public speaking, news editor overrides to several students for the survey of British scheduled for the second four-week term, may have This is the second summer in a row JMU has literature class he taught in May, and the enrollment to be canceled for the same reason. offered courses on a contingency basis, and students for the class was close to 30 instead of the intended The psychology department offered five this May, and faculty both seem to agree that the program is 25. and three of the classes had sufficient enrollment working well. Dr. Ronald Nelson taught English 398, technical The contingency courses to be held this summer will Contingency courses differ from regular summer writing, this May. It is a class notoriously difficult to probably all contain adequate numbers of students, a classes in that the enrollment for each contingency get into during the fall or spring. department secretary said. course must pay the instructor's salary for that class. "I think [the contingency plan] is a great "I would like to see the contingency program If enrollment is not high enough, the instructor opportunity for students who have trouble getting continue," economics department head Dr. T. cannot be paid, and the class is not offered. Windsor Fields said. "The more of a selection we "The aim of contingency courses is to give can offer students in the summer, the better." students the opportunity to take courses that Junior Lisa Bennett said her newswriting class, otherwise wouldn't be available,"Jeff Noble said. "I register for [contingency offered this May on a contingency basis, required a University Registrar Sherrill Hood said the Office class], I pay for it, and minimum of 14 students. Only nine showed up, and of Registration and Records has received mostly the class was not offered. Fortunately, Bennett was favorable responses regarding May and summer then I find out I can't take able to get into another class which she needed. classes. "It annoyed me," Bennett said. "I register for it, I "We get very few complaints," she said. "Just a it." Lisa Bennett pay for it, and then I find out I can't take it." few people have complained about contingency summer student Junior Angela Davis said she can empathize with courses which had to be canceled.'' the decision not to hold a course. Noble said, "Students know when they sign up into a class during the regular year," Nelson said. "Depending on what type of class it is, there that the word 'contingency' means that a course may "Sometimes students cannot take courses because might not be enough people to participate in not be offered, but most contingency courses get they fill up so rapidly during the year. Technical discussion," Davis said. She was glad that the enough students to be held." writing is a case in point. contingency class she is currently taking had enough English department head Dr. David Jeffrey said "It's a good idea and it gives students an students in it to be held. that since professors are paid more than instructors, opportunity to take valuable courses," Nelson said. Senior Tapio Christiansen felt that important professors teaching contingency courses must "It seems to work for technical writing. I don't know courses should be offered regardless of enrollment acquire more students to earn their salaries. bow it does for other courses." figures. After all, it is his money that pays for Consequently, such courses require higher Other departments reported generally high summer school. enrollments if they are to be offered. enrollment in contingency courses offered this May "If you need to take a class, then they should have "I am convinced that [the contingency program] is and summer. it no matter what. I stayed in town this summer doing good things for everybody," Jeffrey said. Both the accounting and economics departments because I had to take classes. I probably could have "The students get a fuller pick of courses, and said that the contingency courses they offered this found other classes," Christiansen said, "but what if I certainly the faculty enjoy the opportunity to make May were easily filled. couldn't have?" extra money." The human communication department, on the Jeffrey said, "I think it's working well for the Jeffrey said out of the 21 English courses offered other hand, reported that one of its public speaking students, the faculty memebers, and the university." Institute COHTIHUED from page 1 the Madison Institute was dismantled.