Strategic Change
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A PACKED HOUSE FOR HAITI Concert raises money for island nation, B5 FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010 Valparaiso University's 2007, 2008 & 2009 Indiana Student Newspaper College Weekly of the Year —— Senate motion aims to jostle responsibility we are going against our own by Executive power laws," Kus said. "Who will police the senate? Who will stop and say, to remove senators 'No, this is wrong?' This is where the president comes in." would be revoked Student body vice president Alex Smith Danny Lewallen cites other rea Torch News Editor sons that the current process is lu4-A:Legai better for senate than the pro Environment t cess would be if the motion were Business) Student Senate discussed a passed. Home Page I No course art motion Monday night to approve "The current capability stream a bylaw would limit the processes lines everything, especially when Disci;- by which a senator might be re dealing with underqualified sena 'My Tasks moved from office. tors," Lewallen said. "Being able to \ No tasks du<>. At-large senator Alex Johnson use the power that (student body presented S.R. 89- a resolution president Courtney Heitkamp) that would require senators be re has is valuable and is easier on moved only by means of impeach everyone. The president won't re ment or resignation. move someone on a whim, only "Basically (the resolution) says those who are unqualified due to that senators can only be removed GPA or bylaws." by the grievance process or res Lewallen also indicated that Rebecca Barnes / The Torch ignation," Johnson said. "That by usually a senator would be asked itself doesn't sound inflammatory, to resign before an executive or The Blackboard interface, shown here, is the main location from which VU students access online classes. but it removes der would have the president's to be enacted. ability to remove The position is "Some people good way to earn easy credits and ence," said Tom Boyt, Dean of the a senator by ex have concerns," Online classes learn something but still not have to College of Business Administration. ecutive order. student body Heitkamp said. be in the classroom." "That's where we're going and we're That's what the president, not senate "I'm just try continue to grow One problem that Faust, a public actually pretty close ... hopefully by contention is president. ing to take into in popularity relations major, did come across in next semester." about." consideration her most recent online class was the Online courses do not work Johnson said Alex Johnson of all the situa Brendan Kinney inability to quickly consult with her for every class, according to Boyt. he believes that tions that would professor after class. Graduate classes are typically easier senate should At-large senator require this Torch Staff Writer "My current class is pretty writ to administer online as opposed to be able to gov power. It will be ing intensive and the only issue that I undergraduate courses. Within the ern themselves an interesting Receiving an education over the really have run into was talking with next five years, Boyt hopes to have without intervention from the debate." World Wide Web was widely consid the professor after class," Faust said. most of the graduate level classes president. "This is rarely used," she added. ered an uncommon practice a mere "Instead I have to make arrange that take place on VU's campus both "The position is student body "(Former student body president) 15 years ago. Today, those vying for ments to find out her office hours, in person and online in order for president, not senate president," Liane (Joshua) used it only once." an education with families, jobs and but thankfully she is usually there students around the world to reap Johnson said. "No legislative body Another reason Johnson thinks other commitments in life are turn and available. This is a required class the benefits of a VU education. is a legitimate legislative body un this bylaw amendment is accept ing to online courses. for my major so it is pretty impor "Anything is possible," Boyt said. less they can govern their own able is that if a senator has been Valparaiso University's depart tant." Strasser said the online process members." placed, the president still has sev ment of communication was the first Sandy Strasser, professor of in offers a glimpse of the future of edu Senior senator Alan Kus, cur en days to veto that placement. to offer an online course. Douglas formation and decision sciences, has cation. rent chairman of the grievance Johnson has been hinting at Kocher, chair of the department of developed a new master level class "I have a lot of students who really committee, agreed with Johnson's the importance of this resolution communication, was the instructor in the College of want to be in the sentiment but said he sees merit for "a while." of his Introduction to Internet Com Business Adminis I think what you're classroom; they in allowing the current proce "Hopefully it gets taken care of munication class that was first of tration. The college don't want to be dures to remain. In extreme cir before my time is done," Johnson, fered in the spring semester of 1995. is experimenting going to find are in their room, cumstances where a senator needs a senior, said. Kocher required an initial meet with this innovative instructors wanting and I have oth to be removed because of lack of Senate will vote on the resolu tion at Monday night's meeting. ing with his class to go over the con course that incor more transparent ers who I've qualification, Kus believes inter tent of the course and to see the faces porates video, audio never met them vention can become necessary. Contact Alex Smith at torch@ of his students. In 1995, people were and a PowerPoint ways of delivering before. I don't "If senate refuses to act, then valpo.edu. not necessarily aware of what an on presentation that material so that you know what they line class was, so Kocher had to ex the instructor pro look like and plain to his students that he would vides in advance. literally could see it I've never physi not be present for the duration of the This is all a part on your cell phone. cally met them class. of an online course because they've Strategic change "A lot of the learning burden is that allows students been off site the transferred to the student because to see what notes Douglas Kocher whole time," This announcement comes in the teacher is not there admonishing the instructor is Chair, department of Strasser said. Vice president of light of a strategic planning process you in class," Kocher said. writing down on communication "I think that's to determine the vision of VU. At the end of the first meeting, one portion of their where educa institutional Right now, according to Mad Kocher said he vividly remembers computer screen and at the same tion is going, that customization is dox, "We're halfway through the saying to his students, "That's it, and time be able to see the professor on what we really need to do more and advancement steps strategic planning process." I'll see you online." another portion of the screen. If the will do more of." He so far has led the university Times have changed and tech student did not understand the ma Kocher agreed that online cours aside from position in the search process for determin nology has dramatically progressed terial the first time, the program of es are going to evolve with the in ing its vision. to improve the online course experi fers a rewind feature. structors. Paul Rubio "The vision is where we want to ence. "Where we're trying to get with "I think what you're going to Torch Staff Writer go, and the strategic plan is how we Junior Lexi Faust has encoun this, and we're getting pretty close, find are instructors wanting to find get there," Maddox said, referring tered a few of these technologically is for a faculty member to have a easier and more transparent ways of An announcement made last to what the members of the VU advanced classes over her years on class, be able to just walk into the delivering material so that you liter week initiated a shift in leadership community want the university to campus, one of which was taught by classroom, teach their class like they ally could see it on your cell phone," positions at Valparaiso University: look like in the years to come. "The Kocher. would any other day and have it be Kocher said. Richard Maddox announced his strategic plan will be presented to "I took his online course because online - video, audio, everything's decision to leave his current po the community starting in Febru I wanted to acquire a few extra cred being taken care of and the faculty Contact Brendan Kinney at sition as vice president of institu ary." its," Faust said. "They seemed like a member doesn't notice the differ [email protected]. tional advancement. See Maddox, page A5 Index A&E B7 Campus News A3 Opinions A7 The Torch "We will strive increasingly to Announcements A2 Features B3 Sports A9 On Guard for 95 Years quicken the public's sense of civic duty." - The Athenian Oath Calendar B2 Flicker A7 Weather B6 Volume 103 :: Issue 17 The Torch | Friday, January 29, 2010 Campus News A2 Campus Announcements We've got VUDU VU covered.