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Show Signpost--Frday, June 3, 1988 5 Skocki should be retained, says 6-1-88 To Ihe editor, While walking in the lower level of the business building last week I ran into Ronald Skocki outside one of his classrooms. I had heard that he was leaving the school and inquired as to his next employment opportunity. I was shocked to hear that he was going to the "unemployment lines" and further dismayed to leam that the department had eliminated his eight year temporary position in the Economics department because they said that they could no longer afford to employ him. This seems counter productive since the Economics department just filled two positions with new instructors for the coming year. After our conversation I asked several fellow classmates if they knew that Skocki was leaving. Many knew of his future departure but very few knew that he was being terminated from the department. Many were incensed with the thought that Skocki was leaving when he has been one of the best instructors in the Business School. Skocki will be the first to say that he knew he was being hired as a temporary eight years ago and that his contract renewal each year was dependent on funding. lie will also be the first to explain that he has not yet accomplished his dissertation for his Doctorate and this has lead to the continuation of a temporary position. But many students and myself feel that this is not the only criteria for filling the position. One criteria should be the education level of the instructor, but a Doctorate alone docs not provide the necessary elements to educate students. Take for example when Weber State hired a new professor (name withheld) fall quarter who had all the credentials and a Doctorate to teach the same classes as Skocki in economics and statistical analysis. Though he may have had better education credentials, the result was a disaster with many students failing the class and others having to take it over. Some might assume that I am complaining because SOFTBALL SUMMER at the Ogden Hilton. And throughout the Summer of '88' we are offering Softball teams and fans a special room rate to make the Ogden Hilton your home base. Rest up before the big game or cool off after for only... 438. Fill your energy reserves Juinabelle with a hearty BREAKFAST , LUNCH or Otter empires of the grade I received, but this is not the case since I received an A for the course. The course was self taught with little help from the instructor and he is still teaching a few classes at Weber State. The next class in the scries was taught by Skocki winter quarter and only then did the subject matter take on the position of being understandable and since it is understandable it has helped me in several upper division classes. Skocki is the type of instructor that listens to questions and is willing to help the student both inside and outside of the classroom. Many times the material is so well covered that time spent in class is adequate. A second criteria is for the students to have a voice in the retention or dismissal of instructors. You might ask where did Skocki stand on student evaluations? Compiled data shows Skocki consistently above the average in the department. A person might think that this data shows Skocki was too easy of an instructor but this is not the case since his grades were in the average range for the department. This brings up the question of do student evaluations have any impact on the system or do they give us a false sense Advisor makes 6-2-88 To the editor, Regarding the letter to the editor, "About KWCR ..." -- readers should be alerted to the fact that this letter was written by a former KWCR staff member, Brian Hill, who is nursing hurt feelings and "sour grapes" about the college radio slation. Rather than getting involved in a mud-slinging battle with Mr. Hill, let me just make a few simple points. First point The former KWCR format according to Mr. Hill was "what college non-commercial radio stations were doing all around the country." Bunk. There is no basis for this statement, but Mr. I Ell might not know that because KWCR is the only slation he has ever worked at. One could probably count on both hands the It's a Take advantage of all that Hilton has to offer: Indoor Swimming Pool Hot Splash Pool Exercise Equipment Convenient Location Free Parking at & DINNER LUNCH X OGDEN HILTON 247 24th Street : Ogden, Utah 84401 Call (801) 627-1190 for reservations O.'t I. 19 v.;.v b.i.'-.'J en ;r.js:.ib::,;y. student of control? I feel that they have a minor impact on the system unless the complaints bring on civil liability to the school. The last criteria in question is the fact that the department could not afford Skocki but they in turn hired two additional people. Now I have been involved in politics two years ago and this termination seems more political than researched. Tor example, is it belter to hire two unknown instructors and dismiss an excellent one or is it better to keep ihe excellent instructor and use the two new ones part time and sec if they arc belter for the program? It seems thai we arc taking the route of high risk and the ultimate price will be paid by the students that must suffer the effects of the new instructors if they prove unsatisfactory. It is time to reevaluate the decisions that have been made and consider retaining Ronald Skocki. The business department of all departments in the school should know that a reduction in cost docs not always equate to an increase in profits. The loss of Ronald Skocki will be a decrease in Profils! Brian LWccse Business Student points about KWCR number of college stations across the country using that sort of formal, which by the way, was actually no format at all-- block free form, just about anything goes. It's very rarely used because it doesn't work. (I've worked in professional radio for 15 years and I know whereof I speak.) Next It's just an oulrighl lie the former "format" at KWCR was based on Rolling Stone and the Gavin Report. We weren't subscribing to cither of those publications. More incorrect information is that the pop chart in Billboard is the current music guide for KWCR. We use the AOR chart in Radio and Records, an accurate an prestigious industry source. Next point KWCR now uses a music library of several hundred albums, Bui they arc quality albums, Celebrate your victory at the (a private club) DINNER LIBATIONS Schools accomplishments took 5-27-88 To the editor, In spite of the uncertainty and constraints inherent in a year when a significant portion of the faculty's attention and energy was involved in various aspects of a search for and evaluation of candidates for the dean's position, a great deal was accomplished during the 1987-88 academic year. I became involved in the dean's position not because of a personal goal to be an academic administrator. My involvement was based on the strong feeling that the SoBE is at a crucial stage in its development. In the seventeen years that I have been at WSC, I have seen a consistent movement toward higher quality and achievement in both our leaching and professional performance. An external verification of the success of this process will come if the School achieves accreditation by the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Accomplishments of the magnitude experienced by the SoBE do not just happen. It takes the foresight not the obscure throwaways that many record companies push on KWCR which no other stations will play. By listening to KWCR-FM today, you'll hear more variety in the music than you would have in the past when each DJ played hisher favorites each week no matter how off the wall or offensive to listeners. (see LETTERS on page 6) All Yoiar StoffK, Altai Save, T&2 Compare costs before you make plans for moving at the end of the semester. If you're 18 or older and have a valid driver's license, you can use a Ryder truck, rent-it-here, leave-it-there. Load up your stereo, 10-speed, clothes; everything. You'll still have room, no doubt, for one or two friends with their things to share the cost Compare that to the price of a plane ticket Or even a bus. Plus shipping. Rent a newer truck from the best-maintained, most dependable fleet in the world - Ryder. The best truck money can rent Bring this coupon in along with your student I.D. amd we will 1- i r n -J : it 11UIIU1 pc nricham Ogden: Clearfield : Laylon : Bountiful : and effort of many people both within and ouiside of the School. To coniinue to make the advances in quality performance that we all want, ihis broad-based commitment must be intensified. A number of years of limited or no increases in state funding have put us on the verge of losing key faculty members who make major contributions to ihe high quality program we have worked so hard to obtain. Once these people arc gone, it takes many years to rebuild the faculty. From a financial perspective, it is a short-run savings that results in a much higher long-run cost. When the impact of the loss of key people on quality performance is finally recognized, and the attempt is made to recruit replacements, we will find ourselves faced with higher, nationally competitive salaries. If we don't lake action to prevent the loss of key faculty, there appears to be only two possible future outcomes: (1) we wind up with a comparable level of quality and performance at a higher cost; or (2) we maintain the present level of support and deliver a lower quality, more limited program. With the average 1987 salary in the SoBE 20 percent below other AACSB accredited schools at the full professor rank, and 10 percent below at the assistant and associate professor ranks, the loss of high-performing faculty is a real and present danger. To cope with this danger, we musl all work together to create a commitment on the part of those who can influence the siaic to reverse the erosion in funding for higher education that has occurred in recent years. Bringing about this change in altitude will be a difficult and, unfortunately, a slow process. A more immediate and CD CD CZ3 CD (j it 1J TO uiscuuiu: RYDER TRUCK City : 498 S. Main 1764 Washington 2004 Wall 3790 Kicscl Ave 641 N. Main 90 N. Main 391 N. 500 W. hard work direct impact can occur through the major infusion of private funding for particular programs. I am proud of what the SoBH has accomplished this year. One of the changes with which I am most pleased does not show up directly in our activities. That change is an increased inieraction, coupled with more understanding that is progressively occurring between members of the different department that make up the School. I believe this is the result of more emphasis on and support of faculty research. Methods of seeking knowledge and ways to apply that knowledge arc the language common to all scholars. This year we have actively used this language with very positive results. My time as interim dean is about over. I believe it was a very good year for the School of Business and Economics. Many people worked as a team and we accomplished a great deal. I feel satisfied that I am turning over lo Dr. Harris, the new Dean of the SoBE, a situation that has been clarified, simplified, and given direction during the past year. As I reflect on the year, I find no areas for which I feel a need to apologize or make excuses for action taken. At the lime decisions were made, necessary explanations were provided to people who indicated they did not understand or who did not agree. There arc a very limited number of years in a career thai one can look at and honestly say they have no reservations regarding the quality of their performance. To those of you who through your cooperation made this the productive year it has been, thank you. Claude T.Wynn, Dean School of Business & Economics RENTAL 723-5660 393-5562 393-5831 393-5691 776-1877 544 7162 292-9861 |