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Show ~ . .. THUNDfflBIRD STUDENT INPUT TELLS ENOUGH c all remember those times when we arc able to switch places with our instructors and give to them our own evaluation of their respective abilities. After that grueling paper or midterm, we long for the chance to return an appropriate grade of how well they know the data themselves. We acknowledge that SUU's faculty is among the best we couJd hope to learn from . The professors and instructors here work hard to be the finest teachers of any university, rcgardJess of its size. We arc certain that every student has a list of favorite instructors, ones which are better than any before experienced. There aJso remain in the memory those cases when an instructor has caused one to wonder how he or she ever got the job in the first place. CertainJy those instances arc not typical, yet they remain in the student's memory until graduation, if not for life . These cases exist at every university , and SUU is no exception. There arc even allegedly some students who fear to give an accurate evaluation because the instructor teaches several required courses in their scheduled future . These quarterly evaluation forms have a space available for suggestions and comments on the proficiency of the instructor and his or her teaching quality. Often, students wonder if the instructor will read them and recognize the handwriting for a future reckoning with the bold writer of the commentary. On a 100-point scale, teachers are "graded" by the mass of evaluation forms. Instructors who score badly, usually below an approximate 70, are investigated further. Those with more time at the university are generally evaluated less frequently, until tenured faculty are evaluated a minimum of once a year with the instructor choosing which class gets evaluated. The Thunderbird recognizes the concern the heads of departments have that SUU maintains only the highest level of teaching ability on the payroll. We agree that those few instructors should be worked with, correcting what is possible , yet those who consistently maintain an unacceptable evaluation should promptly be removed. We also gratefully acknowledge past actions taken to eliminate instructors who have not met with approval. For those unforgettably inadequate instructors who yet remain teaching, we ask that our evaluations be heard in earnest. The students themselves are the most qualified to give an accurate appraisal of an instructor's abilities. W SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY O CEDAR CITY, UTAH Editor KatbJcen CJo.e M--cm, Editor N ~ Coombs Opinion Diftet.or David Johmo.n Copy F.clitor Jennifer Morley Phoco Editor Eric R.oderidt Sporta Editor Jey Hinton Ana Editor Chem Tuel= Prochacuon Mau-,cr R.IICbdJe Mullcnnax Adwrtuiu1 Jlq,s Jc:f Andenon Ben Blackbum Staff Production Hod Lynn Dennett faculty Ad1Mr 1..any Baker n, n....,,.,., i, publuhed aid, Monday Mid Thund..y ol che aadcrnic ,ear by Mid ro,. ~ tnldenc body olSoulhcm Ucab UDMnity and i, not alliliated with die Uni¥onity'1 deJ-,tmcnt of communication. The viiewa and opinions ecptaoed in 71r n,,,,J,,,l;i,d an: thole a( individual wri1en and do DOC necau.rily rdlea ~ views ol die inscicution, faculry, ull' oc student body in ,mcral. The IINitp,ed ectitoria1 direcdy ~ i, ~ opinion a( 71r n...lttltitJ • a single entil)< Luten to die editor ,,... be iyped and indude die name and phone number. Only the name wil be f'U*d. Names wil not be wilhbdd wxkr-, circ:umcan<'G and die edieor ......_ edibng privilega. Le«en mu• be submitted by noon Friday, b Monday editionl; 5 11.10. Tuadeya ror Thunday editions. c....._ ,.,,, individual with • ~ apinst n, n...J,,#,;r/ should direct sudi ~ finl to the editor. If UDlaOMd, tbac gri,tvanae lhould cha\ be dir.aed to the .iviler. I( al unraalwd. the pic,,ancc should be directed to che Publications Council, ~7710. 71r ~ offic:a in SUU 1echnology Building 003. Mail • SUU Boa 93M, C.edar City, suu UT 84720. Pbcnt (801) 586-7757, 586-7758. 586-7750, 586-5438. FAX 586-5487. LETTERS Beware of 'senior syndrome' TO THE EDITOR : Have you ever seen the movie China Syndrome? It is about a nuclear energy plant. The managers of the plant arc so sure of its safety and of the fact that nothing can go wrong that they invite reporters to tour the plant. Then, wouldn' t you know it, at the worst possible time, while the reporters were there, they experience the "C hina Syndrome." Well, that movie bas a lot in common with being a senior here at SUU . When I transferred here from Dixie College, I received a neat little worksheet that showed the classes I need for graduation. I followed that sheet in choosing my classes through my junior and the first quarter of my senior year. This quarter, I went to pick up my graduation application and as I wu filling it out, I found out some interesting thinirs. When IEl"'lf.RS POUCY: The Thunderbird.will: print letters to the editor whenever they an: received. The cdito1'!1 reserve th~ right to edit or you try to graduate with a B.S. in business administration and a minor in small business management, you will wind up upper division credits short. I would never have thought that by following the outline the business department gave me I would be left with too few credits to graduate. Later I found out that SU's senior seminar class (BA 499) is only a one credit class instead of a two credit class as my catalog lists it. So, any guesses u to what senior gets to take an overload spring quarter? These arc just a few of the problems that I have run across in the last week. I'm sure others exist. Sometimes it seems that the school sends out all these fliers to recruit new student!, only to, make things difficult for them once they arc here. { only ask three things: first, reject any letter for any reason at their discretion. Leners should be typed and include the writer's name and phone number. Only the name will be printed. Letters between 500 and 800 words that all of the faculty and staff get their facts straight; second, that students be kept informed of requirements and changes in graduation requirements; last but not least, that the faculty work with the students in meeting all of the requirements necessary for graduation. I understand now why so many people go to college and so few actually complete a degree in four years. My advice to my fellow seniors that arc looking so forward to gening that diploma in June: , watch out for the "senior syndrome." Don' t count on having met all of the requirements necessary for graduation until you've checked and doublechecked everything. If you don' t, you may experience the "senior syndrome." Good luck seniors. Gary A. Slack receive priority attention. They should be submitted to The Thuntllrbird offices no later than noon Wednesday or Friday to be considered for either Monday 's or Thursday's edition. |
