Volume 6 Issue 19
.. Curricula: •
Hearings Review General Studies
"'Growing with a growing community."
Vote Ends in 5-5 Stalemate
Merger Bill Wounded by Carson Reed and Lisa Espiritu
by Susan Skorupa Reporter, The Metropolitan
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After nine hearings and more than 100 pages of testimony, the General Studies Review Subcommittee is working on a preliminary proposal for revised General Studies Requirements at MSC. Dr. Richard Leventhal, vicechairman of the subcommittee, said the group is currently re-evaluating and summarizing the suggestions of students, administrators, alumni and the schools, gathered during the hearings last fall.
Even before House bill 1360 was heard on Monday night, administrators at MSC were predicting it would have trouble. And trouble it had, as advocates and opponents of the bill took turns addressing the members of the House Education Committee. Following a three-and-a-half hour debate, the legislature deadlocked 5-5 on the reorganization bill that would have placed Auraria under the control of the CU Regents. Because of the tie vote, the possibility lingers that the bill, or an amended version of it, could resurface and be passed into the legislature before Friday. Saying there is "sufficient cause for the legislature to make changes," AHEC Executive Director Jerry Wartgow expressed support for the bill, which would have eliminated AHEC and his own position. "The legislature should pursue HB 1360 as an appropriate, timely, and necessary means to address the issue of higher education," Wartgow said. Regent Peter Dietze, who also supported the bill, shocked members of the legislature with his opinion that it would take the Regents less time to run the entire Auraria campus than it now takes to run UCD. Dietze said the current "byzantine structure" of Auraria "consumes so much unnecessary energy" that life for the Regents would be simplified by a takeover.
''The President mked that faculty investigate General Studies before the Legislature &ays 'This is what we want you to do."' -- Dr. Richard Leventhal
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The hearings were requested by MSC President Fontera to determine whether. the curriculum was meeting present and future student needs. "The President asked that faculty investigate General Studies before the Legislature says 'This is what we want you to do,"' Leventhal said. No special area of the General Studies curriculum is being singled out for changes by the subcommittee. "We're questioning what we have," Leventhal said, "looking at all aspects and hoping to strengthen and improve the General Studies requirements." Any possible changes in the requirements will be a long, involved process. ' Leventhal said subcommittee recommendations will go to the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee, then be taken under advisement by the Faculty Senate. From there, the proposal will go to the faculty, and finally, the President will receive the results . Changes in the requirements are not a foregone conclusion. - "It's possible we may find that what we have is good enough for now and for another ten years," Leventhal said, "We're also looking at how we can improve student needs five years from now." The preliminary proposal will be made this spring after the subcommittee examines every suggestion to determine areas of common concern, and summarizes the findings. Then, Leventhal said, another round of hearings will probably be hcld. D
February 15, 1984
Rep. Paul Shauer looking for ammunition in the fight to _save the life of HB1360. photo by Jack Affleck
"Consolidated boards don't solve problems, consolidated boards erode educational diversity.,, ·· Gladys Foster Trustee Spokesperson
Black History Page 5
Rock History Page 11
Opponents of the bill stressed the fundamental differences between MSC and CU. Despite a clause in the bill that specifically maintains the role and mission of MSC, representatives of various MSC interests expressed a common fear that program cuts, tuition hikes, and admissions changes would follow a takeover by the Regents. "Consolidated boards don't solve problems," said Trustee spokesperson Gladys Foster, "Consolidated boards erode educational diversity." continued on page 3