INIFIEJE Feb. 11, 1982
Central State University, Edmond, Oklahoma
Vol. 80, No. 37
Poll circulated
Faculty reacts to evaluation By Kim McConnell The Committee on Student Relations is conducting a faculty poll to determine just how accurate and effective the fall student evaluations were, according to Anne Lynch, Faculty Student president and Anne Shanks, committee chairman. don't know if we will see all of the benefits at this point," said Shanks, who emphasized the committee is still in the process of receiving and evaluating the faculty questionaire.
The goal of the Committee on Student Relations is to critique the evaluation form and make changes where they are needed.
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The goal of the committee is to work on the instrument, the student evaluation form, to hone it and make it more useful to the instructor. The committee intends to give the evaluation for four consecutive semesters, beginning with last fall. "We'll be giving it more than once so we can look at all the trends," said Shanks, who added that she hoped the two year evaluations would weed out the surplus material and leave the most beneficial criticisms for the instructors. She added that a one-time experiment is not enough to properly evaluate an instructor, although some did find this first trial form "beneficial." Faculty response, thus far, has been greatly mixed. "Reaction has been so mixed, it's hard to tell what the outcome will be," she said. "They're (the forms) just coming back. When they are all in, we will be able to tell." Shanks' committee has re-
ceived a response from approximately 50 percent of the faculty. Faculty questionaires are due before the committee meeting Feb. 19, Shanks said. "We're in the process of collecting them, but it's a busy time of the year," she said.
Reaction from the faculty has been mixed, Shanks said.
Shanks said she was unsure exactly what would be done with the evaluation program at the end of the four semester period, but speculated that the faculty association would be polled to determine if the process should be continued. The Faculty Senate would possibly look at the poll results and make a decision, she added.
This is only the first time, and it is sometimes hard to get really intelligent responses the first time around.
Shanks said she does not know where the faculty sentiment is heading on the poll, but she does like the process, although not necessarily the instrument, because it is a good way to point out strengths and weaknesses in the instruction system. "I do think it should continue," she said. "I certainly hope that Central State University has a student body that is mature enough to do it. Our students are older than the normal student body and I hope they are more mature.
In this issue. . Engagement encounters of the first kind...page 3 Gas prices go down... page 4 Korean demonstrates flower art..., page 5 Bailey receives Marshall Award...page 6 Wrestlers face Adams State...page 7 Due to faulty equipment and editorial error, The Vista printed several incorrect figures in the Feb. 9 government aids cuts story. The story figures should have read that in 1980-81, $1.275 million in Pell Grants was given to 1,869 students and in 1981-82, just over $1 million was given to 1,600 students. The writer had the figures correct; it was The Vista who made the errors.
"They are more serious about getting a quality education. They are not here only for the fun. Most of our students are here to learn." Shanks said she felt the student evaluations were an outgrowth of a nation-wide trend. Although CSU has not been required to do an evaluation, at some point we might be required to do so and we'll have our own in place and ready to go. I'd rather give an evaluation I've been in on than have someone hand me one and say do it," she said.
Our student body is mature enough to do an adequate job of the evaluations. Our students are not here for fun, they are here to learn.
The fall evaluations were the beginning in a four semester program and Shanks acknowledged its limitations. "This is just the first time. It's hard to get a really intelligent response," she said. The faculty questionaire gave the instructors an opportunity to evaluate the appropriateness of the questions on the student form and to add any topics they feel the form missed. The instructors were also asked to evaluate the system itself.
ista photos by Michael Keen
Mrs. Jae Hee Choi Lee, of Korea, demonstrated the art of oriental flower arrangement Wednesday in the CSU Art Gallery. Lee is director of flower design at Ikebana International and is also a member of the Korean Floral Design Association. For related story, see page 5.
Lillard objects to story By Donna Bennett Central State president Bill Lillard addressed the weekly meeting of the Student Senate to dispell the rumors circulating around campus about the possibility of losing accredidation. "I've always thought rumors are the worst thing for an organization," said Lillard. "Central State is a fully accredited member of the North Central Association. "We're dealing with rumors. It's not unusual for a growing and changing institution like Central State to have spot visits (from the North Central Association)," he added. Lillard addressed some of his statements to the Jan. 28 issue of The Vista, which, he said, erroneously stated that Central State was about to either be placed on probation or lose accreditation. "Central State is not on probation," said Lillard. Lillard mentioned a front page story from a Dec. 10 issue, refer-
ring to the headline "Accreditation not in jeapordy." He quoted from the paper that the new chancellor of the Oklahoma Regents of Higher Education, Dr. Joe Leone, said that CSU's accreditation was not in danger. "The quality of instruction is the heart of an institution," said Lillard. "We're not second class. We're first rate. "Look at where I got my information," he added, as he held up a copy of the Dec. 10 edition of The Vista. In other Senate business, four senators were appointed Monday to fill vacancies left at the end of the fall semester. President Tim Reese asked for the appointment of Jack Russell, Lisa Henson, Jim Hill and Bo Summers. Reese also announced that several seats were still vacant. Resolution 82-106, concerning soap dispenser installation in the dormatories, was given to the housing committee. Resolution 82-101, calling for the creation of a scholarship to outstanding
senators, was brought up for reconsideration. The bill, which was defeated Feb. 1, was to have amendments added to it, changing the requirements. While the reconsideration motion passed, the bill was tabled until copies with the amendments were available to the Senate. The bill itself was also tabled.
Dr. Bill Lillard