A week and half after faculty concerns about the Semester at Sea program became public, administrators and faculty continue to discuss the issue in the hopes of reconciling differences.
Two departments are currently formulating policies with regard to granting credit for classes taken through the Semester at Sea program. At an unrelated meeting of the Faculty Senate held yesterday, faculty members had the opportunity to discuss the program and potential concerns with Provost Gene Block and President John T. Casteen, III.
In December, the Universityannounced its partnership with Semester at Sea, a study abroad program that allows students to travel around the world on a cruise ship while taking classes.
According to several professors in the English department, their department passed a resolution Friday suspending approval of Semester at Sea courses until the administration provides more complete information about the program and faculty oversight.
On Monday night, the History department met to begin drafting a resolution that would address their concerns regarding how the faculty was informed about the program and create a procedure for evaluating the courses for the summer of 2006, History Prof. Erik Midelfort said.
The English department's resolution, which was voted on by faculty members who attended the department meeting on Friday, indicated the department's feelings as to how the chair, English Prof. Gordon Braden, should proceed in discussions with the administration, according to Braden.
"The resolution just instructed the department to suspend course approvals until we have full clarification of the rights and responsibilities of academic departments," English Prof. Michael Levenson said.
The resolution only applies to students seeking major credit for an English major, Levenson said.
Levenson said the department members felt they were not currently in a position to decide whether to approve the Semester at Sea courses.
"We were just looking for clarity as to the lines of authority and who has the final authority for approving courses under the English department rubric," Levenson said.
The pending resolutions from the History department involve how the department will make decisions regarding the granting of course credit from the upcoming summer voyage, according to History Prof. Herbert Braun.
"This is previously uncharted territory," Braun said. "We are trying to establish our own rules about how we are going to deal with the Semester at Sea courses."
In the past, the faculty from each department approved courses from study abroad programs before they were accepted for credit, according to Midelfort.
Midelfort said it is his understanding that in the case of Semester at Sea, the faculty was being asked to adopt the program without being thoroughly informed about it. Braun agreed, adding that some professors were concerned that students would not have access to adequate library and research facilities.
Administrators hope that most departments will participate in the program after changes are made, Block said.
At the Faculty Senate meeting held yesterday, both Block and Casteen spoke to members of the faculty about the adoption of Semester at Sea.
Block gave a presentation on why he thought the Semester at Sea program would fit well with the University's goals, according to Engineering Prof. Houston Wood, Faculty Senate chair. Block also said he thought the program might help promote the University to areas of the world where it is not currently well-known, Wood said.
Block apologized for a lack of communication with the faculty, saying if he had to do it again, he would have consulted more with faculty and departments, according to Wood.
"It was a healthy dialogue," Wood said. "I think it presented a platform for people to have continued discussions."
There was no discussion of the department resolutions, according to Wood.
Contacted after the meeting, Block said the lines of communication between the faculty and the administration on this and many issues needs to be revised.
"I take responsibility for the breakdown in communication," Block said "I regret that the faculty didn't get all the information they needed."
Despite the initial concerns, Block said he appreciates all the work the faculty has put into improving the program.
"The faculty has really stepped up to the plate with the Semester at Sea, and it is through their effort that the program will be a success," Block said.
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