Faculty struggles with grade inflation, looks for solutions
By Tina Hong | April 4, 2001Many University students have felt that at some point during their college careers they received a grade that was better than what they might have deserved.
Many University students have felt that at some point during their college careers they received a grade that was better than what they might have deserved.
(This is the second in a four-part series examining the way members of the University view the honor system.) Foreign students are a significant minority within the University community.
A representative from the University Budget Office presented proposals for tuition rate increases for the 2001-02 school year at last night's Student Council meeting. Melody Bianchetto, director of the budget, told Council that the Budget Office will suggest to the Board of Visitors on Friday an increase of 2 percent in tuition for in-state graduate students and 4.8 percent for both undergraduate and graduate out-of-state students. In-state undergraduate tuition rates were frozen by the General Assembly in the 1995-96 session and will not increase next year. In addition to the tuition increases, the Budget Office proposed an increase in auxiliary fees of 7.8 percent applied to all students.
In a long debate last night, Student Council discussed a housing proposal by the Enrollment Committee to eliminate incoming first years' choice between McCormick Road and Alderman Road housing. The Enrollment Committee is led by two associate provosts and consists of administrators from various University offices.
A study recently released by the Office of Institutional Assessment and Studies shows that University students devote less time than University officials expect them to spend on studying and homework. The University study, "How Undergraduates Spend Their Time," evaluated how students in the class of 1999 spent their free time over the course of their four years at the University.
Daylight-saving time may not be the only reason behind lighter evening hours. By conducting a night tour and by building more lights and safety telephones, University administrators plan to address safety concerns raised by the Student Council Safety Concerns Committee. The committee recently released a report designating problem areas on and off Grounds. The University's Security and General Safety Committee will "use Student Council's report as a basis for the walking tour," said William Wilkerson, the committee's chair and Comerce professor. The tour, planned for the night of April 10, will examine areas such as Scott Stadium and North Grounds to determine what actions are needed. But the committee already is taking proactive steps to deal with safety concerns. To increase safety, we recently have "added lighting around Emmet Street and have participated in making a sidewalk along Whitehead Road near Scott Stadium," Wilkerson said.
Although the stock market's recent downward spiral and news of a pending economic slowdown may have far-reaching implications in some areas, national education officials expect effects to be moderate in financial aid for higher education.
Need medical care? Take a number. Because of a shortage in the number of nurses at the University Hospital, one to two patients with non-emergency illnesses and injuries are being turned away on average each day and told to try back later.
No more rushing, no more pledging and no more partying. At least at fraternities and sororities at California's Santa Clara University, where it was announced last month that all Greek organizations will be phased out over the next three years. However, officials say this is unlikely to happen at the University. After a five-month evaluation of the Greek system, Rev.
Student Council will vote tonight on a resolution that would endorse the elimination of incoming first-year students' choice in housing.
Ambassador Sotos C. Zackheos, the Cypriot representative to the United Nations, spoke yesterday to students in Minor Hall on the role of Cyprus in the United Nations and the European Union. Zackheos, who represents the Greek Cypriot government of the Republic of Cyprus, addressed a crowd of about 60 students. "Cyprus is situated in a very sensitive position in the world," Zackheos said. He gave a brief overview of the history of the island, which is located about 50 miles off the coast of Turkey and 500 miles from Greece in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus has long been the object of conflict between rival powers. A former British colony, Cyprus gained independence in 1960.
Fashion conscious adolescents of the world beware. The Internet experience has blossomed just in time for spring 2001 colors.
Student Council's Appropriations Committee allocated an unusually high $572,484.00 to 160 Contracted Independent Organizations for the student activity fee appropriations. Council received requests from 170 student groups, which totaled $788,650.98.
Audience members attending the opening ceremonies of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month might not have expected to watch traditional Asian dances performed to the tune of Christina Aguilera and 'N Sync.
Ahhh, April in Charlottesville. The Dave Matthews Band will be playing. The Foxfield horses will be running.
In the world of academia, students aren't the only ones trying to make the grade. On March 30, U.S.
Last night at the first meeting of the University Judiciary Committee's new term, the body voted unanimously to approve the revisions to the Standards of Conduct. The University's 12 Standards of Conduct describe behavior generally prohibited to enrolled students.
In the midst of religious violence, a young Middle Eastern girl is shot. The applicant's life-changing experience impresses upon her that religion should unify, not divide, and she expresses this in her admissions essay to the University.
As part of efforts to reorganize and streamline the University's upper-level administration, the Board of Visitors' executive committee agreed last Thursday to combine two administrative positions in the University's Health System. Voting in favor of a recommendation from the Board's Health Affairs Committee and President John T.
In a plot twist worthy of the dramatic masterworks it produces, Shakespeare on the Lawn recently learned that they have lost the performance space for their spring play to the Dave Matthews Band. The student dramatic organization booked the Student Activities Building last August for April 19_21 for its production of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" by British playwright Tom Stoppard. But the announcement in February of the Dave Matthews Band concert in neighboring Scott Stadium on April 21 nixed the performance planned for that Saturday night because the area would be blocked off for concert use.