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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1978)
dailyemerald Vol. 80, No. 68 r Eugene, Oregon 97403 December 7, 1978 1 SpiRft By MAHY hUHAN Of the Emerald The University Assembly ended the pos sibility of student access to course evalua tion data Wednesday, despite recent re commendations by the University Senate to allow limited student access. The Assembly voted instead to adopt a proposal which fails to make any provision for student access. The proposal, sponsored by English pro fessor Stanley Greenfield and History pro fessor Paul Hobo, replaces all previous course evaluation legislation. The faculty has made a sound ana sen sible decision,’ Hdbo said, ft came out just as I thought it would.” Hoi bo, a past chairer of the faculty per sonnel committee, said the proposal was intended to improve the process of faculty It's hard to imagine anything to sing about this week, but a group of senior citizens had no trouble getting decked out to warble “Tis the Season to Be Jolly and other cheerful yuietide carols in the EMU Wednesday. tmm I m Photo by Kath A*eo The Wrilamalane Kitchen Band from Springfield, wearing red and white gingham and playing home made instruments, entertained as part of the Christ mas Crafts Fair. Evaluation access chances killed evaluation, n aw not tocus on me siuaeni access issue." he added Harold McLean of the Student University Affairs Board, however, was disappointed at the outcome. “It was a mistake not to recruit those faculty members who are philosophically in support of student ac cess," he said. The Greenfield-Hoibo legislation elimi nates the Senate-approved concept of a standardized University-wide evaluation form, leaving questionaire format up to indi vidual departments. In addition, student evaluations of an in structor are limited to two "representative' courses taught by that teacher each year. It restricts evaluation data use to promo tion, tenure and review decisions, as well as tor the personal use of the instructor "in improving the effectiveness of teaching. In defense of the Senate's icwiiiiiiviiwiuw»u, ivivkvOI I OClRJ Iflctl ine question before the Assembly was whether the faculty would take the initiative to limit student access white recognizing the pri vacy rights of instructors, or go on record as opposing all access, forcing the State Legislature to intervene for an idea whoe time has come. McLean added that a continued program of secrecy is not consistent with academic freedom. Ronald Rousseve. speaking in favor of the Greenfield-Holbo motion, warned the Assembly that their decision could have a far-reaching impact in the State legisla ture.' He called the move tor student access and standardized evaluation forms a “pos sible wedge to induce conformity' in teach ing methods, and "subtle manipulation” with a potential impact on teaching diver sity. ureenneia saia me committee s motion was complicated, while his motion was smpie and clean, which he hoped would appeal to the Assembly. He referred to the publicity which focused on the student ac cess issue like "the tail wagging the dog. since the motion was directed at personnel committee use, not student use. Though open-ended comments or other appropriate evaluative material may strtl be solicited under the new legislation, only the use of a two-part statistical survey form with questions designed to elicit student perceptions on course quality and teaching effectiveness, is specified. ASUO President Ramon Herrera says it's sad that in 1978 the faculty would choose not to approve student access to student evaluations of courses. This defi nitely becomes our legislative priority." he says, for student lobbying at the 1979 state legislature T he Emerald People's UiHrty District board met Wednesday night to elect of ficers and adopt resolutions Students in outlying areas have a chance to serve on the EPUD committees. See Page 5. A new album created by local musi cians, poets, artists and photographers for neighboring residents has recently been released in Eugene. Sally Hodgekinson examines Lane County's Greatest Hits, on Pages 12 and 13.
