Faculty Senate: DIVERSITY REQUIREMENT, UNDERGRAD EDUCATION 
                LEAD SENATE SLATE


by Linda Charles

Several student issues rank among the top priorities of new 
Faculty Senate President Ron Peters, professor of psychology. 

During the coming year, Peters said the senate will be 
developing implementation procedures for the new diversity 
requirement, reviewing the academic progress of student-
athletes, improving the quality of undergraduate education, 
examining special gradepoint average requirements and 
assisting in several reviews.

Diversity requirement: Last spring, the senate approved a 
three-credit U.S. and a three-credit international diversity 
requirement. Peters said this year the senate will work with 
colleges and departments to decide how the requirement should 
be implemented in 1997. Most of the senate's work will be 
through its Curriculum Committee. 

Student-athletes: Peters said it's important for faculty 
outside the athletic department to remain involved in 
reviewing the academic progress of student-athletes. During 
the coming year, he said he would like to see the committee 
that conducts those reviews become "a real presence" on 
campus.

Undergraduate education: One way to improve undergraduate 
education, Peters said, is to improve instructor evaluation 
procedures. Such evaluations would provide a framework to 
assess effective teaching and let faculty know that teaching 
is valued at the university, he said. Last year, a senate ad 
hoc committee was appointed to study instructor evaluation 
and this year senate committees will review its 
recommendations.

Peters said he also would like to find early ways to identify 
students who have problems and are at risk of dropping out. 
Tests within the first three or four weeks of class might 
turn up students with difficulties. Peters added it's 
important that the university not lower standards for the 
sake of retention. "Rather, we need to help students 
succeed."

Peters also would like to see fund-raising monies earmarked 
for a new teaching building. Ideally, the building would 
contain both large and small classrooms and offer the latest 
in high-tech advancements. The building would provide faculty 
from all colleges an attractive physical environment in which 
to teach, he added.

Special gradepoints: Over the years, several departments have 
established specific gradepoint requirements for various 
programs. These gradepoints can result in "orphan students," 
who fail to make the grade in one class and no longer can 
work toward their majors. Peters said he would like the 
senate to establish guidelines for implementing special 
gradepoints and review those that already exist.

Reviews: Peters noted the senate will become involved in 
several reviews during the coming year, including the 
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) review of 
intercollegiate athletics; the North Central Accreditation 
review of the university as a whole; and the State Board of 
Regents review of the Peat Marwick audit from several years 
ago.

_____
contact:  Linda Charles, Internal Communications, (515) 294-
3129
updated:  9-1-95