University Daily Kansan
Friday, February 1. 1974
2
Many Disfavor Pass-Fail System
Editor's Note: This is the last in a series of grading practices at the University of Colorado.
By JILL WILLIS
Kensan Staff Reporter
Although the pass-fail system was established for the benefit of students, it has proved to be more of a disadvantage than an advantage.
Ambrose Saricks, professor of history and vice chancellor for academic affairs, said Tuesday that the pass-fail system was a good alternative to the standard grading system if it was used within proper limitations.
"The system is not really used by a large number of students along the lines it was contemplated. A lot of students use it to take care of requirements in their fields," he said.
**VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL schools**
have a wide faculties with favor on the pass-fail
system. be sure to apply
Saricks said the original purpose of the passfall system was to permit students to take courses outside their majors without having to compete with majors in that field.
Evelyn Senecal, admissions director of the School of Law, said that the school wasn't opposed to students taking courses in philosophy or business education; students to take an exp of them.
Senal said the law school had decided to permit an undergraduate student to have an AP exam.
"Anything above that and we will adjust those credits to a C," she said.
The law school understands the philosophy behind pass-fail, she said, but is not a teacher.
in brief
Debate Teams Win
Five University of Kansas debate teams earned honors last week in junior and senior divisions at the Kansas State College at Pittsburg debate tournament. In addition, four KU debaters earned individual speaker honors and six KU students received the tournament to have all of its teams earn honors. Next week KU teams travel to Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Caucus to Meet
The third annual convention of the Kansas Women's Political Caucus will be Feb. 2-3 in the Kansas Union, Jean Westwood, former Democratic Party chairman; Pat Wilkens, former press aide to Sen. George McGovern; and Milie Jeffries of the United States National Senate, leader leaders. Also scheduled are discussion sessions with state Sen. Robert Bennett and Atty. Gen. Vern Miller. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Series Televised
"Public Dialogue: Government-Citizen Communication for Community Development in the Gulf," a program broadcast over Sandwater Cablesvision at 8 p.m. Monday evening, Jan 28- April 1. The programs were developed and moderated by Paul Friedman, assistant professor of speech and drama, and Bof Frank, Lawrence graduate student.
Relays Committee
The University of Kansas Relays Committee is accepting applications from freshmen who are interested in becoming members of the committee.
Applications must be submitted to the track office in Allen Field Bouse by 5 p.m. Monday. For further information contact the office at 864-3486.
KENNETH KAMMEYER, professor of
nucleology, to the Department's
disciplinary panel on the pyelium system.
Kammerney, who serves on a graduate school admissions board, said persons looked more kindly upon the familiar letter grading system, especially when there was an excess of pass-fail grades. He said there was ambiguity in a pass-fail grade.
There is also a disadvantage for the student who decides to use the pass-fail system in a course and ends up getting an A, Kammerey said.
He said the purpose of the pass-fail system was to permit students to take a wider range of courses. Kammeyer said, "You don't want I sure the option was used properly."
OSCAR HAUGH, professor of education, said, "The advantage of such a system is to record only the positive things and eliminate the negative. The thing that disturbs me about the pass-fail system is that it does no indication of the level of the student."
Haugh said there were several teachers in its department who voted to install the new kitchen.
"Some teachers use it as a cop-out. They don't want to make a decision between an A, B or C."
George Worth, chairman of the English department, said professors needed a better criterion than a pass-fail grade to evaluate a student.
"GENERALLY SPEAKING, we're moving away from the pass-fail system."
Robert Burton, a lecturer in Eastern Civilization and East Asian studies, said the pass-fail system was a good alternative to the letter uralding system.
"The students I've had are no better and no worse than graded students. There are some who goof, but there are some graded students who also goof," he said.
Burton said the pass-fail system simplified the teacher's job of grading and learning.
A professional school shouldn't criticize a student for taking pass-fail courses, he said.
LAUREL, DEFÖE, Prairie Village senior,
sad, "I've taken three pass-fail courses and
I wish I hadn't. Everything I've taken pass-fail
in. I would have got a B.in."
Defoe said that she was applying to law schools and that the pass-fail credits caused misleading figures in her credit hours and her grade-point average.
State Park Funding Needed To Meet Clinton Completion
Appropriations from the Kansas Legislature will be needed during this session or next if basic recreational facilities in Clinton State Park are to be completed in time for the opening of Clinton Reservoir, according to Lynn Burris, director of the Kansas Park Resources Authority.
Burris told members of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce yesterday that development of the state park should be started during this calendar year because the reservoir would probably be ready for public use in 1978.
However, Governor Docking "recommend funding for Clinton State Park in his budget proposal for fiscal 1975. The park resources authority will make an agreement on the Way's Ways and Means Committee for an appropriation of about $231,000. Burris said
"We may not succeed in getting an apprehension this session," he said. "Time is over."
But the appeal will at least bring the need for funding to the attention of state legislators for action "without fall" during the next legislative session, Burris said.
The request for approximately $281,000
includes about $190,000 for the development of access roads, boat ramps and other capital improvements and about $80,000 for operating costs, including equipment to upgrade and develop parts of the landscape. Operating costs will probably level out at about $50,000 a year after the park is developed, he said.
surris emphasized the need for access roads in the park by the time the reservoir is opened to the public because of the snow coming on weekends once the park opens.
Without the roads, he said, people will drive across the landscape, creating trail systems. "It's a great way to connect."
The total cost for developing campgrounds, a swimming beach, water supplies, a sewer system and a complete road system, all of which will take 6-10 years, will be about $4 million, he said. The cost will be equally between federal and state funds.
The park is the 19th state park project in Kansas and will cover about 1,000 acres on the north shore of the reservoir. Burris said in the park that it would be left in a natural state.
Karl Taylor, Kingman junior, said he took the pass-fall option in some classes because he was worried about his grades in his other classes.
"I think, in essence, that the theory is a good one, but it has a few undesirable features."
Five other areas around the reservoir will be developed for limited public use by the DNR.
"I didn't want to spend so much time in one class that I hurt my other grades," he said.
Taylor said he was planning to apply to graduate school.
"IVE HEARD that it will hurt my chances of getting into grad school. I'm kind of worried about a couple of classes I took that way," he said.
Joris Schleckey, Russell freshman, said, "I don't take pass-ball because rumors was too big." The team's best player was
Schlaegack said he would like to take pass-fail courses "because there are some courses I'd like to take to out of them because I can't be forced to get what the teacher wants."
Commencement Ceremony To Be Briefer This Year
Commencement exercises may be different this year but the end result is still the same.
This time the process will be shorter than ever. Seniors won't walk across the stage, and doctoral hoodings will take place in a separate ceremony. Graduation is May 20.
"What it does is shorten the ceremony by about an hour and a half," Pat Neumstra, Salina senior and class president, said Wednesday.
The commencement committee also is trying to present the actual diplomas on the day of commencement. For the past five years graduates have gotten their diplomas in the mail four to five weeks after commencement.
Robert Adams, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a member of the commencement committee, is the problem in trying to process the diplomas.
The committee gets the grades of graduates on June 17 and by June 20 has to eliminate all those who failed courses, or in some way lack the necessary requirements. Including the School of Law, there will be 3,000 diplomas to process, Adams said.
There will be only one main ceremony commencement night. Hooding of doctoral candidates for the PhD from the College will receive their hoods, which are worn on the back of the commencement gown, at 1 p.m. The School's Law and Law Center ceremony for the PhD will take place at 9 a.m.
A senior-parent dinner will be from 5 to 7 p.m.
Chancellor Archie R. Dykes will have a reception for graduates, their parents and returning alumni from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at his house.
Commencement exercises will begin at 8 p.m. with the processional down the hill.
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THE LAWRENCE CHAPTER OF the National Organization of Women will meet at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont St. Sharon Drysdale, will speak on the status of women's physical education, will speak on the status of women's intercollegiate athletics.
THE HUMAN SEXUALITY COMMITTEE of the Commission of the Status of Women will present the first in a series of sexual awareness seminars from 2-5 p.m. Sunday in the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union. The theme for the first seminar will be "Ego and Libido: Sexuality and Identity."