Campus Appraises Advisory System
By Jerry Kern
Is KU's student advising system serving its purpose completely and efficiently? This question is being asked by students and faculty alike as a controversy about the subject arises.
The program, which involves all the KU faculty, has received complaints and thoughtful examination for several reasons. Many students feel that there is not enough communication between the adviser and the student. They do not know what to expect of the adviser. There is no uniform definition of the adviser's role.
THE REAL PROBLEM and the complaints seem to be more prevalent in the College of Liberal Arts. This is understandable since the College is the largest school with the largest number of students.
The College has many more courses and a wider variety of requirements to be aware of. Students have said that because of specialization, many advisers know their field well, but are unable to help the student with requirements in other areas.
"I have not been aware that students have been this displeased with the advisory system. We professors are always available for advice for the journalism student," said Calder Pickett, professor of journalism.
"I HAVE HANDLED all kinds of student problems—even those of romance. However, the student must realize that the faculty member also has a life to lead. It is always difficult to do an adequate job of advising when you have a stack of papers to grade, telephones to answer, and classes to teach," he said.
Kenneth Lenzen, professor of mechanics and aerospace engineering said:
The Engineering School's offices are always open to students who want to come in and discuss their problems about classes. The problem has been, however, that the students won't come in. You practically have to twist their arm to finally get them to come in and talk. We can't help students who don't want to be helped."
ALTHOUGH THERE is some lack of communication between the student and his adviser, the smaller schools such as the Journalism and Engineering Schools are not as concerned with problems of course recommendation and school requirements. With the smaller size there is more efficiency, and all the advisers are oriented to that particular field of study.
In the College is seems to be different. According to one junior coed, her advisers seemed to know only their field. They were ignorant of such things as language requirements which are basic in completing graduation.
Glenn Anderson, a sophomore in the College from Shawnee Mission, says, "I actually believe my adviser just doesn't have the time to do the students justice. When I first met with him, he didn't even know that he was my adviser."
Anderson believes that the most important time to establish good communication between the student and adviser is in the first meeting when the student is a freshman. Then there will be better communication, because the student will have a higher opinion of his adviser, he said.
BOB WELLS, sophomore transfer from Hutchinson Junior College, says, "When enrolling, my adviser asked me if I had my
Landheer to KU Sociology Staff
Bartholomew Landheer, National Science Foundation Senior Foreign Science Fellow, will join the sociology department in February as Visiting Professor of Sociology for the spring and fall semesters of '66.
Landheer studied law at the University of Leyden, and received the Doctor of Social Sciences degree cum laude, from the Political Science University of Vienna.
enrollment card made out. I said 'Yes.' He then asked me if I was qualified to take these courses, and I replied 'I think so.' He signed the card and a I haven't seen him since."
David Paretsky, professor of microbiology, said, "I believe that a student comes for advice because he wants it. However, many times I find myself talking into dry air. Many students already seem to know what they want. Sometimes I wonder what the role of an adviser is," he said.
Carroll Clark, professor of sociology, has been teaching at KU since 1930. He recalls that the present system of advising is much better than it was shortly after World War I when he was a student at KU. In those days, he says, if an adviser liked you, he put you in his class; if not, he put you somewhere else.
"HOWEVER, THERE is bound to be a variation in the amount of attention given by different instructors—especially in the College of Liberal Arts where there are so many. But most of the instructors I know try to do their best in advising their students," he said.
"The College is over-specializing. It is over-eager to have the student become prematurely specialized. Instead, the College of Liberal Arts should broaden a student's education. This can obviously cause problems when trying to advise students," he said.
Daily Kansan Thursday, October 28, 1965
SUA Sponsors Literary Figures
Big names in literature will be appearing on campus in a series sponsored by the SUA and English Department. The series, running from November through May, will feature modern American poets and novelists.
The new freshman chemistry program is going very well, C. E. Bricker, head of the program, says.
Frosh Chem Praised
The program offers philosophy of chemistry as well as quantitative work for one-year chemistry students. The course for those who plan to continue chemistry, 21-22, is a more analytical one.
Mycenae to be Topic
Professor George Mylanos, noted archaeologist from the University of Washington in St. Louis, will be the guest Humanities Lecturer on November 9.
He will speak on the history of the discoveries found in the ancient city of Mycenae. Mycenae was the capital city of Greece during the time of the Trojan War.
9th & Indiana
STILL TIME
(Before the weekend)
at 14th and Mass.
across from Central Jr. High
New 1-Hour Dry Cleaning No Extra Charge
ONE HOUR MARTINIZING . . . the most in quality dry cleaning is in the "PERFECTED" one-hour process . by using the newest, most modern equipment, and applying our own spotting techniques, deepcleaning methods and carefully finishing your garments. ONE-HOUR MARTINIZING ASSURES YOU:
★ Odorless Cleaning
★ Garments Stay Fresh Longer
Sanitary Clothes
★ Cleaner, Brighter Garments
★ Gentle, Individual Treatment for Your Fine Fabrics
1407 MASS.
— FREE PARKING —