MAKING THE GRADE-XII
Honor students too often typecast
(Editor's note; This is one of a series of articles about grades and grading systems at KU and the problems they create.)
By Cheryl Hentsch
Contrary to popular opinion, the College Honors Program is not a sacred cult worshipping the grade A. Neither is the program an "elite" organization or group.
Robert Cobb, assistant dean in the College, said, "Today's honors student may be tomorrow's probationary student, and today's probationary student may be tomorrow's honors program student.
"We would rather describe the program as a collection of intellectual opportunities designed for students who exhibit academic potential, discipline and motivation." Cobb said.
Like many so-called prima donnas, the honors student has been typecast as a grade grabber or a learning yearner; however, there is no single type of honors program student. Many inaccurate observers state that honor students are all A or B students.
Honor students generally agree with Sarah Paretsky, Lawrence
junior, who says the "typical" honors program student is an amalgamation of many personalities. Of course, some of them will undoubtedly place most of their effort on making the grade.
"It is not uncommon," said Cobb, "for honors students to have Cs and Ds, and some Fs recorded—and in honors courses, too."
There are three criteria for admission to the program; only one is based on grades. Honors program participants are students who reached the final selection test for Watkins, Summerfield and National Merit Scholarship competitions.
Others participate on the basis of their scores on KU entrance and placement examinations and other information. In subsequent semesters after the freshman term, students join the program on the basis of their KU performance.
Two-thirds of the selection criteria are determined by an individual's potential to learn and his background in academic knowledge. "What educators really need
is a test to accurately measure a student's motivation to learn and the extent of his self-discipline." Cobb said.
Invitations to participate in the College Honors Program are sent to entering freshmen. The program is partly a recruiting system to encourage intelligent students to come to KU.
More than 800 students have taken honors program courses since its beginning in 1955. Participation in the program is voluntary.
Once a student enters the honors program, he can remain or leave depending on his own discretion. Grades received in honors courses do not decide whether a student continues in the program, as far as program administrators are concerned. If a student decides to leave, he does on his own initiative. The grade he receives in honors courses may be a determining factor in his decision.
The honors program assumes that its students have a high potential and ability to learn. This should mean that an honors program student could make an A or B in other university courses, barring lapses in initiative or self-
discipline. These assumptions do not, however, presume that honors students will automatically get an A or B in their honors courses.
A frequent statement made by some students—honors students included—is that it is easier to make a good grade in honors courses than in regular sections.
Administrators admit that this is possibly true, but they cite different reasons than the student for this statement.
Some students say getting a grade in an honors course is often easier than in regular sections because instructors grade easier and sometimes don't test their students on basic material which they expect regular sections to know. Sometimes the honors students don't really have the basic knowledge required in regular courses.
A moneyman with warmth
By Emery Goad
The University employee with one of the longest service records, a short, grey-headed man, works one room from Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe.
He came to KU in 1923 after his graduation to work for Chancellor Ernest Lindley and rose to the position as executive secretary to the University and vice-chancellor of finance, which he holds today.
RAYMOND B. NICHOLS Vice-chancellor of finance
Like his wife and his son, Nichols has been a member of Phi Beta Kappa since school days at KU. He has also continued as an advisor to Sachem, senior men's honorary fraternity, of which he was a member.
RAYMOND B. NICHOLS peers over his income ledger or multicolumn calculator and says, "I like to watch KU students grow up."
Nichols smiles when he talks of his family. "My son was graduated from KU in 1960 as a Rhodes Scholar," he said. Currently Raymond Jr., is a professor of political science at the University of California at Santa Cruz.
cided I would like to try administrative work," he said.
TAKING OFF His GLASSES Nichols explains the deep feeling he carries for KU. But to explain his "school days" Nichols says, "That is ancient history."
Though he graduated with a degree in journalism and even worked a year as editorial writer for a Kansas City paper, "I de-
Still the vice-chancellor enjoys recalling the progress of the University. The enrollment, multiplied by four times, the graduate school, expanded research programs, and the honors program, all come to mind.
When Nichols was the Kansan and Jayhawk editors he met and liked people. "My most pleasant opportunity today is watching students grow up at KU," he says.
Leaning back in his chair and looking out the window which overlocks the Campanile, Nichols explains that under Chancellors Lindley, Malott, Murphy, and Wescoe he has always been a man of figures.
"I try to find every dollar to operate KU," he says. "And he works hard looking for that dollar." an associate said.
AS HE PREPARES the university budget, a year-round job, students, teachers, deans, administrators, legislatures, the Board of Regents, and the governor are all his "bosses."
Nichols likes to see things done on time. "Those budget figures are already 12 minutes late from the computer," he remarked one morning impatiently.
When asked if he were a "yes"
man, Nichols replied, "I don't
say no enough."
Even though the job of vice-chancellor is year-round and many times round-the-clock, he still finds time to work at home.
Siribott was elected at a general meeting of the club Saturday night in the Kansas Union.
Soreach Siribott, Cambodia senior, has been elected president of the KU International Club for the fall semester.
International Club elects
"I like to take care of maintenance in the yard," he said.
Other officers elected: Mario Rosito, Guatemala junior, vicepresident; Linda Speaker, Leavenworth junior, secretary; Harry Sakki, Greece freshman, treasurer, and Lois Stutz, Topeka freshman, social chairman.
"But usually I am busy most of the time," he clarified.
Some educators say administrators are constantly faced with the "great dilemma of classical extremes," whether to enroll a student in courses which will be over his head or place him in classes which will bore him to death.
KU-Y interviews for Rock Chalk are set tonight
Interviews for executive production and business staff positions for next year's Rock Chalk Revue will be held tomorrow evening in the Kansas Union.
The time and location will be announced to those students who sign up for the interviews in the KU-Y office, Kansas Union, before 5 p.m. tomorrow or contact Will Price at VI 2-6828.
"If we talk about English, a field I am familiar with," said Cobb, "there is a great deal of difference between English course 1A, 1 and 1H. The purpose and subject matter of each class varies. 1A is principally remedial; 1 covers fundamentals; and 1H challenges students to use their skills creatively in new forms and situations.
"An intelligent and ambitious student who has drilled year after year in English grammar, for example, might become bored and disinterested in English 1A or 1 if he covered the same material again. Consequently, he might find it more difficult to make a passing grade in these courses than if he enrolled in a 1H section. 1H material might be easier for an honor student because it is new, even if it is 'over his head'." Cobb said.
the subject. The courses I make my best grades in are subjects I am most interested in. Consequently, I find these courses easier." Miss Razak said.
Nancy Razak, Wichita senior, commented that she found few, if any, of her honors program courses extremely easy, although some were less interesting than many regular courses.
Generally, honor students agree that the effect an honors course has on a student's study habits and his attitude toward making a good grade varies with the individual. "I don't believe I consciously study harder to make a grade in an honors course, just because it is an honors course, than I do for a rregular section," added Miss Razak.
"The ease or difficulty one has in making a grade in a course, whether it is an honors section or not, depends upon his interest in
How grades are given in honors courses depends on the instructor. It is an erroneous assumption and a mistake to discuss whether an A in an honors section is equivalent to an A or B in a regular section, said one honors instructor. The subject matter and demands of each course are not the same.
"I think the only way you can fairly distinguish between grades received in honors sections and those in regular courses is to simply place the word 'honors' after the course grade on transcripts. If the honors program has achieved suitable recognition and reputation, then this should be sufficient distinction and indication of the caliber of a student's work," said Miss Razak.
Few educators would eliminate grades from the honors sections while other courses use them. "Although we agree that in many instances students place too much emphasis on making a grade," said Dean Cobb, "to remove grades from the honors program or to replace them with another system such as 'pass-fail' while the rest of the school uses grades would only serve to further differentiate between honors courses and regular sections.
"This would be in error because, in actuality, there is only a fine line between the two and between honors program students and other students.
er students. "If the College ever changes to another grading system, then the honors program will probably follow," Cobb said.
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Daily Kansan Tuesday, May 17, 1966
SUA
and People-to-People Present
American Students Abroad Forum Professor Laird will speak on "Travel Behind The Iron Curtain"
7:30 Wednesday Kansas Union
May 18th