UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, November 8, 1996
5A
2.1 检测试剂盒的检验方法
Tenure review takes time, dedication
Students should understand steps professors take
By Eric Weslander Kansan staff writer
The application for tenure is a campaign that takes boxes of paperwork and more than a year to complete.
Therefore, when students are quoted saying "Tenure schmenure," as one student did earlier this semester in the Kansan, many faculty and administrators feel the need to make students aware of the lengthy, tedious process they know as tenure review.
"I think that students should be informed as to the nature and the significance of the entire review process," said Stanley Lombardo, chairman of the department of classics. "It's far from automatic."
Traditionally, after six years at the University of Kansas, faculty members may receive tenure with the promotion from assistant professor to associate professor.
However, professors must undergo careful examination before receiving tenure. Professional school faculty are reviewed by their schools and the University, while College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty are reviewed by their departments, the college and the University. Candidates can be rejected at any level of the process.
A 24-page evaluation form is the heart of the tenure review process. The majority of the form is devoted to evaluating the candidate's accomplishments in three areas: teaching, research and service.
Teaching evaluations include peer evaluations, student evaluations, the syllabuses of all courses the faculty member has taught and a personal statement of the candidate's teaching philosophy.
Research evaluation is based on the nominee's published work, grant activity and research honors or awards. In addition, significant members of the candidate's field are asked to write letters of evaluation, a process that must begin the spring before evaluations start.
The service section of the form evaluates the candidate's service to the University or to his field, including committee membership and awards for service.
Many candidates supplement the forms with other examples of their work, such as videotapes or slides.
"Literally, people send boxes of material," said Associate Provost Sandra Gautt, who handles the applications when they reach the University level. "The important thing is the rigor at which the dossiers are reviewed."
She said each committee wrote a recommendation and was as meticulous as the previous committee.
"I think students might think that it occurs at the departmental level and that it's just sign-off at the other two levels," Gautt said. "I can assure them that it's not
"It's a pretty rigorous process.My guess is that people who spend all of that time and effort are not likely to then sit back and rest on their laurals."
department of communications studies
sign-off."
Tenure is protection of ideas,not faculty says one KU professor but students disagree
Gaultt said each dossier was reviewed by the 12 members of the University Committee on Promotions and Tenure. Candidates who pass the University committee's examination receive tenure.
Howard Sypher, chairman of the department of communication studies, said the extensive work required to complete the application often indicated that the candidate was committed to the University.
"It's a pretty rigorous process," he said. "My guess is that people who spend all of that time and effort are not likely to then sit back and rest on their laurels."
By Lindsey Henry Kansan staff writer
"Tenure is protection of ideas, not faculty." Harrington said. "Tenure is good for students because of the extensive rigor in evaluations. Tenured faculty are of high quality, and the process of tenure makes sure the faculty hired are good faculty."
The question of whether tenure serves as protection for academic expression or as a shield for bad teaching receives disparate answers from KU administrators, faculty and students.
Yet several KU students contend tenure is just one way professors can conceal their laziness in the classroom.
Recently, Provost David Shulenburger and Chancellor Robert Hemenway went to bat for tenure with the Board of Regents. The result: a clause in the University's policy for faculty evaluations that allows individual departments to define acceptable levels of performance in the classroom. Had the Regents had their way, one policy would have been universal across all departments.
Robert Harrington, professor of education, psychology and research and president of the KU chapter of the American Association of University Professors, said misconceptions about tenure could get out of hand.
Kelsey Roberts, Dodge Center, Minn.,
sophomore, said a negative experience with a tenured faculty member during her freshman year altered her perception of the process.
Harrington said he disagreed.
"I have no fundamental problem with people being tenured, but this professor was unprepared, confused, late to class and completely unprofessional," Roberts said. "I have a problem when tenured professors cannot be changed because tenure keeps professors here so long their ideas become stale."
When a person has gained a level of respect inside and outside of the University to be tenured, I've found that these are people with high energy levels, something that is hard to shut off," Harrington said. "We shouldn't discontinue a program that is working."
Shulenburger, who was tenured in the early 1980s, said tenure allowed professors with new or radical ideas the freedom they deserved.
"Tenure protects speech in the classroom," he said. "It moves faculty ahead; I don't want faculty to hold back."
He said unlike many other universities, the University of Kansas had dismissed two tenured faculty members since 1987. One was dismissed for poor performance and the other for sexual harassment.
Students should be more involved in the procedure to grant tenure, as well as the procedure to dismiss a tenured professor, said Adam Mayer, Baton Rouge, La., senior, a former student senator.
"The students are the ones that sit in the class day after day, but they aren't the ones granting tenure," Mayer said. "Tenure should be based only on effectiveness in the classroom. Just because they publish some books or write some article doesn't mean they should be above the law."
Educators to receive honors tomorrow
By Jeff Ruby
Kansan staff writer
Teach well and you shall be rewarded.
Mortar Board, a 40-member honor society for KU seniors, has honored five faculty members as the University of Kansas' 1966 Outstanding Educators.
Bhavi Shah, Wichita senior and Mortar Board president, said that each year Mortar Board selected five faculty members who exemplified the ideals of an outstanding educator inside and outside of the classroom.
"Individual members usually nominate a professor who has made a lasting impression during their experience at the University," Shah said.
This year's winners are Robert J. Antonio, professor of sociology; Elizabeth C. Banks, associate professor of classics; Diane Frome Loeb, associate professor of speech-language-hearing; Val H. Smith, associate professor of environmental studies; and Beverly Davenport Sypher, professor of communication studies.
Each Mortar Board member is allowed to nominate one teacher, at which time the organization casts its votes for five eventual winners.
Chuck Marsh, associate professor of journalism, and faculty adviser of Mortar Board, said the members of the organization gave enthusiastic endorsements of their nominees prior to the election.
"I look forward to the meeting when they elect Outstanding Educators more than any other all year," because I learn so much about good teaching," he said. "The passion that students show when talking about their professors is so moving."
Three of the 1996 Outstanding Educators — Antonio, Banks and Sypher — previously have won the award. Mortar Board does not nominate educators who have won in the last three years.
Pat Linder, Wichita senior, nominated Antonio for the award. Linder said he chose the sociology professor because of his ability to identify with each of his students.
"He takes an interest in individual students, but he gives equal attention to each of us," he said. "He always tries to make ideas relate to every person. He really considers each student."
Val Smith, a first-time winner, said the accolade completely shocked him, and had given him greater visibility on campus.
"When I found out, for about 20 minutes I was speechless," he said. "It's the highest praise I've ever had in my career as an educator. Students across campus are coming up and congratulating me, asking. 'Are you Dr. Smith?"
The five winners will be honored by Mortar Board with certificates during halftime at tomorrow's Kansas-Kansas State football game.
Fights less common in college
Students say they've learned to get along
By Megan Jordan
Kansan staff writer
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
This taurt, along with the conflicts that provoked it, has been left in the past for most college students. And several KU students said they did not fight with friends often, but, if they did, they fought about things that would not have been problems in high school.
Kristin Volkland, Stainwae senior, said most fights came from living with others.
Paying bills, giving roommates space or taking out the trash caused complaints, she said.
Although she occasionally fights with her roommates, Volkland said she did not run into conflict as often as she did in high school.
David Peterson, Overland Park senior, said he had not had a major fight with a friend while in college.
"You learn ways to deal with problems besides yelling," he said. "You learn to control your temper, and you learn not to take things seriously that are trivial. Things that might have bothered me when I was 17 or 18 just don't burgee me anymore."
By the time students reach college, many have learned to deal with conflict, and when
they do fight, serious issues usually are at stake, said Sandra Wolf, psychiatrist and social worker for Counseling and Psychological Services. When fights occur, Wolf suggested waiting until both people were calm before discussing the problem.
"If they are angry, they still want to fight and win," she said. "Wait until both have had the opportunity to think about it, and hopefully they will be more objective."
Students should agree to listen and try to understand each other. Wolf said.
Amy Golub, Stilwell junior, said most students could handle conflict, but it was easier not to fight at all.
"It's just not worth the time anymore," she said.
By Erin Rooney
Kansan staff writer
Raffle to offer Kansas-Texas tickets
For the Kansas-Texas football game on Nov. 16, two people will have the opportunity to join Chancellor Robert Hemenway in coveted seats on the 50-yard line.
Mortar Board, a senior honors society, is having a raffle to benefit the Head Start Community Children's Center, 925 Vermont St. Raffle tickets went on sale Sunday for $1 and will be available for purchase in the Kansas Union on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The prize is a pregame meeting with Hemenway at the Cancellor's residence
and two tickets on the 50-yard line for the Texas game. The winner will be announced at 6 p.m. Thursday at Johnny's Tavern, 401 N. 2nd St.
"The goals of our organization are service, scholarship and leadership, so this project is to help fulfill the ideals of Mortar Board honors society," said Bhavi Shah, Wichita senior and president of Mortar Board. "Next semester we'll donate service time to Head Start after we've raised this money."
And the Lawrence Head Start needs this help. According to regulations set up by the national Department of Health and Human Services, 20 percent of Head
Start's budget must come from the community.
"People who support us with finances, supplies and time keep us going," said Charline Freitag, director of the Lawrence Head Start. "The people in Lawrence are really supportive of the program and that's good."
Freiag said that the funds donated by Mortar Board will go to purchase a laminating machine and help finance holiday events for the children.
Sometimes these are the only holiday activities many of the children have, she said.