by Justin
Boulmay
Staff Writer
Representatives of the Faculty Senate addressed the Student
Government Association Tuesday night to clear up what they
called “misconceptions” regarding faculty office
hours.
The two senators, Dr. Edwin T. Arnold and Dr. Kenneth B.
Muir, said the Faculty Senate voted last fall to make the
number of office hours faculty members held more flexible
without abolishing time in the office at all. Each department
would be responsible for determining its own policies, he
said.
“The faculty doesn’t want to eliminate hours,”
Muir said. Many of Muir’s opening comments came as
a rebuttal to a Nov. 18 editorial in The Appalachian that
said the Faculty Senate was looking for fewer office hours
while asking for more money.
The change in hours, which has not been approved by the administration,
has nothing to do with tuition and fee increases, he said.
Muir said faculty members employed at Appalachian State University
hold more office hours than other professors at other universities.
He also said students often do not show up for appointments
made with their teachers in their offices.
Muir said faculty do work outside of their office as well
as when they are present. He said he spent 60-65 hours one
week thinking of creative activities to use in the classroom.
Senators responded to the presentation with comments and
questions.
Gardner Hall Senator Christina B. Tadlock said professors
who do keep 10 hours should be rewarded, but the minimum
number of hours required should be kept to keep teachers
available to students,
“We need to get our money’s worth,” she
said.
“You’re not getting your money’s worth
if we’re sitting in our office and nobody’s showing
up,” Arnold said in response.
Off-campus Senator Howard R. Schreiber said he was concerned
as to whether students would be able to reach their professors
by e-mail, and how long it would take to get a response.
“I’m all for cutting the office hours if we can
get good e-mail response times,” he said.
Newland Senator Jennifer N. Johnson said the office hours
should be kept with the increasing number of students enrolling
at Appalachian State.
“Now that there are more students, the hours should
be mandatory,” she said.
Many student senators were not able to attend the meeting
because of weather conditions, SGA Vice President Lauren
N. Linville said.
|
