The University of Mary Washington is in the process of transitioning student course evaluations from in-class to on- line. UMW began the process in fall 2010 and held their first pilot test last spring. Following the success of the first pilot, the University will be conducting a second pilot this semester. Assistance Provost for Insti- tutional Analysis and Effective- ness Taiwo Ande explained that the university is hoping to in- crease the number of participat- ing courses each semester as the online program gains more recognition. The University is aiming to increase the number or partici- pating courses from 27 to more than 100 from spring 2011 to this semester, according to Ande. Ande hopes that every se- mester more professors will make the switch, until all student course evaluations are com- pleted online. Several factors prompted the shift to an online evaluation tool, including concern over the cost of assessing the evaluations, the rate in which the professors were receiving feedback and the de- sire for a more environmentally friendly method for conducting the survey. The report, “Online Course Evaluation Pilot Study,” re- leased by the Office of Institu- tional Analysis and Effectiveness states, “In spring 2011, faculty members were in- vited to participate in the online course evaluation pilot to deter- mine the appropriateness of the use of online course evaluation management system at UMW.” According to the Office of In- stitutional Analysis and Effec- tiveness, students complete around 20,000 student course evaluations over a three-week period, taking up both class-time and resources, every semester. It then takes several months for the evaluations to be collected, or- ganized and shipped to a con- tractor to compile and assess the data, before being returned to the University and professors. Ande explained that the multi-month process costs the university thousands of dollars every year and often leaves teachers with very little time to review their critiques and adjust their lesson plans accordingly. By switching to online eval- uations, the University hopes to diminish costs, as well as pro- vide professors with almost in- stantaneous feedback, according to Ande. Furthermore, students will be able to complete the evaluations on their own time, instead of taking time out of class. Besides The University of Mary Washington Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Program has been the first col- lege or university in Virginia to decrease their program’s funding and have a significant decrease in employment in the past five years, according to the 2010- 2011 CAPS Annual Report. Tevya Zukor, previous direc- tor of the CAPS program, re- cently left the UMW CAPS program to become the Director of the Counseling Center at the University of Pittsburgh. For the past few years, there have been four full-time psy- chologists working at the UMW program. However, this summer, CAPS lost Cynthia Holshoe, a The Bullet Since 1922 Vol. 85, No. 4 Visit the Mary Washington Bullet online at www.umwbullet.com September 29, 2011 INSIDE News 2 & 9 Viewpoints 3 & 4 Style 5, 6 & 7 Sports 11 & 12 Only two full- time counselors remain CAPS, page 94 Words of Wisdom From the Bullet Page 2 CAPS Loses Funds, Staff By MARIAH YOUNG Town hall forums last week entertained discussion of Chandler Hall as site of new campus center. The University of Mary Washington’s College of Educa- tion has announced a set of new programs being developed for the institution for as soon as fall 2012. Dean of the College of Edu- cation Mary Gendernalik- Cooper expressed excitement about three new pathways and one new degree opportunity for students. A pathway is a prede- termined course of study that leads students through specific classes, with the ultimate goal of completing both graduate and undergraduate work in educa- tion. Faculty committees from the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the College of Educa- tion, are working in conjunction to expand interdisciplinary stud- ies and resources for students in- terested in the educational field, including but not limited to teaching in a traditional setting. UMW already offers a well- established education program, including the option to procure a Masters of Elementary Educa- tion during a fifth year. Two of the new pathways will allow stu- dents studying Secondary Edu- cation or PreK-12 focus areas, like music, theatre and art, to ob- tain a Masters of Education dur- ing a fifth year at the Stafford Campus. Gendernalik-Cooper ex- plained that there are a number of program pathways being de- veloped for students on the Fred- ericksburg campus. While the Master of Education program al- ready exists, the fifth year com- pletion is not currently offered to students enrolled in Secondary or PreK-12 programs, whereas it is for students completing re- quirements for Elementary Edu- cation. New Programs Added to College Of Education By KYLE LEFLER Students and community members protested Karl Rove’s speech at the Freder- icksburg Forum on Wednesday night. Full Story next week. Three new ‘pathways’ expand existing student opportunities Chandler Slated to Be Site For New Campus Student Center Online evaluations are said to save costs, time and resources PROGRAMS, page 94 UMW Adopts Online Course Evaluations By BETH REHBEHN Plans for the new campus center to take the place of Chan- dler Hall were released and dis- cussed at a series of “town hall” meetings around campus last week. Students, faculty and the sur- rounding UMW community were invited to the meeting on Tuesday; Wednesday afternoon consisted of students only; and Thursday was the staff and fac- ulty. Burt Hill, the leading archi- tecture firm for the project, led discussion of the plans and pur- pose of the campus center during each meeting, followed by audi- ence commentary. Scott Sullivan from Burt Hill is project manager of the new center. He said at the forums that he wants the university to create their “own story” through the process of planning this much needed addition. Sullivan wants to not only add new features to the building but is pushing for the renewal of campus as well. “We need to work with what we already have here,” he said, referring to the historical ele- ments of the area. Burt Hill has been consulting Mary Washington Historic Preservation professor Micheal Spencer about the project's movements and preservation of the grounds. Seacobeck , the student din- ing hall, will also be renovated to house an updated dining facil- ity for students. However, the plan is not to completely demol- ish the two buildings, but have the new campus center honor their historical relevance to the campus, according to Burt Hill. Spencer said that Chandler it- self has a long history of housing students in classrooms, begin- ning with the teaching facility located in Chandler during the 1930s and early 1940s. The portico outside of Chan- dler Hall, which was added around 1938, is the “most signif- icant portion that retains in- tegrity,” according to Spencer. He added that t is difficult to say whether the plans for the new campus will use the historic portico, but they do not want to destroy it. Although one of the primary goals is to keep the historical as- pect of campus, there are also goals which Sullivan said would Marie Sicola/Bullet EVALS, page 24 By MEGAN BINGHAM Marie Sicola/Bullet CHANDLER, page 94 ‘Gears of War 3’ Provides Endless Entertainment Field Hockey wrecks York College Inauguration Week Preview The Bullet previews this week’s events for President Hurley’s inaugura- tion. As President Hurley's inauguration approaches, the Bullet offers some ad- vice for a successful presi- dency. Page 3 "Gears of War 3" is the third installment in a wildly popular franchise. Does it hold up to the hype? Find out. Page 6 UMW wins first Conference Match of Season, ranked 17th in the country. Page 12
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Transcript
The University of Mary
Washington is in the process of
transitioning student course
evaluations from in-class to on-
line. UMW began the process in
fall 2010 and held their first pilot
test last spring.
Following the success of the
first pilot, the University will be
conducting a second pilot this
semester.
Assistance Provost for Insti-
tutional Analysis and Effective-
ness Taiwo Ande explained that
the university is hoping to in-
crease the number of participat-
ing courses each semester as the
online program gains more
recognition.
The University is aiming to
increase the number or partici-
pating courses from 27 to more
than 100 from spring 2011 to
this semester, according to
Ande.
Ande hopes that every se-
mester more professors will
make the switch, until all student
course evaluations are com-
pleted online.
Several factors prompted the
shift to an online evaluation tool,
including concern over the cost
of assessing the evaluations, the
rate in which the professors were
receiving feedback and the de-
sire for a more environmentally
friendly method for conducting
the survey.
The report, “Online Course
Evaluation Pilot Study,” re-
leased by the Office of Institu-
tional Analysis and
Effectiveness states, “In spring
2011, faculty members were in-
vited to participate in the online
course evaluation pilot to deter-
mine the appropriateness of the
use of online course evaluation
management system at UMW.”
According to the Office of In-
stitutional Analysis and Effec-
tiveness, students complete
around 20,000 student course
evaluations over a three-week
period, taking up both class-time
and resources, every semester. It
then takes several months for the
evaluations to be collected, or-
ganized and shipped to a con-
tractor to compile and assess the
data, before being returned to
the University and professors.
Ande explained that the
multi-month process costs the
university thousands of dollars
every year and often leaves
teachers with very little time to
review their critiques and adjust
their lesson plans accordingly.
By switching to online eval-
uations, the University hopes to
diminish costs, as well as pro-
vide professors with almost in-
stantaneous feedback, according
to Ande.
Furthermore, students will be
able to complete the evaluations
on their own time, instead of
taking time out of class. Besides
The University of Mary
Washington Counseling and
Psychological Services (CAPS)
Program has been the first col-
lege or university in Virginia to
decrease their program’s funding
and have a significant decrease
in employment in the past five
years, according to the 2010-
2011 CAPS Annual Report.
Tevya Zukor, previous direc-
tor of the CAPS program, re-
cently left the UMW CAPS
program to become the Director
of the Counseling Center at the
University of Pittsburgh.
For the past few years, there
have been four full-time psy-
chologists working at the UMW
program. However, this summer,
CAPS lost Cynthia Holshoe, a
The BulletSince 1922
Vol. 85, No. 4 Visit the Mary Washington Bullet online at www.umwbullet.com September 29, 2011