Communications department implements cap on majors
By: Lauren Lytle
Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: News
The recent decision by the department of Communications studies to put in place a cap on the number of students allowed to declare the major has caused a stir among some students.
Dean of the faculty John Beckford said, "An enrollment management plan has been instituted to help us deal with the rapid growth in our major - a growth not matched by that of our faculty."
Over the last several years the department jumped from about 140 majors to 164 majors, then to 217 majors just before commencement last May. Communication Studies is the second largest major on campus, with the fifth smallest faculty.
"That imbalance has begun to affect the high quality of the education we provide Furman students. Each member of the faculty has been advising some 45 (some as many as 53 or more) students. Every seat in every section of every class offered by our department is filled every term," said Communications professor Sean O'Rourke. "As a result, we have had a very tough time matriculating our majors (many of whom cannot get the classes they need until they are seniors), to say nothing of serving the needs of other students on campus. Also, the pressure has begun to limit our ability to offer first-year seminars, participate in concentrations and help students with ICP proposals. We have been able to serve our students only by teaching over-subscribed courses and teaching overloads."
O'Rourke assures that seniors and juniors will not be directly affected, and only a few sophomores will be required to adapt to the change. Nevertheless, the freshman class of 2012 will be the group that is most affected by this change. In 2005, four additional tenure-track faculty lines were requested as one was received in 2005 and another in 2006. The department just received permission to convert a full-time term appointment into a full-time tenure-track line. The decision won't provide extra courses, but it should help with the advising load.
Students may apply for the Communication Studies major after completing 32 semester hours and before completing 48 semester hours. Majors are declared twice per academic year - once in early fall term, and again in early spring term. The requirement also includes a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Many students have protested against this requirement in the form of a petition created by seniors Margaret Elliotte Czentar and Lauren Farrar.
"I think it's really important to first emphasize that the petition is completely student-done," said Farrar. "We've basically tried to alert students to what is going on in the department. We began by taking it to Communications students, but other students have been interested in signing it as well."
The faculty has not responded unfavorably to the petition.
"In general, students and faculty in our department work very well together - we teach persuasion, critical thinking, and protest, so it is quite natural that our students would put into practice what we all love to study. It is engaged learning at its best," said O'Rourke. "We also believe that public discussion of policies and values can increase understanding. That is our hope with the controversy over the temporary enrollment management plan."
Dean of the faculty John Beckford said, "An enrollment management plan has been instituted to help us deal with the rapid growth in our major - a growth not matched by that of our faculty."
Over the last several years the department jumped from about 140 majors to 164 majors, then to 217 majors just before commencement last May. Communication Studies is the second largest major on campus, with the fifth smallest faculty.
"That imbalance has begun to affect the high quality of the education we provide Furman students. Each member of the faculty has been advising some 45 (some as many as 53 or more) students. Every seat in every section of every class offered by our department is filled every term," said Communications professor Sean O'Rourke. "As a result, we have had a very tough time matriculating our majors (many of whom cannot get the classes they need until they are seniors), to say nothing of serving the needs of other students on campus. Also, the pressure has begun to limit our ability to offer first-year seminars, participate in concentrations and help students with ICP proposals. We have been able to serve our students only by teaching over-subscribed courses and teaching overloads."
O'Rourke assures that seniors and juniors will not be directly affected, and only a few sophomores will be required to adapt to the change. Nevertheless, the freshman class of 2012 will be the group that is most affected by this change. In 2005, four additional tenure-track faculty lines were requested as one was received in 2005 and another in 2006. The department just received permission to convert a full-time term appointment into a full-time tenure-track line. The decision won't provide extra courses, but it should help with the advising load.
Students may apply for the Communication Studies major after completing 32 semester hours and before completing 48 semester hours. Majors are declared twice per academic year - once in early fall term, and again in early spring term. The requirement also includes a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Many students have protested against this requirement in the form of a petition created by seniors Margaret Elliotte Czentar and Lauren Farrar.
"I think it's really important to first emphasize that the petition is completely student-done," said Farrar. "We've basically tried to alert students to what is going on in the department. We began by taking it to Communications students, but other students have been interested in signing it as well."
The faculty has not responded unfavorably to the petition.
"In general, students and faculty in our department work very well together - we teach persuasion, critical thinking, and protest, so it is quite natural that our students would put into practice what we all love to study. It is engaged learning at its best," said O'Rourke. "We also believe that public discussion of policies and values can increase understanding. That is our hope with the controversy over the temporary enrollment management plan."