The current series of convocation events are an olive branch from the school’s administrative branch to the faculty, staff, and students ofUSM, allowing them a say in the restructuring effort that, upon completion, will likely totally change the university.
After a lackluster showing of students at last Friday’s first of two convocations – 15 some odd students sprinkled in amongst the faculty and staff who were strongly encouraged to attend – some professors have started making the ‘hard sell’ to their students, canceling or not requiring attendance at classes that interfere with this week’s three convocation sessions, which were held Thursday afternoon, evening, and Friday morning.
I received an e-mail earlier this week notifying me that my Thursday night 7-9:30 p.m. class was being called off so that students could attend the Convocation, even going so far as to offer extra credit.
I guess I should have been excited at the prospect of a three week break from class, but it felt more like I was being mugged.
The Convocations are no doubt an important forum for those interested in the long term fiscal and academic health of USM, but what about those students who frankly just don’t care?
Encouraging students to attend by canceling classes is a tactic that seems to ignore the very make-up of our university. This lack of awareness about exactly what kind of student attendsUSM is a problem that has plagued the university for decades. Marketing USM as your typical undergrad experience has got the school into trouble throughout its history, and alienated its base.
The reality is that the majority of USM students are commuters, of a more advanced age than the average college student, saddled with more responsibilities than your typical carefree co-ed. The part-time or commuter nature of these students in no way means that they are any less serious about their education, but rather that they have busy lives and responsibilities that precipitate their level of attendance.
Apathy might not be a popular position to support, but it must be acknowledged as a legitimate viewpoint, and not penalized.
To cancel a class, or let attendance slide for a week is to break the unspoken contract that exists between a university and it’s students. Students pay their tuition, and trek to campus from all across southern Maine with the understanding that they will get to attend class, earn credit, and pursue their educational goals.
I appreciate that some professors are going this far to encourage student contributions, but at what cost?
My qualms might seem nit-picky to some, and I’m sure there is a segment of the student population that is happy that they can get their winter vacation started early, but if a three credit class costs an in-state student $693, then over the course of a 14-week semester, that a once-a-week class is costing you $49.50 a pop.
As USM has been made painfully aware, higher education is a business, one that offers degrees in exchange for tuition and hard work – for matriculated students – and world-class faculty and educational opportunities for those non-matriculated students looking to expand their horizons.
The decisions made by some professors to cancel classes on Thursday and Friday is a breach of the consumer’s trust that would hardly be tolerated at any other type of business. Imagine walking into aMcDonald’s , paying six dollars for a value meal, and then having the cashier push a company evaluation form across the counter in place of your burger and fries.
If USM students want their opinions on the restructuring efforts to be heard, they have (and have had) ample opportunities.
And it’s not as if this Convocation will be the last chance for student input either. A draft of the restructuring plan, to be released late this month, will be open for feedback until March 22, giving students almost a month to review the proposed changes.
I’ll give you my two cents, but let me keep my fifty dollars.