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Action Studies Program, 1967-1968
1968-02-19 Faculty Reports Page 1
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HIGHLIGHTS [drawing of man at desk] Faculty Reports From the Proceedings of University Committees Vol. V, No. 8 February 19, 1968 The following is a report from the steering committee of the "Action Studies Program," and its chairman, Lowell Schoer, Education: On Dec. 12, 1967, the Faculty Senate passed a resolution urging students to, "renew their questioning of public policy in orderly discussion," and seek out faculty members and outside visitors who might be willing to enter these discussions with them. On Jan. 21, 1968, President Bowen issued a draft of a statement in which he endorsed this resolution and suggested the possibility of a program whose purpose would be to "encourage thoughtful, timely and relevant study and discussion of contemporary political, social, ethical and philosophical issues and to encourage constructive social service activities." Students have shown increasing interest in the problems of contemporary American society and a frequent complaint from them has been that colleges and universities have not addressed themselves to these problems. The need for some means to facilitate the study and discussion of those issues which are of immediate concern to students is then felt by faculty, students and administration alike. The problem is finding a method to be used to meet these immediate needs and interests. To this end a series of informal meetings were held early in January in which various possibilities were discussed. The meetings involved groups of students as well as members of the faculty and administration. Sufficient interest was shown at these early meetings to lead President Bowen to appoint a committee to pick up where the earlier discussion had left off. The committee appointed is composed of five students (Bruce Dugstad, Winnett Hagens, Jeff Nolte, Peggy Nordeen, Mike Shea) and five faculty members (Don Bryant, Speech, George Hoyt, Business Administration, Philip Hubbard, Academic Affairs, Alan Spitzer, History, and Dr. Shoer). The committee was left very much on its own to decide how it would operate as a committee and the type of program it would develop. Consensus was reached very quickly on the issue of how it would operate. There was no desire on the part of any member for the committee to become another layer in the university structure. It was also generally agreed that the role of the committee was to be a facilitating, encouraging and promoting one, not an initiating one. Whatever program the committee presented would be one which originated among students and faculty, with the committee serving as the agency through which it was publicized so as to reach other interested people. In addition, the committee would help where it could to encourage participation, provide facilities and as much as it was able, provide financial assistance when needed. The program, as conceived by the committee, is to be very broad one encompassing noncredit courses and discussions, special projects, seminars, and action groups, individual speakers, assemblies, and conferences, credit courses and independent study. Because of the nature of a university, it was assumed the committee would not, in fact could not, make decisions about what should or should not carry academic credit. Any credit decisions for any project under the Action Studies Program must be made by the particular faculty members involved and their CONTINUED ON REVERSE SIDE
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HIGHLIGHTS [drawing of man at desk] Faculty Reports From the Proceedings of University Committees Vol. V, No. 8 February 19, 1968 The following is a report from the steering committee of the "Action Studies Program," and its chairman, Lowell Schoer, Education: On Dec. 12, 1967, the Faculty Senate passed a resolution urging students to, "renew their questioning of public policy in orderly discussion," and seek out faculty members and outside visitors who might be willing to enter these discussions with them. On Jan. 21, 1968, President Bowen issued a draft of a statement in which he endorsed this resolution and suggested the possibility of a program whose purpose would be to "encourage thoughtful, timely and relevant study and discussion of contemporary political, social, ethical and philosophical issues and to encourage constructive social service activities." Students have shown increasing interest in the problems of contemporary American society and a frequent complaint from them has been that colleges and universities have not addressed themselves to these problems. The need for some means to facilitate the study and discussion of those issues which are of immediate concern to students is then felt by faculty, students and administration alike. The problem is finding a method to be used to meet these immediate needs and interests. To this end a series of informal meetings were held early in January in which various possibilities were discussed. The meetings involved groups of students as well as members of the faculty and administration. Sufficient interest was shown at these early meetings to lead President Bowen to appoint a committee to pick up where the earlier discussion had left off. The committee appointed is composed of five students (Bruce Dugstad, Winnett Hagens, Jeff Nolte, Peggy Nordeen, Mike Shea) and five faculty members (Don Bryant, Speech, George Hoyt, Business Administration, Philip Hubbard, Academic Affairs, Alan Spitzer, History, and Dr. Shoer). The committee was left very much on its own to decide how it would operate as a committee and the type of program it would develop. Consensus was reached very quickly on the issue of how it would operate. There was no desire on the part of any member for the committee to become another layer in the university structure. It was also generally agreed that the role of the committee was to be a facilitating, encouraging and promoting one, not an initiating one. Whatever program the committee presented would be one which originated among students and faculty, with the committee serving as the agency through which it was publicized so as to reach other interested people. In addition, the committee would help where it could to encourage participation, provide facilities and as much as it was able, provide financial assistance when needed. The program, as conceived by the committee, is to be very broad one encompassing noncredit courses and discussions, special projects, seminars, and action groups, individual speakers, assemblies, and conferences, credit courses and independent study. Because of the nature of a university, it was assumed the committee would not, in fact could not, make decisions about what should or should not carry academic credit. Any credit decisions for any project under the Action Studies Program must be made by the particular faculty members involved and their CONTINUED ON REVERSE SIDE
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