Friday, September 7, 2001

Don’t be a part of campus apathy; do something
Indifferent professors contribute to holdup of UCR revision
Commentary by Jamie Walker

The lesson to be learned from the ongoing revision of the University Core Requirements is that TCU officials should rethink the university’s mission statement so it reads: To confront campus apathy on all levels and implement other lofty goals until either we are satisfied with our reputation or we run out of money.

In his Convocation address Thursday, Chancellor Michael Ferrari challenged TCU to implement this year’s agenda boldly and with courage. He didn’t come right out and say it, but what he asked for was action instead of apathy; a well-defined, executable plan. No more discussions. No more proposals. And when it comes to the UCR, he wants a plan in 60 days.

Ferrari first asked Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs William Koehler and faculty members to design a new core curriculum in 1999. He envisioned a curriculum which would help TCU put its lofty mission statement into practice. He also knew a new and innovative core would gain brownie points with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools committee. Ideally, it would improve the overall educational experience — help students “burst the bubble” so to speak.

But Ferrari is the one who’s had his bubble burst. He wanted the UCR revised in 2000. Koehler says the process is a complex one and delays are to be expected. But the administration and the faculty can’t hold their breath forever.

“When you revise a curriculum, the changes you make don’t happen overnight,” Koehler said. “Full implementation takes years. We want to make sure we have a product that does what we say we want it to do. We all agree we want core classes to have an impact, deciding how to do that takes time.”

But honestly, although no one will say it out loud, the main reason no formal plan has crossed Ferrari’s desk is apathy. Over the past three years, four carefully selected, hard-working faculty committees have worked on the project. Their efforts are to be commended. Revising the UCR is a daunting task. No one ever said it would be easy.

Former Chairman of the Faculty Senate Nowell Donovan has been involved in the UCR revision process from the beginning. He says a lot of valuable work has been done. He blames the delay on human nature and on faculty’s personal time demands. Although he sees establishing the curriculum as “the privilege and responsibility of the faculty,” he admits leaving the work to professors can create a slow-down.

“It’s in our nature to think,” he said with a smile. “Some of us spend a lot of time contemplating. In this case, every professor at this institution is interested about how things will turn out, but when we had a public forum in May to discuss our findings thus far, few people came.”

Students are frequently condemned for their apathy toward campus affairs. And most are apathetic. But overall campus apathy should not be ignored.

Now, a fifth, and hopefully final, committee has been commissioned. Koehler and the Deans reviewed all the material presented thus far and will present their recommendations to Chairman Richard Enos and committee members. Koehler said this next committee, comprised solely of faculty members, offers everyone at TCU one more chance to provide input into the process. One more chance to share ideas with committee members and to express concern. One more chance to take action individually so TCU can finally finish its new UCR, a curriculum, which if all goes as planned, will revolutionize TCU’s traditional notions of what a core curriculum should offer its students.

Donovan said committee members are prepared for the task, but developing a realistic plan will be a challenge.

“We have been charged with the grand duty of upholding the academy as an institution of research and higher learning,” Donovan said.

That responsibility carries great weight. And its not one these committee members should bear alone.

To those faculty members who say they can’t contribute because they are too busy to attend meetings, write an e-mail or make a quick telephone call. To those non-faculty members who have expressed concern that their interests are being left out of the loop, don’t be afraid to make your voice heard. There is no time like the present to take your own action.

It’s time for the UCR to be completed. It’s time for public comment. It’s time each of us take responsibility for our place in TCU’s big picture. It’s time we stop talking about the university’s mission statement and start putting it into practice on some level. It’s time we act with courage and stop discussing it.

Jaime Walker is a senior news editorial journalism and political science major from Roswell, Ga. She can be contacted at (j.l.walker@student.tcu.edu).