2008 Woodie Awards
English department policy enforcement sets students off
Melisssa Kunz
Issue date: 4/29/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Registration for the 2005-2006 school year might be winding down for most Hendrix students, but for several weeks some students were up in arms about the English Departments' enforcement of a policy preventing rising juniors and seniors from taking lower level literature and film courses.
English department faculty members compiled a statement of information regarding the switch that has affected many students on campus.
In the interest of clearing things up for registration and the end of the year, here are some facts.
- Essentially, the policy states that juniors and seniors are not allowed to take classes like Introduction to Literary Studies, a policy adopted in 2002 with the change to the semester system.
- Also notable is that certain other 100 and 200 level literature and film courses listed in the English department are also being affected.
- English department members say they have to bump upperclassmen out of lower level classes because those classes are designed for students just out of high school English.
- Professors also remark that students who have been at Hendrix for three or four years should be confident in their writing skills by the time they are juniors or seniors.
- For this reason, they argue that this situation is different than all students being required to take an upper level math or science course:writing encompasses all domains at Hendrix.
- Students are not required to take an English course to fulfill W1, W2, or LS requirements - many courses in other departments, like religion or music, can be completed for these credits.
- The English department acknowledges that the wording in the college catalogue on how important it is for lowerclassmen to take W1 and LS courses early on is vague; however, they argue that advisors are reminded of the policy in the catalogue each year.
- Problems surrounding registration should only affect students this coming school year. After the policy has been acknowledged and is enforced, students should be able to take English courses without fear of being bumped out.
- English department members are sympathetic to students who have severe problems with registration, and encourage those students to consult with Dr. Alice Hines.
English department faculty members compiled a statement of information regarding the switch that has affected many students on campus.
In the interest of clearing things up for registration and the end of the year, here are some facts.
- Essentially, the policy states that juniors and seniors are not allowed to take classes like Introduction to Literary Studies, a policy adopted in 2002 with the change to the semester system.
- Also notable is that certain other 100 and 200 level literature and film courses listed in the English department are also being affected.
- English department members say they have to bump upperclassmen out of lower level classes because those classes are designed for students just out of high school English.
- Professors also remark that students who have been at Hendrix for three or four years should be confident in their writing skills by the time they are juniors or seniors.
- For this reason, they argue that this situation is different than all students being required to take an upper level math or science course:writing encompasses all domains at Hendrix.
- Students are not required to take an English course to fulfill W1, W2, or LS requirements - many courses in other departments, like religion or music, can be completed for these credits.
- The English department acknowledges that the wording in the college catalogue on how important it is for lowerclassmen to take W1 and LS courses early on is vague; however, they argue that advisors are reminded of the policy in the catalogue each year.
- Problems surrounding registration should only affect students this coming school year. After the policy has been acknowledged and is enforced, students should be able to take English courses without fear of being bumped out.
- English department members are sympathetic to students who have severe problems with registration, and encourage those students to consult with Dr. Alice Hines.