daily rumor mill #70 - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jul 28, 2004

daily rumor mill #70

Date: Jul 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: gurunuburg
"1. Haven't reported on the legal issues involving the faculty appeal in the CBED. Have been continuously updated (myself) through e-mails from compaq and envelope. It looks as the though HD & Co are stalling the FOIA request, with the help of Jim Keith in Jackson (and his assistant "Ian"). Word is now that HD has taken a vacation, even though he is (technically) in violation of the FOIA. The appealer's lawyer has yet to mention this in any of the correspondence with Keith and the gang (which is surprising). Thanks compaq and envelope. 2. The mill is now officially flooded with tidbits about USM's new "099" status. We are wading through these as fast as possible. Here is one of the more interesting ones. It seems that two separate sets of parents have separately contacted some USM faculty about the possibility of their AP/National Merit-quality child teaching some 099 courses at USM this coming year. On both occasions the article about the English prof shortage in the HA was mentioned, as well as "talk" about the problem "around town." Their thought process? They surmise that "having taught a course at USM" might help said son/daughter get into Duke, or, at the very least, up that scholarship offer from Furman. Thanks artsy and gorod (and grapevine)."

All this talk of "099" is not backed up by facts. However, I guess if you say it long enough, some of the idiots that post on this board will believe it.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: How stupid can you be
"All this talk of "099" is not backed up by facts. However, I guess if you say it long enough, some of the idiots that post on this board will believe it."

I can tell you one thing, stupid, there are many college graduates whose writing skills are far inferior to those of the typical Mississippi high school graduate of the 50's.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

Can someone post a comparison by department (English, math, etc) of 099 sections offered last fall vs this fall?

Those who know my biases can probably predict what I'm about to say... THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF USM HORNING IN ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

Community colleges have a shipload more experience with "developmental studies" than universities. Period. The CCs also cost a lot less to both students (tuition) and the state (per FTE appropriation). Community colleges are open admission & proud of it.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

Hear, hear, Invictus. I believe in the CC system. I think some of the greatest teachers ever come out of that system since it is teacher based rather than researcher based. My youngest picked up 12 hours in our state's CC system so she had some credible gen ed hours to transfer to our state's flagship univ.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: educator
"hours to transfer to our state's flagship univ."

Just what would that flagship university be, educator?

Date: Jul 28, 2004

Ah, the flagship university that I refer to is many states away from MS.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Ranger Bob
"Just what would that flagship university be, educator?"

When I was an undergrad (in another state) the "flagship" university was that which had the state's name in it's title.

I've always been proud to be employed (or atleast I used to be) at USM. I've always spoke of USM as being one of the three flagship institutions our state of Mississippi has: Ole Miss, Miss State and Southern Miss........

So, please excuse educator if he/she sidesteps your question...........

Date: Jul 28, 2004

How stupid can you be, I worked three previews this summer and it seemed like all I was doing was looking up 099 sections for kids. I can't remember ever looking up one in a summer prior to this one, and in most prior summers I worked 4 previews.

There you go dude.

Date: Jul 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: new edition
"How stupid can you be, I worked three previews this summer and it seemed like all I was doing was looking up 099 sections for kids. I can't remember ever looking up one in a summer prior to this one, and in most prior summers I worked 4 previews. There you go dude."

Boy, that is good evidence. Thanks.

Date: Jul 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: new edition
"How stupid can you be, I worked three previews this summer and it seemed like all I was doing was looking up 099 sections for kids. I can't remember ever looking up one in a summer prior to this one, and in most prior summers I worked 4 previews. There you go dude."

Wouldn't the correct question posed be --- how stupid can you be????

Date: Jul 29, 2004

What no one at USM has addressed here is what pressure the faculty will be under to keep these 099s in class after their first semester. What does anyone know about the quiet effort to call in others from other universities to provide ST/USM with enrollment management tools? It has been going on over the summer. So what will the faculty do when it becomes "understood" that F grades and maybe even D grades, academic probation, suspension, etc. no longer have importance? My experience at other universities is ofthen this results in a university gaining a rep that no university ever wants. Academic disaster. So USM friends you've not seen anything yet. One OutSider that's glad he's gone from USM.

Date: Jul 29, 2004

On a similar note, USM recently changed its suspension policy. Previously, students on suspension had to sit out a semester before being readmitted. For example, students flunking out after the spring semester had to sit out the fall semester before being readmitted. The summer semester didn't count. Without fanfare, the administration changed the policy so that the summer semester did count. So..... if you flunk out in the spring, you can still enroll in the fall just as like anyone else...serving your suspension semester during the summer, when you probably wouldn't be enrolled anyway
Since most 099 students will be on probation by the beginning of spring semester and then will flunk out after the spring semester, we'll have 'em back by August to pay another semester of tuition.
SMTTT!