Classic Heather Quotes
Hey loves this is classic Heather Quote time lol. " What the hell" lol.
Program facelift
By: Kerry Wall
November.01.2005 Printer-friendly version
Changes may be made to the Arts and Contemporary Studies program on Nov. 8 at Ryerson's academic council meeting.
Faculty members have suggested the addition of new subject areas. If the proposals are accepted, Ryerson's 600 ACS students will have the option of specializing in English, French, philosophy or history. The new subject areas may be referred to as majors, but this has yet to be determined, faculty members say.
The changes are a "natural evolution," Program Director Mark Lovewell said. He added that the Ryerson community got an inaccurate picture of the program after the Ryersonian published what he called "a very one-sided article" last year.
The article quoted several students who were upset with the ACS program.
"A lot of students were very upset about that," he said. "Some even went to the Ryersonian to demand space to defend their views."
History professor Arne Kislenko also believes students and faculty were misinformed and that some may have forgotten the program was new.
"The first couple of years are always going to be guinea pig years. I had concerns about the structure of the BA program," he said, "but I think the stigma was really unfair. There are students in the program who want to be there and some of them are among the best students I have."
Kislenko, who teaches a professionally related global studies course, said his department is looking forward to potentially offering a history specialty in the ACS program.
"We're very excited," he said. "I'm very impressed with the speed of change."
Ryerson President Sheldon Levy agreed. He said curriculum changes are a natural part of academia.
"You're always going to find, at different times, some programs that need improving," he said. "You have to get legitimate feedback from students ... while at the same time, keeping your eye on the academic quality of the program and its reputation."
Former ACS student Heather Lord said she thinks the program was flawed from the start. She said she felt that some of her instructors were not prepared to teach the material.
"Some of (the instructors) went up there and just read off the overheads," she said. "We were like, 'Um, what the hell?'"
New options for students wouldn't change her mind about the program.
"I don't think putting in new courses would make it better," she said.
Current ACS curriculum requires students to choose one of four themes of study in their third year. It also gives students the opportunity to earn a minor in one of six subject areas.
Lovewell said the changes could help prepare students for graduate studies, specifically professional schools.
"Teacher's college, in particular, focuses on so-called 'teachables,'" he said, adding that the proposed new subjects fall into that category.
Instituted in 2003, the program is currently composed of students in first, second and third year. It will be fully instituted when its first graduating class completes its final year in 2007.
Should the proposed changes be implemented, only first-year students would be affected, said registrar Keith Alnwick. This is because second- and third-year students are "already well established," in their program.
"By the time we get (changes) finalized, (upper-year students) would be gone," he said. "We will certainly be informing students entering their first year of the options available to them."
Respond to this story
(Letters may be printed in the Eyeopener's print edition.)
Program facelift
By: Kerry Wall
November.01.2005 Printer-friendly version
Changes may be made to the Arts and Contemporary Studies program on Nov. 8 at Ryerson's academic council meeting.
Faculty members have suggested the addition of new subject areas. If the proposals are accepted, Ryerson's 600 ACS students will have the option of specializing in English, French, philosophy or history. The new subject areas may be referred to as majors, but this has yet to be determined, faculty members say.
The changes are a "natural evolution," Program Director Mark Lovewell said. He added that the Ryerson community got an inaccurate picture of the program after the Ryersonian published what he called "a very one-sided article" last year.
The article quoted several students who were upset with the ACS program.
"A lot of students were very upset about that," he said. "Some even went to the Ryersonian to demand space to defend their views."
History professor Arne Kislenko also believes students and faculty were misinformed and that some may have forgotten the program was new.
"The first couple of years are always going to be guinea pig years. I had concerns about the structure of the BA program," he said, "but I think the stigma was really unfair. There are students in the program who want to be there and some of them are among the best students I have."
Kislenko, who teaches a professionally related global studies course, said his department is looking forward to potentially offering a history specialty in the ACS program.
"We're very excited," he said. "I'm very impressed with the speed of change."
Ryerson President Sheldon Levy agreed. He said curriculum changes are a natural part of academia.
"You're always going to find, at different times, some programs that need improving," he said. "You have to get legitimate feedback from students ... while at the same time, keeping your eye on the academic quality of the program and its reputation."
Former ACS student Heather Lord said she thinks the program was flawed from the start. She said she felt that some of her instructors were not prepared to teach the material.
"Some of (the instructors) went up there and just read off the overheads," she said. "We were like, 'Um, what the hell?'"
New options for students wouldn't change her mind about the program.
"I don't think putting in new courses would make it better," she said.
Current ACS curriculum requires students to choose one of four themes of study in their third year. It also gives students the opportunity to earn a minor in one of six subject areas.
Lovewell said the changes could help prepare students for graduate studies, specifically professional schools.
"Teacher's college, in particular, focuses on so-called 'teachables,'" he said, adding that the proposed new subjects fall into that category.
Instituted in 2003, the program is currently composed of students in first, second and third year. It will be fully instituted when its first graduating class completes its final year in 2007.
Should the proposed changes be implemented, only first-year students would be affected, said registrar Keith Alnwick. This is because second- and third-year students are "already well established," in their program.
"By the time we get (changes) finalized, (upper-year students) would be gone," he said. "We will certainly be informing students entering their first year of the options available to them."
Respond to this story
(Letters may be printed in the Eyeopener's print edition.)