There remains a lingering community perception that the administration has ignored the voices of the students and faculty at times, and has made and delivered some policy decisions unilaterally. Why does this perception persist, and how can we as a community address and correct it?
Posts Tagged ‘tiger team’
Changing a Principian’s education
Friday, May 15th, 2009Tiger teams hope to submit proposals regarding both new general education requirements and a new daily schedule under the semester system for faculty and administration approval by the end of the academic year. The proposals will signal a major benchmark, though not the end, in a year-long process involving students, faculty and staff, which began last summer at the administration’s behest. If approved, both proposals would be instated in the 2011-2012 academic year, coinciding with the college’s move to semesters.
Prin News in Brief 04.17.09
Friday, April 17th, 2009Campus news updates from the week of April 17, 2009.
Daily schedule survey disappoints
Friday, March 6th, 2009When the Tiger Team for semesters was first established, the administration encouraged students to reflect on every part of the Principia experience. To their credit, the administration has been fervent in their pursuit of student opinion after the perceived deficit of student input in the process leading to the original semester decision.
Semesters rescheduled for 2011
Friday, March 6th, 2009Principia will delay implementation of the semester system by a year, College President Jonathan Palmer announced last week. The delay signals a shift in the pace of the college’s conversion to semesters.
The statement came on the heels of a visit by semester conversion consultant Coleen Pantalone, who met with faculty, staff, and administration before Week 8 to analyze the College’s process and progress.
Faculty members had previously expressed hesitation about the speed of the transition, questioning if the 2010 conversion target was achievable. After Pantalone’s visit, Palmer said he agrees.
“What has been reported to me is that there has been a general sigh of relief,” said Palmer. “It seemed to make more sense to do it, that 2010 was a push … in fact, everything would have had to go right to make it to 2010.”
“It delays the benefits,” Palmer cautioned. “I don’t think it weakens it, but it delays it, so we’re paying an opportunity cost by not making the transition sooner.”
Tapping into student leadership
Friday, February 20th, 2009The student government elections that took place this week came at a vitally important time for Principia. As we face significant budget cuts and a certain degree of student apathy, the newly elected student leaders have a chance — and, indeed, a responsibility — to perform an important service for the student body and the college at large. The new student government leaders must act to represent student interests effectively to the administration and ignite greater student initiative around campus.
Prin News In Brief 02.20.09
Friday, February 20th, 2009Principia News in Brief 2.20.09:
STATE SENATOR SPEAKS TO STUDENTS ABOUT BLAGO SCANDAL
STUDENT-DIRECTED/PRODUCED PRODUCTION WINS OVER CAMPUS
AWARD-WINNING POET COMES TO PRINCIPIA
SUSTAINABILITY TEAM PRESENTS PROGRESS AND CONCLUSIONS
PRINCIPIA CONTINUES WEEKEND DANCING SPREE
Student input must not be ignored
Friday, February 6th, 2009while the administration’s language has met our expectations, its actions, even in these early days, have not. It is time for Principia’s administration to put its emphasis on partnership into practice. The students are waiting.
From Quarters to Semesters, an Update
Friday, November 7th, 2008The discussion of whether or not to change to the semester system, currently the standard for 80 percent of colleges nationwide, is still underway. At a meeting held in the chapel last Thursday, the Tiger Team leading these discussions updated students, faculty, and staff on their findings and conducted a straw poll to gauge community preference. The results of this poll were sent to all community members’ OWA accounts on Wednesday.
