1994-01-27. MUN Gazette, vol. 26, no. 11

              Gazette
Memorial
University of Newfoundland
Volume 26 Number 11
Jan. 27, 1994
Winter can be fun...
Children at the CSU-MUN Childcare Centre at Burton's Pond enjoyed spending a fine day last week outside in the snow.
General studies
dissolution signals
changes for students
Division's duties
transferred
By Peter Morris
Students entering Memorial
University next fall will
experience a number of changes
to the way in which they are
integrated into the institution.
When applying for entry into
the university, new students will
now be asked to indicate their
preferred faculty of study. Prior to
this, all new students were
enrolled in the general studies
program until the end of their first
year. As of this semester, the
general studies division is being
phased out, with many of the
services it provides being
transferred to other university
departments (see story at right).
"General studies served the
university and the students well,
but it was time to change the
system," said Dr. Jaap Tuinman,
vice-president (academic). "We
want to encourage students to
make their degree choices as early
as possible and to complete
programs in a normal time frame.
The change brings Memorial in
line with admission practises at
other Canadian universities. In the
not too distant future, I would see
faculties and schools considering
the admission of students directly
from high school, and in fact
Senate has already approved a
report to explore changes to first
year that would enable this."
Dr. Tuinman said the new
system will enable the university to
deliver improved academic advising
and to identify those undecided
students who need extra assistance
in making appropriate degree
choices or changes in their degree
programs. " It is our sincere belief
that these changes will allow us to
meet more effectively the needs of
our students and thereby improve
the quality of their university
experience," he said.
The application for admission
to university has been redesigned
and it will require every high
school applicant to indicate their
study preference. "If, for example,
a student was interested in
chemistry, then he or she would
indicate on the form, Faculty of
Science, major in chemistry,"
explained Dr. Tuinman. "If it was
business, then they would
indicate Faculty of Arts, major
in pre-business. The category of
'undecided' would be retained
for those who are unsure of their
choices."
For senior students who are
currently enrolled in general
studies, changes are also in order.
"Students currently enrolled with
their faculty indicated as general
studies and their major as 'other'
will be required to change both
their faculty and their major,"
said Dr. Tuinman. "They can
obtain program and degree advice
from the new Academic Advising
Centre of the registrar's office."
He explained that students in this
situation are being contacted
individually by the registrar's
office and are being asked to fill
out the Change in Academic
Program form. Dr. Tuinman
emphasized that students will not
be forced to choose a faculty right
away. "At this time we are just
asking for an expression of
interest," he said.
The dissolution of the
Division of General Studies
has necessitated a transfer of the
duties and the personnel
employed there. Faculty and
staff have been transferred to
various units including the
Office of the Registrar,
continuing education and the
Faculty of Science.
In particular, the academic
advising function of general
studies has been transferred to a
newly constituted Academic
Advising Centre that is now
part of the registrar's office.
The Academic Advising Centre
will also be responsible for the
high school liaison program.
The Learning Resources
Centre, the microcomputer
laboratories and the Writing
Centre will now be the
responsibility of the school of
continuing education. The few
courses that were offered through
general studies will revert to the
arts and science faculties.
The physical locations for all
services have not changed.
Inside
MUN-Bordeaux agreement renewed 3
Meet Bruce Johnson, art gallery 4
When will the TSC food court open? 5
Letters to the editor 7
Guess what two students invented? 8
CeAnne Walsh wrote, stars in new play...9
Your guide to Winter Carnival 12