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BOARD STATEMENT VOICES CONCERN..............000. wets COnt!

 

'EFFECT ON STUDENTS

Again, the students receiving the greatest disservice
would be those at either end of the academic spec-
trum. The better student would not be fully extended
during the first year of his college or university pro-
gram, and the student not suited to university-level
education would spend a year, probably ending in
failure, which could have been more profitably used
in some other post-secondary institution or in
employment.

The problem addressed here is of crucial impor-

tance to the whole educational system in the Province
of British Columbia. The Academic Board urges
action to re-establish procedures which will ensure
some uniformity of academic standards and core
curricula throughout the province.

The board is also concerned about the apparent
decrease in standards in some college and university
programs. This is a continent-wide phenomenon, but
in Canada appears to have. two primary causes. The

 

first originated from “formula financing’, under
which system there were distinct financial advantages
to colleges and universities to maintain the largest
possible student enrolment.

This percolated down to the department level,
where, again, resources have been allocated on the
basis of student enrolment. The second cause results
from a change in educational philosophy during the
1960s, which saw a move to the displacement of

~ classical evaluation methods by such methods as stu-
dent self-evaluation, and a belief by some faculty
members that they do not have either the responsi-
bility or the right to evaluate students.

Yet again this has done a great disservice to stu-
dents. The more competent students lacked challenge
and the opportunity to demonstrate their ability,
while others have been encouraged to remain in aca-
demic programs which they have found subsequently
to be of little value in providing career opportunities.

STEADY IMPROVEMENT

The Academic Board believes that the colleges and
universities, and the Universities Council, should
acknowledge this problem and energetically move

. towards a steady improvement of academic standards.
In particular, resources should be allocated on the
basis of academic: quality as well as the number of
students enrolled. ‘

U.B.C. Reports/April 30, 1975

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