Faculty approves University Club recommendation; sees student survey

By Jacquie Powers

The Cornell Faculty Senate last week approved a recommendation to establish a University Club for faculty and staff and heard a report on the results of a survey aimed at determining undergraduate preferences on three major scheduling issues.

The resolution recommending a Cornell University Club was approved overwhelmingly at the senate's regular monthly meeting April 9. It recommends establishing a club "open to all faculty and staff, housed in a rent-free, architecturally significant facility, located no more than a five-minute walk from Bailey Circle (the geographical center of the Cornell faculty)."

Peter C. Stein, professor of physics and chair of the University Club Task Force, explained that Provost Biddy Martin had charged the task force with investigating and developing a plan for a vital and appealing university club. He said the club would offer opportunities for faculty and staff to reinforce fellowship and community across units, departments and colleges. He added that the task force found thriving clubs on 16 of Cornell's 19 peer institutions.

The task force estimated that such a University Club would attract 1,000 members. Estimated cost of renovating an existing building such as the A.D. White House was $3.5 million; construction of a new facility, $6 million.

Martin said she supports the task force recommendation for a club but not use of the A.D. White House for this purpose.

The undergraduate survey conducted by the Senate's Educational Policy Committee focused primarily on evening prelims and classes, final examination schedules and attendance before and after Thanksgiving break, according to Susan Piliero, associate professor of education and member of the Education Policy Committee. The Web-based survey was administered in January. Of the 13,615 surveyed, 43.1 percent completed the entire survey, 3.7 percent finished only the first two questions and 53.2 percent did not respond, Piliero reported.

The results showed that 64 percent of students preferred in-class prelims, while 26 percent preferred evening prelims. For those who preferred evening prelims, 87 percent said it was because they had more time to think; 59 percent said they think more clearly in the evening; and 58 percent said it was less stressful. For those preferring in-class prelims, 75 percent said they were tired in the evening and don't think as clearly; 76 percent said they were less stressful; and 70 percent thought evenings should be free of academics.

The survey offered two alternative options to the current method of scheduling finals, and opinions were not clear on which schedule respondents thought would reduce stress, improve performance or be preferable. But 61 percent agreed or strongly agreed that Cornell should continue the current exam schedule.

The current schedule, in place for several years, begins the final exam period with four consecutive study days, Sunday through Wednesday. Exams begin on Thursday after the study days, and there are three exam time blocks per exam day, spread over seven consecutive weekdays (not on Saturday and Sunday), for 21 exam time blocks. Language exams are on the Saturday between weeks one and two.

The options presented in the survey disperse the study days throughout the exam period, yet still end the exam period on Friday of the second week. As a result, there are never more than two contiguous exam days, thus reducing the possibility of having several exams concentrated over a few days without an intervening study day.

On the question of whether the 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. time period, currently protected from academics, should be used for classes and exams, 65 percent disagreed or disagreed strongly on using this protected time for out-of-class prelims; 34 percent agreed or strongly agreed with the option of classes during this time period; and 44 percent agreed or strongly agreed with allowing classes during this time period if other sections were offered during the regular class times of 8 to 4:30. Fewer students, 27 percent, agreed or strongly agreed with allowing classes in the 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. time block. And 50 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed that classes should be scheduled from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Regarding Thanksgiving break, 34 percent of respondents last attended classes on Wednesday before break; 46 percent last attended classes on Tuesday; 14 percent last attended classes on Monday; 28 percent had no classes cancelled before the break; 33 percent had one class cancelled; 27 percent had two classes cancelled; and 12 percent had more than two classes cancelled. Some 49 percent agreed or strongly agreed they would prefer a longer break, while 39 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed.

On distributed learning, 61 percent agreed or strongly agreed that distributed learning would build flexibility into students' schedules; 74 percent said they would not find the option of entire courses online appealing; 51 percent said they would not find the option of entire lectures in streaming audio appealing; 61 percent said they would find the option of interactive tutorials appealing; and 56 percent said they would find the option of interactive testing appealing.

Piliero said the committee currently is making no recommendations. They will be analyzing the results over the next year, she added.