Re: How do you measure success

Chris J. Meyer (CMeyer@MS.ROSE.CC.OK.US)
Mon, 30 Sep 1996 08:30:37 CDT

Our two-year school, too, is wrestling with the concept of "success." The
administration and some faculty have one version of success and some of the
other faculty have another notion of success. I am pleased to see that you
decided to define the word before your college acts further upon deciding
how to proceed. We haven't even come that far. It seems that society sees
success as shear numbers passing. The administration reflects what it sees
as the public demand. The math faculty, in particular, has been pressured
into "seeing to it" that more students "make it through" their math
classes.

This was in a recent memo that I wrote to our Division Dean:

"As much as I would like to, I'm not sure that I can guarantee that the
student body will "succeed." I can't even guarantee that my own kids will
succeed. I will do everything within my power to give them the tools to
make it, but ultimately, it is up to them. No, I will not turn my back on
them. I love them with all my heart, and it hurts me to see them falter.

"It hurts me to see my students falter too. There are some things beyond
my control. I can do all the tutoring you or I want, but the bottom line
is, if students are unwilling or unable to study at home, they will not
learn the material."

One of our missions is to provide students with the "opportunity" of
obtaining a college education. I don't think our mission is to "give"
anyone a college education. One of my colleagues said that our students
might be successful only in finding out through their experience here that
they need to pursue some other avenue of providing a living for their
family. We need to be sensitive to our students dreams and aspirations,
but giving them a degree at any expense is not doing them a service, in
fact, we are doing them a disservice.

:-)
Christopher J. Meyer, Professor of Mathematics, Rose State College
Phone: (405)733-7494
Internet: CMeyer@ms.rose.cc.ok.us
-------------
Original Text
>From Bret Taylor <bret@IAG.NET>, on 9/29/96 10:56 PM:
Just a philosophical question.

We are all concerned (to some extent) about how well we, individaully, as a
department or as an institution, are doing our job. Our college (a small
public community college) administration uses some criteria. I wonder how
we, as math instructors, decide hwether or not we are successful. Any
ideas? How do you (or your school) decide whether or not you are
successfully doing your job?

Actually, I'm getting ready to make about a 20 minute presentation to our
faculty and administration presenting my point of view. So I'd like to
hear
from some other people who say they use the same criteria I do. (Don't
ask.
If I told you my criteria it would "bias the input.")

Thanks for any indight you might give.
Bret Taylor Lake-Sumter Community College Leesburg FL

"It matters not the subject taught, nor all the books on all the shelves.
What matters more, yes most of all, is what the teachers are themselves."
John Wooden

John 3: 3 3