Central Florida Future, Vol. 08 No. 21, April 2, 1976

              FLORIDA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
Vol. 8 Friday, April 2, 1976 No. 21
Administrative red tape cited
Faculty discontent shown
in recent opinion survey
By DANA EAGLES
Editor-in-Chief
A comprehensive survey of
87 per cent of full-time
nine-month faculty members has
revealed the majority of FTU's
instructors think the
administration is tied up in red
tape, and does not support the
interests of the faculty.
The results also show a
majority are dissatisfied with
opportunities for promotion and
believe student evaluation of
faculty members should be
discontinued. While a majority
believe research and service are
adequately recognized as criteria
in considering instructors for
promotion, faculty members
polled are about evenly divided
Psychology Department head
Abbott resigns post
"It's a personal decision with
no ill will or hard feelings" said
Dr. David W. Abbott, former
Psychology Department
chairman, two weeks after his
resignation was announced.
Abbott, chairman of the
department for eight years, said
there is no replacement
presently under consideration,
but that the recruiting process
has begun.
Scouting for a new chairman
will include the placing of
advertisements in the American
Psychological Association
publication and the Chronicle of
Higher Education. The
university will also seek
candidates through the Regional
Psychology Convention.
In addition, the opening will
be posted and advertised in the
state capital, Tallahassee, to
comply with the Equal
Opportunity Employment Act.
The tenured faculty of the
Psychology Department will
serve as a selection and screening
committee. The committee will
select three final candidates to
recommend to Dean Bernard C.
Kissel of the College of Social
Sciences and to President
Charles N. Millican.
"The final decision for a
replacement rests with the
president of the university,"
Abbott said.
A replacement could be
announced by June or July but
perhaps not until September,
Abbott said, adding that he will
remain acting chairman until the
candidate is selected.
"I like FTU very much and
am very committed to the
university," he said.
"It is inaccurate to state that I
do not like my colleagues. It is
simply an appropriate time for
me to resign my commission,"
Abbott said, noting he thinks
administrations should change
periodically.
Photo by Mike Padgett
THE YOUNGEST STUDENTS AT FTU were oriented Monday when
the FTU Child Care Center opened. The center has 17 children
enrolled ranging in age from two to five years. Acting director Dean
Carol Wilson described the first day as "successful and surprisingly
smooth." Story on page 8.
on whether teaching is given
enough weight in those
decisions.
The survey was funded by the
Division of Sponsored Research
and conducted in conjunction
with the Faculty Senate. The
Faculty Opinion Survey
Committee was formed of one
instructor from each college and
two staff members from the
Academic Affairs Division.
Faculty members responded as
agreeing or disagreeing or
advocating or opposing
statements to various degrees.
Results reported here show
percentages of faculty members
who agreed, disagreed,
advocated or opposed to any
degree:
— Only 40 per cent think the
Faculty Senate is able to
influence administrative policy
change, and 91 per cent think
the senate should have "far more
influence" in university matters.
— Eighty-six per cent said the
practice of student evaluation of
faculty contributes substantially
to "grade inflation," the rising
percentage of high grades given
by instructors. Eighty-eight per
cent favored awarding fewer
high grades than are now
awarded.
— The majority think public
service is strongly encouraged by
the administration, but not
research or "quality teaching."
— Sixty-two per cent said
changing the name of the
university would be in the best
interests of the institution.
— An annual evaluation of
"key academic administrators"
by faculty members was
recommended by 90 per cent of
those polled.
— Almost all faculty members
polled—95 per cent—asked for a
reduction in the amount of
paperwork required of
instructors.
— A majority recommended
additional master's and doctoral
programs.
— Sixty-one per cent
recommended the State
University system change from a
quarter to a semester system.
— As did a recent Faculty
Senate resolution, a majority of
instructors urged that a minor
area of study be established and
recognized as an option to the
students.
Most faculty members polled
are dissatisfied with the way the
administration treats faculty
members as professionals.
Seventy-six per cent find the
situation either "generally
unsatisfactory" or "very
unsatisfactory."
A great majority—85 per
cent—registered some degree of
dissatisfaction with the amount
of faculty input into decisions
Continued on page 2
Photo by Alan Geeslin
STUDENT SENATOR DEB SAMMONS takes complaints at the SG
gripe table during registration last week. Though the registration
process went smoothly despite a 24 hour delay due to computer
problems, Student Body President Gary Andersen said he collected
over 100 pages of student complaints.
p
Registration:
Smooth despite complaintsl
By ARLA FILKO
and
ANNE MERRITT
Staff Writers
FTU's new registration schedule appeared to run smoothly despite
complaints voiced by two-thirds of the 15 students polled during
regular registration.
Eleven students said the elimination of advance registration was an
inconvenience; four said it was not.
Complaints seemed divided between conflicting work schedules
and shortened breaks. Three students cited additional driving as a
problem and two students said finding a baby-sitter caused a hardship.
Keith Henderson, a senior microbiology major, said he was forced
to take two days off work in order to register.
Debbie Komanski, a senior in theatre, said, "I had to get off work
to register. Advance registration would have been easier. This
registration messed up the students' vacations."
In addition to conflicting jobs, four students said registration
interfered with their plans during the break.
Alice Noss, a junior in respiratory therapy responded, "This is my
third day out hery on campus. I hated to give up three days of my
vacation.
Suzanne Riccaboni, a junior in elementary education, voiced the
same objection. "I was expecting a vacation time. I think they rely
very heavily on a computer, but it could have been handled better
with a pre-registration during the break was "definitely an
inconvenience. I had to drive over from Cocoa. I don't like it."
Tugging on the hand of an impatient youngster, Barbara Sakuma, a
senior history major, said, "It sure was an inconvenience for me. I had
to find a baby-sitter for the other child and drive from Titusville.
Gary Andersen, student body president, said registration went
smoothly except when the computer broke down. However, he said
having registration during spring break was an "absolute
inconvenience" to students.
To support his statement, Andersen said Student Government set
up a table during registration for students to voice their opinions.
According to Andersen, Student Government collected over 100 pages
of written comments.
Continued on page 5
Vicki Roussman will
resign to avoid dismissal
By KERRY FAUNCE
Associate Editor
Village Center Programming
Director Vicki Roussman has
chosen to resign at the end of the
spring quarter rather than face a
possible dismissal by FTU
administrators.
According to David Huang,
president of the Village Center
Board (VC) Ms. Roussman met
with Dr. C. William Brown,
associate vice president for
Student Affairs, and Dr. Kenneth
Lawson, director of Village
Center, March 12 to discuss her
evaluation. Brown sais the
evaluation is given after five
months of probationary
employment with the university
Continued on page 15
VICKI ROUSSMAN
—'Personality' cited