University of Virginia Library

Curriculum Reform

What Exactly Does It Mean?

NEWS ANALYSIS

By Bill Fryer
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

After all of the controversy and
debate that has surrounded the College
Faculty's decision about the new
curriculum, many students are not quite
sure what it all means for them.

This now successful curriculum
represents the first major reform of the
general structure and requirements of the
College curriculum since the early 1950's.
It also is an indication of a change of
attitude towards University
undergraduates by the faculty from the
days of the "Gentleman's C" to a time of
a more serious minded and academically
oriented student,

There is more emphasis on student
responsibility and less subtle "coercion,"
as one faculty member phrased it. The
new curriculum opens with the general
theme and reasoning that guided the
Committee and the rest of the faculty in
framing the document:

"Each student is responsible for planning
his own program of academic work and for
meeting the requirements for the degree on
time. Except where approval of a faculty
member o dean is specifically required, the
services of the faculty in planning a student's
program are only advisory."

When the curriculum goes into effect in
September 1970, a currently enrolled College
student will be able to elect whether he
wishes to take the old curriculum or the new.
The incoming Class of 1974 will have to
operate under the new curriculum.

A student under the new curriculum must
complete 96 hours of graded (A B C D)
work, but may complete the rest of his 12
hour degree requirement under pass-fail. Of
course, a student may take extra pass-fail
courses above the 120 hour requirement, but
may not take courses pass-fail in fulfilling his
major requirements. Also a student may not
use the pass-fail system in fulfilling his Area
Requirements.

As in the past all first-year College
students must complete English
(Composition) in then first year unless
exempted by the Department of English. The
foreign language requirement is also relatively
unchanged from past requirements: unless a
student scores at least 700 on his language
achievement examination, he must complete a
language successfully at level 6.

In computing the grade point average,
grades per semester-hour will be weighed as
follows: A, 4.0; A-, 3.7; B 3.3; B, 3.0; B-,
2.7; C1, 2.3; C, 2.0; C-, 1.7; D1, 1.3; D, 1.0;
D-, .7, F, 0. Pluses and minuses will now take
on a new significance as a difference of two or
three points on the final exam could
potentially alter a student's grade point
average.

In addition to the English I and foreign |