University of Virginia Library

Expanding Scope

Graduate Council Diversifies Activities

News Analysis

By CINDI STUART

This year the graduate
Council of Arts and Sciences
has broadened its outlooks to
include, in addition to its
traditional "Happy Hour," a
variety of activities for all
graduate students of the
University.

Plans Course Evaluation

The officers of the Council,
Tom Mason, president,
Caroline Metter,
vice-president, and Mary Lee
Vance, secretary-treasurer, are
interested in involving graduate
students from as many
departments of the University
as possible.

One of the major projects
the Council is undertaking is
that of graduate course
evaluation. Evaluations will be
made in strict confidence and
will stress objective,
constructive criticism. The
results will be published in the
undergraduate course
evaluation booklet.

According to Mrs. Metter,
much skepticism surrounds the
issue of evaluation as some
professors feel it is
unnecessary. "Hopefully, all
fears will be alleviated by the
constructivism of the booklet,"
she said. "Knife-turning is not
the purpose. No one is to feel
the pain or glory of being
singled-out."

The Council hopes that the
evaluations will be beneficial to
both the students and
professors. "In a seminar, the
professor and students do the
teaching with the professor as
an experienced, enlightened
moderator," said Mrs. Metter.
The criticisms would,
therefore, "evaluate not only
the professors but the students
as well. Offering suggestions is
part of the academic process."

Aids Graduate Wives

In conjunction with the
graduate wives, the Council is
formulating another booklet,
an introductory guide to
Charlottesville and the
University for incoming
graduate students. The
graduate wives are also
sponsoring a Christmas auction
on Wednesday, Dec. 13th at 8
p.m. at the Baptist Student
Center featuring hand-crafted
items, home-baked goods, and
"good" white-elephant articles.
All proceeds will go to the Free
Medical Clinic. Items may be
donated by contacting Mea
Daum at 295-0252.

Graduates Socialize

Happy Hour is one of the
few sources of income for the
Graduate Council, but, more
importantly, provides an
opportunity for graduate
students from all schools of the
University to socialize. Each
Friday afternoon students mix
from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on the
West Range to enjoy eer,
cokes, and prezs and the
chance to get together.

A major program of the
Council is that initiated under
the Teaching Assistants
Committee. George Harrison,
the chairman of the
committee, stresses the
development of quality
teaching as one of the
objectives of the committee.

Orients Instructors

Mr. Harrison notes that the
majority of undergraduates,
especially first-year students,
are exposed to teaching
assistants. A need follows
therefore, to initiate these
assistants to teaching methods
such as policies toward
attendance and make-up
exams. Graduate instructors
are presently not oriented to
the University Honor System.
The committee is working to