Oct 6, 2022 08:47 PM
(This post was last modified: Oct 6, 2022 09:33 PM by C C.)
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/10/...anic-chem/
EXCERPTS: . . . These events are probably attracting some attention because they fit nicely with a couple of popular narratives about failings in the modern university system. As tuitions have skyrocketed, there's been a temptation to treat degrees as products and students as customers that need to be drawn in and kept satisfied. Attracting more students also boosts tuition income, but having 350 students in a chemistry class can tend to limit student satisfaction, which may have been a factor in the complaints.
Some takes on the modern university system suggest that the desire to keep students happy has left administrators caving to their demands, essentially placing the inmates in control of the asylum. The degree to which these narratives are accurate is hotly debated. But it's easy to see how Jones' firing after student complaints lines up nicely with them. That means a lot of people are going to interpret it strictly through that lens. But there's a lot more going on here, including when Maitland Jones ran afoul of his students. [I.e., the Covid Era -- many of them falling behind as a result of that.]
[...] It's not clear how best to support the students who find themselves thrown into higher-level classes without the skills developed in intro-level courses. But two things should be clear: NYU's organic chemistry students aren't the only ones experiencing this problem, and any solutions should involve a lot more than just firing any professors who aren't helping the students get up to speed... (MORE - missing details)
https://youtu.be/-sERlDD9fvE
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/-sERlDD9fvE
EXCERPTS: . . . These events are probably attracting some attention because they fit nicely with a couple of popular narratives about failings in the modern university system. As tuitions have skyrocketed, there's been a temptation to treat degrees as products and students as customers that need to be drawn in and kept satisfied. Attracting more students also boosts tuition income, but having 350 students in a chemistry class can tend to limit student satisfaction, which may have been a factor in the complaints.
Some takes on the modern university system suggest that the desire to keep students happy has left administrators caving to their demands, essentially placing the inmates in control of the asylum. The degree to which these narratives are accurate is hotly debated. But it's easy to see how Jones' firing after student complaints lines up nicely with them. That means a lot of people are going to interpret it strictly through that lens. But there's a lot more going on here, including when Maitland Jones ran afoul of his students. [I.e., the Covid Era -- many of them falling behind as a result of that.]
[...] It's not clear how best to support the students who find themselves thrown into higher-level classes without the skills developed in intro-level courses. But two things should be clear: NYU's organic chemistry students aren't the only ones experiencing this problem, and any solutions should involve a lot more than just firing any professors who aren't helping the students get up to speed... (MORE - missing details)
https://youtu.be/-sERlDD9fvE