Page 53 - ThePhoenix1993-94

THE PHOENIX Western Maryland College der a great deal of pressure to perform." Although all students who have academic A newly implemented policy which scholarships feel the pressure to perform, alters the grade point average require- the student who had a 4.0 GPA in high ments needed to maintain academic school will probably have an easier time scholarships was discussed by the fac- maintaining a 3.0 GPA in college than the ulty on November 2. student who had a 3.2. GP A in high Previously, all WMC students who school. O'Connell does not want students received academic scholarships from "to walk out the door, and not come the college, regardless of the amount, back", because they could not maintain a had to maintain a 3.0 GPA to keep their 3.0 GPA and lost a $2,000 scholarship. scholarships. The new policy, proposed 'Under the previous and current policy, and implemented by the now defunct students who fail to meet the minimum Enrollment Management Committee GP A requirement do not immediately this summer establishes a tier system in lose their scholarships, according to which GPA requirements depend upon Disharoon. They are granted a probation- the dollar amount oftbe academic-schol- ary semester in which they have to raise arships received, according to Assistant their GPA to the minimum requirement. Dean of Academic Affairs Barbara If they fail to meet the minimum require- Disharoon. ment after the probationary semester, The current policy sets up the follow- they still do not necessarily lose their ing three-tiered system: Students re- scholarship. In fact, these students have ceiving less tban $5,000 in academic the right to take their case to the Appeals scholarship aid must maintain a 2.5, stu- Committee; this committee usually al- dents receiving between $5,000 and lows them to keep their scholarship as $6.250 must maintain a 2.7, and student long as they have made significant receiving more than $6,250 must main- progress towards meeting the minimum tain a 3.0, according to Disharoon. GPA requirement in the following semes- According to Directorof Admissions ter. Dean Disharoon explained that the Marty O'Connell, and AssistantDean of "large number of appeals" heard by the Academic Affairs Barbara Disharoon, Appeals Committee also motivated the the policy was proposed to make the re- ~~implementiog new GPA require- quirements for keeping academic schol- arships fairer to all students. O'Connell According to Dr. Richard Claycombe, explained that with the old policy "a stu- professor of Economics and Business Ad- cifically for scholarships, according to because of the 2.5 GPA requirement for dent who had a $2.000 scholarship and ministration and cbairman of the Admis- Claycombe. This particular decision tbe lowest tier. The results of the Middle came to us with a 3.2 high school GPA sions and Standards Committee, the deci- crosses both those lines, however, and no States Analysis showed that the college had to maintain the same GPA as a stu- sion to adopt the new policy was an "ad- formal system exists to make joint deci- wide average GPA was 2.7. Dr. Deveny to Ctaycombe. sions, according dent with a Trustee Scholarship (full tu- ministrative decision" and not a faculty After the new policy was presented commented that it was "odd that a merit ition) who probably came to us with a decision. Normally. the faculty makes to the faculty at tbeir November meeting, scholar must maintain a GPA lower than 4.0 high school GPA." decisions concerning graduation require- Dr. Claycombe said that there were some the college average." He suggested that Because of this inequity, O'Connell ments and academic issues, and the ad- the new policy be modified so that "the "objections" to it. Dr. Thomas Deveny lowest tier is the college average." believes that students who receive mini- ministration makes decisions concerning expressed opposition to the new policy See Scholarship Page 3 mal academic scholarships are "put un- tuition and the allocation of money, spe- Hoover Library Faces Big Budget Cut and Neikirk was pressed to reduce his ap- Neikirk says that this is only one way me a lot more work." Not only is she By [L1ZABETII OLIVER C... ,rib",,",Wriu, proved budget. He chose to target the the budget cuts have hurt them. Because giving bibliographic instruction lO stu- The Hoover Library at Western "book budget," a sub-division of the over- of the cuts over the last three years, not dents, but she is now attending outside Maryland College is facing one of its all budget, because, "we've got to find it, only is there less new information in the workshops on technological advance- worst budget cuts in recent history, re- we've gottofind [the $100,0001 now and library, but books he has to buy are ments in her field which draws her away suiting in a $100,000 reduction of the there it is," he said in explaining bis think- priced higher, and there is less staff to from her desk. "It is a lot more demand- $900,000 approved budget. ing at the time of the committee's call. keep the library in operation. ing," she added. Library Director David Neikirk ex- The book budget was the only sub-divi- "The library staff has been super in re- Not only are there fewer librarians, plained that this reduction has forced ston where funds were not already com- arranging priorities," Neikirk said. Cur- but less library hours. Neikirk has elimi- him to eliminate hundreds of journals mitted. rently. four Iibranans aredoing the job of nated the library's Friday and Saturday and books, juggle his already-reduced The book budget consists of the books six since the budget does not allow for evening hours, meaning it now closes at staff, and cut the library's hours of op- and journals the academic departments the filling of empty positions. Librarians 4:30 p.m. on both nights. Because few eration. request Neikirk to buy as additions to the that were at one time isolated are now SeeB~dget page 3 In August, the WMC budget com- library'scollection. Byeliminatingapor- working with students to help them find mittee called to inform him that his bud- tion of these requests, including over 100 books and understand the computer sys- get was being cut by $100,000. "Let me journal titles and approximately 1,666 tem. "It means the peanut butter is say that again-one hundred thousand books, he saved the $100,000, according spread thinner," Neikirk said in attempt- dollars," stressed Neikirk. to Acquisitions Librarian Judy Falzon. ing to explain the overall budget picture. The problem lies in the timing of the Dr. Cornelius Darcy, chairman of the Jane Sharpe, cataloging librarian, said budget committee's call to Neikirk. history department, explained the prob- this overlapping of job duties is at times Last October, members of the library lem with cutting so many booksandjour- "very stressful." Despite the pressure of prepared a budget wbich was submitted nals. "It is discouraging," he said. "If the added duties, she said, "In a way it is to the Board of Trustees in February. budget is anemic, we will fall behind." good because I have a chance to do and was approved later in the Spring. Darcy added that students could be dis- hands-on work with students which Ien- As of July, the budget was set. couraged from starting papers when the joy." In August, however, the library's professor suggests helpful books which Circulation Librarian Katherine Fal- • ~" budget was interrupted "mid-stream," . are not on the shelves. - ~ner said the budget cuts have "given