Undergraduate Student Government president Mike Goodman spoke up about the quality of undergraduate education at Ohio State during his university address on Wednesday, and how it often seems to fall second to OSU’s pursuit for research.
Demonstrating his commitment to academics, Goodman pointed out several areas where education suffers with OSU constantly trying to cut spending corners.
He recognized face-to-face student-teacher interaction is quickly being replaced by online courses and virtual office hours where students communicate with their professors through a chat room rather than in person. Because faculty members are finding themselves faced with larger and larger classes but still receiving less money, other less effective teaching methods are being used. Goodman said only 44.7 percent of students were taught by faculty, while the remaining 65.3 percent had no professor interaction in a classroom. Concerned about these large numbers, Goodman is calling for the university to reorganize its priorities.
He also brought to attention the General Education Curriculum which hasn’t been reviewed in 13 years. The GEC curriculum receives constant scrutiny from students about the program’s overall benefits. Recommending the curriculum be revised, Goodman revealed the quality of the student body has improved, therefore showing a need for more fitting GEC requirements. Unfortunately, OSU’s budget didn’t leave room for this project. While GECs are useful for creating a well-rounded student, for those who want more experience in their major or want to graduate on time, the courses are more of a hindrance.
Goodman even took a stand for the journalism program in the School of Communication. He focused on the fact that out of the six radio frequencies owned by the university, none are used by students. The Underground, the only student-run radio station, is denied radio time and the opportunity to serve as a practical learning environment for those interested in broadcast.
Advocating for the undergraduate, Goodman did a good job bringing up points that many undergraduates are concerned about. Instead of being a man of many words, he is a man of action, working toward the needs of his student constituents. While research is important for advancing the university into an institute of tomorrow, so is the educated students the university produces. Goodman is right. If OSU can take high debt risks for a new medical center building, why can’t the university take the same risk on its students and spend its money equally on the people paying for a superior education – what college is meant for in the first place.
