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The Vanguard is published twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays.
ESTABLISHED 1946
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11TH, 2011
The expansion of online academia
Grad rates are up Majority of PSU graduates are transfer students, not first-time freshmen Ryan Deming Vanguard staff
Though it may seem that Portland State is in line with the national trend of four-year colleges graduating a decreasing number of students, some university officials say otherwise. This is because the bulk of PSU graduates aren’t freshmen— they’re transfer students. An article published by The Chronicle of Higher Education on Dec. 5 reported that 35 percent of 1,400 four-year institutions had lower graduation rates at the end of a sixyear cycle in 2008 than at the end of another in 2003. The problem with looking at the various statistics on graduation rates is that every institution and college seems to have a different way of quantifying “graduation” or “completion,” according to Roy Koch, the provost and vice president for academic affairs at PSU. “The standard national measure for national graduation rates is that of a full-time, first-time freshman graduating within six years,” Koch said. GRADUATION TO PAGE 3
VOL. 65 NO. 28
PSUVANGUARD.COM
In response to student demand, PSU is increasing the number of online courses Erick Bengel Vanguard staff
T
erm by term, Portland State is steadily introducing more online courses into its curriculum as a greater number of students are expecting the university to shift to an online atmosphere. “Our students really appear to want online learning,” said Roy Koch, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “There’s an obvious and growing demand by students for technology-assisted classroom activities and, in many cases, fully online activities.” PSU’s online courses tend to fill up faster than regular courses because students can more easily work an online course into their schedules, Koch said. By offering a more flexible and convenient option for students who, for example, have trouble coming to campus, online courses allow students to move smoothly through their chosen program—a state of affairs known as “curricular effectiveness,” Koch said. “We want to make sure that classes are offered and available at the time when students need to take them so that they can make progress at the rate they’re hoping to,” he said.
SARIA DY/VANGUARD STAFF
Going digital: PSU is expanding its online course catalogue to better serve students.
so as to meet student demand for them in a focused, high-quality manner. For example, Rose will oversee the unification of PSU’s two primary “We want to make sure that classes are offered service stations that specialize in online and available at the time when students need learning modalities: the Center for Aca to take them so that they can make progress demic Excellence, at the rate they’re hoping to." which trains PSU ROY KOCH faculty in hybrid courses, and the OnAccording to Melody Rose, PSU’s vice provost for line Learning Service, which trains faculty in fully academic programs and instruction, the university is online courses, in addition to developing courses currently taking stock of its online resources and is for the university’s online extension service. figuring out how best to reorganize these resources The two stations—which have cultivated differ-
ent areas of expertise over the years—are currently housed in Cramer Hall and the School of Extended Studies, respectively. When they are finally combined, they will together be known as the Center for Online Learning. “There’s a lot of talent in both teams,” Rose said. “Physically bringing them together under one roof allows them to collaborate and to learn from each other’s expertise.” She explained that this marriage of convenience between the two stations will streamline PSU’s online experience, as faculty and students alike won’t have to “venue shop” for services. Instead, everyone will enjoy the full complement of online services in one location, a single access point for PSU’s instructional design team. ONLINE TO PAGE 7
Renovations to Neuberger Hall proposed PSU submits a request to the legislature for $83 million Alison Barnwell Vanguard staff
Time for an update: Neuberger Hall is located on Southwest Broadway between Shattuck Hall and Smith Memorial Student Union.
ADAM WICKHAM/VANGUARD STAFF
The Oregon legislative session that commenced on Monday will see to the Oregon University System’s capital request budget, which includes a call for $83 million to be put toward Portland State’s Neuberger Hall. The 2011–13 budget ranks 25 requests for building maintenance and renovation across OUS. Neuberger Hall is the sixth item on the list. Built in two phases between 1962 and 1969, Neuberger Hall retains most of its original construction. The major renovations in question would
entail an upgrade of efficiencies and the installation of seismic bracing to safeguard the building against earthquakes. “Think about renovating a house,” said Communications Director Scott Gallagher. “You would want it to be safer and more efficient.” Robyn Pierce, the director of Facilities and Planning at PSU, is overseeing the Neuberger project during the proposal stage. “At PSU, we don’t have the funding to keep things up-to-date as we should,” she said. “We need so much done around campus.” Justin Peery, a graduate of PSU who works as a cashier in Neuberger Hall, said he’s in favor of a renovation. NEUBERGER TO PAGE 7