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8/12/2019 Wright SOQs
1/5
THE
The student publication of Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, Michigan
washtenawvoice.com
A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER
January 27, 2014Volume 20, Issue 12
The customers right?College keeps SOQs confidential; students say its their right to know
By NATALIE WRIGHT
Managing Editor
If youre a student at Eastern
Michigan University, you can log in
to the schools website and find faculty
and course evaluations, written by
other students, for every teacher and
every class since 2003. This tool helps
students registering for classes choose
an instructor who best fits their needs,
said Desmond Miller, EMUs student
body president. At the University of
Michigan, students may soon be able
to do the same.
Here at Washtenaw, students
evaluate their instructors and class-
es in Student Opinion Questionnaires
(SOQs), but they are not able to see and
use these evaluations when registra-
tion time comes.
If students want to share
and read instructor evaluations,
RateMyProfessors is the best method
for that, said Jennifer Baker, presi-
dent of the Washtenaw Community
College Education Association
(WCCEA).
In November, The Voicerequest-
ed the last five years of SOQs via the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA),
in order to publish them online as a
tool for students.
WCC denied the re quest, and in
a letter to The Voice, cited two rea-
sons: First, the results are considered
Deadly H1N1 virus
hits close to homeBy James Saoud
Staff Writer
The H1N1 u virus is alive and strong
in Washtenaw County this season, and
its aimed directly at college students.
People have the stereotype or stigma
that it will only affect kids and older
adults. That is not the case Sarah Dion,
a medical assistant at the Ann Arbor
Urgent Care on Stadium Boulevard, said.It seems to be affecting college students
this year.
Two u-related deaths have been re-
ported in Washtenaw County. Though the
cases here were associated with adults
over the age of 65, many u related hos-
pitalizations and deaths around the coun-
try this year have been connected to
adults as young as their early 20s.
While it may be true that the seasonal
H1N1
CONTINUEDA6
SOQ
CONTINUED A3
If the SOQ results were available online, would you use them to register for classes?
I wouldnt have
to drop so many
classes.Taylor Sinila, 21, Ypsilanti, liberal arts
Id definitely
use it. I use
RateMyProfessor
a lot, but it has a
huge voluntarysample bias.Grace Fisher, 19, Ann Arbor,neuroscience transfer
I would use it as a factor We
all have to deal with custom-
er service if were providing
a service, and the teachers
customers are students.Cheryl Grestein, 48, Ypsilanti Township, computer science
We should know who
are good teachers. So,
if thats how they mea-
sure them, we should
know too.
Stephanie Gary-Adams, 24,Ann Arbor, arts management
Yeah, it
would
be great
to get a
heads-up.
Rob Bucklew, 41, Britton,computer networking
Yeah, I totally would. That
would be helpful, especially as afreshman. I just had to wing it.
Kayla Mays, 18, Whitmore Lake, zoology
I think thatd be great very informative for students. a lot of students
go on RateMyProfessor. its a vital tool for college students, but this would
be more legitimate. Caesar Sabuda, 21, South Lyon, pathologist assistant
Yeah, I would use it. I would
go on there every time I
register.Jasmine Hudson, 19, Ypsilanti, pharmacy
Id definitely use it. Its nice to
know what kind of teaching style
and lecturing style they have.
RateMyProfessor is the main tool I
use to pick classes, but I think this
would be a lot better, more valid.Same Kruger, 32, Ann Arbor, business
You really dont know what youre get-
ting into until you get to class, and I dont
want to pay for classes if a professor isnt
good.Tatiana Cooper, 19, Ypsilanti, forensic science
That would be useful
because some teachers
dont work for me so Irely on tutors.Levi Jones, 21, Ypsilanti, GED
I believe it would be
useful, especially for
students with learning
disabilities to see who
is the best fit for them.Tarenz Arnold, 22, Ann Arbor, generaleducation
the property of the individual faculty
member. Second, making the infor-
mation public would have a chill-
ing effect on the student body, and
stop them from filling out the SOQs
properly.
Not according to the students.
STUDENTSHAVETHEIRSAY
To address the latter, the newspa-
per surveyed more than 100 students
around campus, and found that, in fact,
making the SOQs public may have the
very opposite of the chilling effect
the school was concerned about.
Out of the students surveyed, 98
percent said they would fill out their
SOQs exactly the same, or better. 42
percent of the total said they would
devote more time and thought to giv-
ing honest, meaningful answers.
I would definitely fill it out more
honestly, said Angie Eliana, a 19-year-
old neuropsychology transfer student
from Ann Arbor. I usually just B.S. it.
Id be sure to be more honest if I knewit would affect other people.
Knowing it was going to be used
that way, it would motivate me to be
more honest, said Sophie Downes,
21, an international relations student
from Ann Arbor. People would be less
apathetic about them.
Two percent of the students said
that they would hesitate to criticize
instructors out of fear that it might
turn others away or give that instruc-
tor a bad reputation.
And 96 percent said that they would
use the evaluations when registering
for classes, if they were available.
I think that would be really helpful
in understanding what a professor is
like, said Haily Hastings, 19, a graphic
design student from Saline. If there
are multiple choices for one class, you
can pick the one whose ratings are
most tailored to how you learn.
It would be way easier to pick
classes, said Tatiana Cooper, a
19-year-old forensic science student
Any additional
information is
helpful.Alec Hocking, 19, Canton, philosophy
I think that would be really helpful
in understanding what a professor
is like. If there are multiple for one
class, you can pick the one whos rat-
ings are most tailored to how you
learn.
Haily Hastings, 19, Saline, graphic design
Yeah, I would look at it. I
think it might be better than
RateMyProfessor; it wouldnt
be just the extreme cases that
have their say; youd get more
of the middle.
Jordan Semer, 30, Plymouth, liberal arts
Thatd be
helpful.
Thatd be re-
ally helpful.Justin Brookins, 18,Taylor, graphic design
Yeah, I think we should be able to
see them, oh yes.Vanessa Love, 36, Belleville, criminal justice
Actually, yes.
Right now I just
ask friends who
they liked.Darryl Mundrick, 36, Novi, health science
Yeah, Id prob-
ably use it,
not for every
class, but for
the important
ones, the ones
that I really
care about.Lesley Blackwell, 18, AnnArbor, general education
A8
KELLY BRACHA | WASHTENAW VOICE
WCC students say they deserve access to instructor evaluation results; college, faculty say no
B1
Car show revs up Detroit
Can Michiganbe the nexttrailblazer?
B1
For more comments, visit http://www.washtenawvoice.com
8/12/2019 Wright SOQs
2/5
January 27, 2014The Washtenaw Voice A3News
Treasurerrecommends
financialcommittee
Members to comefrom Board andcommunity
from Ypsilanti. You really dont know
what youre getting into until you get
to class, and I dont want to pay for
classes if a professor isnt good.
Many students noted that they al-
ready use RateMyProfessors.com, but
that SOQs would be a more accurate
measure.
I use RateMyProfessors a lot, but
it has a huge voluntary sample bias. Ithink this would be more personal-
ized and accurate and would possi-
bly lessen how students are swayed
by that voluntary bias, Grace Fisher,
a 19-year-old neuroscience transfer
student from Ann Arbor, said.
I think it would be better than
RateMyProfessors, Jordan Semer, 30,
a liberal arts student from Plymouth,
agreed. It wouldnt just be the ex-
treme cases that have their say, youd
get more of the students in the middle.
PROPERTYOFTHEFACULTY
The reason that the evaluations
are not made public at WCC, as they
are at many other schools, is because
confidentiality was written into
the Letter of Agreement that estab-
lished the SOQ procedures between
the WCCEA and the colleges Board
of Trustees. Confidentiality was one
of the facultys terms to signing on to
the letter, said Baker.
This letter established the SOQs as
the primary means of evaluation for
faculty, meaning enough bad SOQs
can be grounds for firing.
Because of this agreement, the
administration is leaving it up to the
faculty to decide whether or not they
want the SOQs released.
The administration is not releas-
ing this information at this time due
to our obligation with the faculty to
withhold the information, said Jason
Morgan, director of government and
media relations. The administra-
tion would support the faculty if theywould choose to release the informa-
tion, he said.
But the faculty is determined that
the SOQs should be kept confidential.
One of the reasons we wanted tokeep them confidential is because stu-
dents will know that they can fire fac-
ulty by it, David Fitzpatrick, chief
negotiator for the WCCEA, said.
WCC is unique in how they use
them as the primary means of evalu-
ation. The extent that the college uses
them is further than other schools
and the confidentiality agreement is
a big part of that, Baker said. It has
to be confidential because its such a
huge part of the evaluation system,
she said. You cant have it both ways.
A RELIABLEMEASURE?
Baker also noted that she doesnt
believe the SOQs are the best way for
students, or the school, to measure an
instructors value.
There is a question as to what
makes a good instructor. It means a
lot of things to different students. As
many different forms of instruction
as there are, there are also that many
types of students, Baker said.
And many students acknowledgedthat point as well.
Everyone has their own opinion
and I wouldnt want to scare any-
one off from taking a certain instruc-
tor, Brandon Rice, 26, a networking
student from Saline, said.
Several noted that, while they
would use the SOQs during registra-
tion, they would take them with a
grain of salt, and use the comments
more than the ratings.
I would use it as a factor, but not as
a determination. It really depends on
the student, how they liked someone,
Cheryl Grestein, a 48-year-old com-
puter science major from Ypsilanti
Township, said.
Any additional information is help-ful, but it might be a lot of fluff opinion.
Id be careful how much I weigh on it,
said Alec Hocking, a 19-year-old phi-
losophy student from Canton.
THECUSTOMERSRIGHT
But, while students acknowl-
edged that these evaluations are not
black and white, they still want the
information.
We should know who are the good
teachers. So, if thats how (the college)
measures them, we should know, too,
Stephanie Gary-Adams, a 24-year-old
arts management student from Ann
Arbor, said.
We all have to deal with customer
service, if were providing a service
and the teachers customers are stu-
dents, Grestein said.
This oversight will not only help
students to choose the instructors
that best fit their needs, but will also
mean a higher success rate for them
and fewer dropped classes, they said.
It will also make the college better.
It would benefit both the stu-
dents and teachers, Caesar Sabuda,
a 21-year-old pathologist assistant stu-
dent from South Lyon, said. It can
only make the teaching here better.
SOQSFROM A1
How are SOQs used?
Would you fill out your SOQs differently if you
knew the results would be available to students?
Community, lawmakersgather for importantconversationWCC will host forum that could shapeMichigans future
Students ll out Student Opinion
Questionnaires in each class toward
the end of the semester. They rate pro-
fessors in several categories on a scale
of 0-5, with 5 being the highest. When
full-time instructors receive a mean
SOQ score of 3.75 or lower, they are
agged.
First fag:The instructors dean
analyzes the SOQ data and recom-
mends key areas for intervention. It
Yeah, Id actually care.
Amaria Bledsoe, 19, Detroit, pre-med
I usually just B.S. it. Id be sure to be
more honest if I knew it would affect
other people.
Angie Eliana, 19, Ann Arbor, neuropsy-
chology
People would definitely take the
SOQs a lot more seriously.
Sam Kruger, 32, Ann Arbor, business
Probably, I would be more specif-
ic about how they taught the class. I
wouldnt just breeze through it.
Spencer Williams, 20, Ann Arbor, journal-
ism
I would actually fill them out. I feel
like theyre pointless now.
Taylor Sinila, 21, Ypsilanti, liberal arts
Id definitely fill them out better. Id
want to tell people if I got my moneys
worth.
Caesar Sabuda, 21, South Lyon, patholo-
gist assistant
I might actually add something to
the comments.
Darryl Mundrick, 36, Novi, health science
Knowing it was going to be used thatway, it would motivate me to be more
honest. People would be less apathetic
about them.
Sophie Downes, 21, Ann Arbor, interna-
tional relations
Would it change how I approach
it? No, it wouldnt change how I ap-
proach it.Ricardo Knott, 44, Canton, digital media
production
I think a lot of people just check them
off as fast as they can, they dont re-
ally think about them. They would fill
them out better definitely if they knew
it affected other people who might
take that teacher.
Tommy Lepley, 19, Ann Arbor, biology
I fill it out pretty well, but I think
other students would make it a point
to judge more critically to help others.
Alexa Lukowski, 20, Dearborn Heights,
early childhood education
It would really add value and give
students a reason to fill it out.
Eric Loveless, 19, Ann Arbor, sports man-
agement
It would make me fill it out more
accurately.
Monique Hudson, 30, Ann Arbor, nursing
I always fill them out, that absolutely
wouldnt stop me.
Chris Young, 25, Ann Arbor, computer se-
curity
I would definitely answer better or
more thorough if that were the case.
Haily Hastings, 19, Saline, graphic design
I wouldnt fill it out different if its
still anonymous. I try to be as honest
as possible.
Kelly Lambeth, 30, Ypsilanti, math and
science
Id still fill them out the same.
Jacob Fountain, 20, Plymouth, general
education
Id write a lot more.
Roderick Comer, 20, Ypsilanti, business
management
No, I put my honest opinion on there
and it would change just because itwould be published.
Tricia Gary, 18, Pinckney, welding
I would fill it out better, more
comprehensive.
Louis Flanders, 20, Ypsilanti, undecided
No, as long as my name wasnt on it.
Kayla Mays, 18, Whitmore Lake,
zoology
CAMPUS EVENTSMonday Jan. 27
WCC Career Services Series: ResumeLearn tips on how to improve your re-
sume. Improve your odds of getting the job.From noon-1:30 p.m. in the SC CommunityRoom.
Coffee NightGet a free cuppa joe from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
in the SC Community Room.
Tuesday Jan. 28Job Search Techniques WorkshopLearn about the job search process and
how to find the job that is right for you. Food
and beverages will be provided for thosewho RSVP. From noon-1:30 p.m. in the SCCommunity Room.
Study Abroad International MeetingStudy abroad meeting for all AHA
International programs and for Costa Rica:Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in SC310 and Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 5:30-6:30p.m. in SC 328.
Wednesday Jan. 29Interview Skills WorkshopLearn how to prepare for an interview,
how to research companies, and how tosuccessfully interview using appropriate skillsand behavior. From noon-1:30 p.m. in the SCCommunity Room.
Thursday Jan. 30Low Carbon Diet #1Learn how to cope with climate change
and how to reduce your carbon footprintfrom noon-2 p.m. in the SC Community Room.
Trivia NightTest your knowledge against fellow
students and compete for prizes. From 5-6p.m. in the SC Community Room.
Wednesday Feb. 5LinkedIn WorkshopLearn the basics of building a LinkedIn
profile. View examples of fellow studentsprofiles and learn from their success. RSVPis required at to www.wccnet.edu/careercon-nection, events, workshops.
Thursday Feb. 6Charter One Bank: Budgeting for
a Better LifeLearn tips on budgeting for a better life
from noon-1 p.m. in the SC Community Room.
COLLEGE VISITATIONSMadonna University
Monday, Jan. 27 from 9-11 a.m. in theSC first floorTuesday, Jan. 28 from 9-11 a.m. in theSC first floor
University of Michigan-FlintTuesday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. inthe SC first floor
Art Institute of MichiganTuesday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. inthe SC first floor
Concordia UniversityWednesday, Jan. 29 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.in the SC first floor
Eastern Michigan UniversityThursday, Jan. 30 from noon-4 p.m. inSC 206Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 1-5 p.m. in SC206
is solely the faculty members choice asto which interventions to take.
Second ag (within 36-months of
the rst):The instructors dean devel-
ops a more comprehensive plan for
key areas of intervention. It is solely
the faculty members choice as to which
interventions to take.
Third ag (within 36-months of the
rst):Grounds for termination. A panel
of three deans including the instructors
own dean considers whether mitigating
circumstances justify not terminating
the instructor. The panel forwards itsrecommendation to the vice president
of Instruction who makes the nal de-
cision on whether or not to terminate
the instructor.
If instructors are not terminated
after three ags, their continued em-
ployment is contingent on up to four
semesters without an additional ag.
If they receive a ag during this time
frame, they are immediately terminated,
subject to nal approval by the vice
president of Instruction.
SECURITY NOTESFrom redacted incident re-
ports provided by Campus Safetyand Security, and interviews withDirector Jacques Desrosiers.
Hit-and-runThe Washtenaw County Sheriffs
Department is handling a case of a hit-and-run that took place on campus on Feb. 21
at 12:50 p.m.While at a stop sign near the BE build-ing, a students blue 2014 Ford Fusion wasstruck from behind by an unknown driver,who then fled the scene before exchangingany information.
By JON PRICE
Staff Writer
Washtenaw Community College
President Rose Bellanca is invit-
ing students, staff and community
members to join her in a commu-
nity conversation this week to dis-
cuss hot-button issues Michigan
will face in 2014.
The college is partnering with
the Center for Michigan, a non-
partisan think tank, to gain insight
from students, faculty and members
of the community, on what issues
are important to them.
The meeting is set for Jan. 29.
They want to create a friendly
atmosphere, said Steve Kwasny,
26, of Whitmore Lake, a leader of
the schools Political Science Club.
The Center for Michigan is actu-
ally a survey group who will ask a
wide range of questions, on any-
thing from prison reform to taxes
and use a hot or cold scale to decidewhat the states priorities are.
Jason Morgan, the colleges di-
rector of Government and Media
Relations, explained that a forum
like this could very well shape
Michigans future.
The goal is to listen to what peo-
ple have to say all across the state,
Morgan said, and create a report
to give to legislators and say: Here
are the priorities of the citizens.The forum was open to the first
50 people to reply to the invite sent
via email to community members
earlier this month on behalf of
Bellancas office.
The smaller forum is intention-
ally used by focus groups and politi-cians to better understand the needs
of a community, according to Jenifer
Jackson-Nkansah, a communications
instructor at WCC. Its easier engag-
ing and getting a response from small-
er group.
And students seem ready to engage.
I would like to get to the bot-
tom of the marijuana law, said Paul
Erlandson, 24, of Ypsilanti, a behav-
ioral science major.
Erlandson believes in marijuana
reform, but said he wouldnt neces-
sarily smoke himself.
I want to know when I can legally
grow hemp, he said, calling it a very
useful comm odity.
Other students, like Kwasny, have
more traditional concerns.
I want to know whats happening
with student loans that are a com-
mon issue for a lot of people who walkthrough these halls, he said. I know
its a federal issue, but there ar e states
rights involved as well.
Kwasny sees meetings like the
Community Conversation as critical
in citizens having their voices heard
by legislators. Morgan says its equally
significant for lawmakers.
Its important that theyre getting
a thorough view of what their con-
stituents are feeling across the state,
said Morgan, who helped organize
Wednesdays event.The meeting is scheduled to take
place in the Morris Lawrence build-
ing, Room 150, from 4-5:30 p.m., for
those who responded to the invita-
tion in time.
By MARIA RIGOU
Editor
Washtenaw Community Colleges
Board of Trustees is looking into the
creation of a three-member nancial
committee that will deal with nan-
cial and audit responsibilities.
The recommendation comes from
Board Treasurer Pamela Horiszny and
will include two trustees the treasur-
er and an individual appointed by the
treasurer and an additional member
selected by the two members of the
committee in consultation with the
CEO and the CFO. This third mem-
ber would come from the community.
This does make a lot of sense,
Horiszny said. We are all elected
ofcials, and we cannot be sure that
we have nancial expertise among us.
This is a great opportunity to have in-
terested people from the community.
The committee members would
serve for two years and would have
the chance to renew their appoint-
ments twice after the rst term.
According to Horisznys presenta-
tion at the Jan. 14 board meeting, the
idea is that the committee meets on
a monthly basis to review the nan-
cial reports submitted to the board
and look at the overall nancial po-
sition of the college. The committee
would also meet at least once a year
to deal with relevant matters of the
operational budget.
Im glad that we are doing this;it is long overdue, Trustee Diana
McKnight-Morton said. We had a
nancial committee before but it was
not into this depth.
For more comments, visit http://www.washtenawvoice.com
8/12/2019 Wright SOQs
3/5
THE
The student publication of Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, Michigan
washtenawvoice.com
A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER
Febuary 10, 2014Volume 20, Issue 13
B4B5 B1Detroit, the mecca of ruin porn
TellingOscars
fortune
Colleges tobe rankedon success?
Find a parking spot? Thank the snow-movers
By MARIA RIGOU
Editor
Community colleges across the
country may soon see a change in
their ranking system starting next fall,
which could help students make better
choices about where they spend their
tuition dollars.
Last August, President Obama pre-
sented a proposal that, among other
things, included the creation of a rat-
ing system that will rank community
colleges. As a result, Congress can tie
federal aid to college performance,so that students can maximize their
education at schools providing the
best value.
Under this proposal, the
Department of Education will devel-
op a rating system to help students
and their families compare the value
offered by colleges and institutions
and, in turn, encourage colleges to
improve their services.
The ratings will be based on several
measures, including access (such as
percentage of students receiving Pell
grants or other forms of aid), afford-
ability (such as average tuition, schol-
arships and loan debts), and outcomes
(such as graduation and transfers rates,
graduate earnings and advanced de-grees of college graduates), according
to the White House.
In addition, by 2018, federal stu-
dent aid will be defined by Congress
By JON PRICE
Staff writer
While schools across the county
closed or canceled classes due to
snow and bitter cold, students were
able to stay indoors and catch up on
homework or sleep while snow-
removal crews were hard at work.
At Washt enaw Com mun ity
College, the grounds maintenance
staff has spent long hours clearing
snow off the parking lot and side-
walks and spreading salt to make
it safe for when classes resumed.When the college is closed,
we still have to be here , said
Rick Westcott, the grounds main-
tenance manager. The staff was
working 14-16 hours a day.
Westcott said that his staff ha d al-
ready used more than 250 tons of salt
before the end of January.
Rich Harden, the mechanic for
the maintenance department, is no
stranger to the cold Michigan winter;
however, this particularly bitter win-
ter has presented a unique challenge
for the workers.
Whats been difficult in this cold
weather is the salt, Harden said. It
has to be about 15 degrees for it to
work, and its gotte n much colder
than that.
Harden services roughly 39 vehi-
cles owned by the school and more
than 770 pieces of equipment. With14 buildings on a campus that covers
nearly 300-acres, snow removal can
be a long and daunting process.
We have staff here from 3 a.m. until
11:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday,
Westcott said.
It isnt just a day of clearing snow
in the parking lots said Randy Ferry,
a lead on the grounds crew. Its an
endless cycle.
Ferry, 44, said the crew has well over
100 years of experience between them.
I think thats part of the reason
we do such a good job, because we all
know what were doing, he added.
And he wasnt bragging either.
Extreme attention to detail by
the grounds and buildings mainte-
nance workers earned them praise
from the schools president, Dr. Rose
Bellanca, at a board of trustees meet-
ing in January.Id really like to acknowledge the
work the grounds and maintenance
staff is doing, Bellanca said, noting
that the grounds crew had even taken
Amazing grace
By MARIA RIGOU
Editor
Judith Hommel once attended a
coed softball game to show her sup-
port for the Washtenaw CommunityCollege team. But it needed one more
player or it would have to forfeit the
game.
So she kicked off her sandals and
put on a pair of cleats, and played
the game.
In a skirt.
Only Judith Hommel.
Thats what kind of teammate she
was in t he more than 25 years she
served this college before retiring
about three years ago as the execu-
tive associate to then-president Larry
Whitworth.
Her spirit of collaboration was
renowned, as was her ever-present
smile. She touched many lives, and
took on myriad projects. Years after
her departure, her fingerprints are
everywhere on campus.
She decorated the miles of hall-
ways that were sterile a nd unattract-
ive, Whitworth recalls. She loves art
and loves to learn. She has an incred-
ibly active mind.
Besides managing the WCC Art
Collection and the educational dis-
plays, Hommel has remained a vital
part of the WCC Foundation even
during her valiant battle with can-
cer, diagnosed well before she left the
college. She started the international
travel programs for students and staff.
She also helped kick off the College Is
My Future program that gave at-riskyouth in the area a sense of what col-
lege was, in hopes of preparing them
for the future.
All these things are just a s mall
sample of how Hommel served the
college and her community.
She was always willing to try new
stuff, said Linda Blakey, WCCs vice-
president of Student and Academic
Services. She is such an advocate.
Only Judith.
Whitworth remembers Hommels
benevolent spirit.
Hommel was very involved with
The Learning Institute, a non-profit
the time to clear off all the signs that
directed vehicles and marked the
buildings around campus.
Building custodians earned her
praise, too.
Everyone is bringing in all this
dirty, muddy water, Bellanca said,
and I would really like to acknowl-
edge their efforts as well.
Marcus Brown, 51, of Ypsilanti,
knows how hard it can be t o keep the
hallways safe and clean in the win-
ter time. He works in the Morris-
Lawrence building as a custodian
after finishing his shift at Ypsilanti
Community Schools during day.
Here at Morris Lawrence, its
very impor tant beca use we have somany activities at night, Brown said.
Floors get slippery and you got to be
on it.
SOQs arepublic info,
Lawyer saysBy NATALIE WRIGHT
Managing Editor
While Washtenaw Commu nity
College denied The Washtenaw Voices
request to release the Student Opinion
Questionnaires, the door has not shut
for these records to be made available
to students.
We are ap-
pealing WCCs
denial, said
Voice Ed i to r
M a ri a Ri g o u.
After consulting
with our attorney
at the StudentPress Law Center,
we are confident
there is a strong
case for why stu-
dents should
have access to this public information.
Frank LoMonte, Executive
Director of the SPLC, has advised The
Voicethat the SOQs are not exempt
from the Freedom of Information Act.
They are not personal, private
property, as the school contends, nor
are they exempt as records within
or between public agencies, as the
students are creating the documents,
not state employees, he said.
BUILDERS
CONTINUED A6
SOQS
CONTINUED A6
REFORM
CONTINUED A6
Frank LoMonte
See an instructors reaction to
SOQ issue in letter to editor on A4.
whats thewage worth?
builder
Judith Hommel KATHY STADTFELD | COURTESY PHOTO
Randy Ferry, 44, is hard at work clearing snow from fire hydrants located on campus. JON PRICE| WASHTENAW VOICE
Meet the remarkablewoman who broughtclass to Washtenaw
8/12/2019 Wright SOQs
4/5
Febuary 10, 2014 The Washtenaw VoiceA6 News
that helps young students learn to im-
prove their academic skills that relies
on tutors to give their time helping
these students.
After her workday, she would work
with underprivileged children in the
Ann Arbor Public School system, he
said. She is the kindest, nicest, friend-
liest, most compassionate person Ihave ever met.
And th at is why th e WCCFoundation has a fund in her name.
The Judith Hommel Emergency
Fund was created by WCC staff mem-
bers Cristy Lindemann and ColeyMcLean, and it is designed to help
students who are in extenuating cir-
cumstances and their studies are suf-
fering as a consequence.
She was always helping students,
Blakey recalled.
Before coming to Washtenaw
Community College, Hommel worked
in education as a first-grade teacher.
She served as the Ann Arbor Art Fair
director and worked at the Matthaei
Botanical Gardens as the Flower Show
director. Hommel is also an accom-
plished artist, having earned a mas-
ter of Fine Arts in printmaking from
Eastern Michigan University.
Peter Leshkevich, director of
Student Development and Activities,
worked u nder Ho mmels wing for a
little more than two years until her
retirement in June 2011. He remem-
bers Hommels guidance with a spirit
of collaboration.
Judith was able to go around, liter-
ally to anyone at the college, and get
a positive response, Leshkevich said.
She was able to refocus everyone at
the college on student success and
learning, and all the amazing talent
we have here at the college.
Hommel was a woman of many
hats around WCC. She is someone
who has a pure heart. She is gracious.
And more than one person will say that
you dont come across those peoplevery often.
She really knows how to live, and
she really knows how to have fun,
Leshkevich said. (Her attitude is)contagious.
And she brings people together.
Hommels most remarkable char-
acteristic is her one-of-a-kind person-
ality. She has a naturally warm and
welcoming manner that allows her to
truly connect to every individual she
encounters on a level of friendship.
There is a group of women that
are good friends because of her, said
Wendy Lawson, vice-pr esiden t of
Advancement at the WCC Foundation.
Shes touched many lives.
Only Judith.
Lawson remembers when Hommel
won the Womens Council Unsun g
Hero Award and half of the audito-
rium was taken up with her friends,
she said.Her flaws were few, but notorious.
She did not know who the Rolling
Stones were, Lawson said. (But) she
makes really amazing guacamole.
Ac co rd in g to Ju li a Gl ei ch ,
Production Center assistant, Hommel
was a movie star who walked WCCs
hallways. Gleich worked with Hommel
before her retirement, and eventu-
ally took over an art college that dis-
tinguishes Washtenaw from other
colleges and universities because
of Hommel.
Even with her retirement, Hommel
continued to consult the Foundation
on special projects and helped Gleich
with special displays.
She is always thinking about the
college, Lawson said. She inspires
people.
Hommel has manifested a spirit
of collaboration that is embodied in
every single wall around Washtenaw
Community College. Her warm na-
ture and caring spirit is something
that defines her, and according to
Whitworth no one will have a harsh
thing to say about her. She is an ex-
ample of altruism.
She became an amazing baseball
fan, so I took her to her first baseball
game, Blakey said, adding that Detroit
Tigers catcher Alex Avila was her fa-
vorite, and she couldnt bear t o see
him injured so frequently.She would always be worried about
him, saying things like, oh, the man-
ager is playing him too many games, he
needs a rest, Blakey recalled.
Only Judith would think like that.
Judith Hommel,
graciousness personifiedJudith Hommel made a dif-
ference for others at WCC Shehas a sparkle in her eyes, a beau-
tiful smile, and Judith has always
endeavored to do good things for
others. Judith is the most gracious
person I have ever met.
Pat Taylor,
dean,Support Services and
Student Advocacy
Judiths grace and sincerity, as
well as her aesthetic and artistic
sensitivity, enhanced all that she
did for us. We were so lucky that
we had her at WCC to build student
knowledge and experience and to
grace the lives of all who workedwith her.
Nancy Ferrario,
professional faculty,
foreign languages
Judiths artistic fla ir helped in-
fuse the library with artwork. Her
partnership with the library staff
was instrumenta l in transform-
ing the Bailey Library into a place
where, we sometimes jokingly said,
you have no choice but to trip over
culture.
Victor Liu,
dean, Learning Resources
Judith Hommel is a creative
visionary whose creative talentshave been responsible for interior
designs that beautify the walls of
classrooms and hallways. Her ef-
forts inspire students and staff at
Washtenaw Community College
on a daily basis. She is a joy to
work with and full of ideas and
motivation.
Don King,
building maintenance painter
Judith is creative, thought-
ful and thought-provoking... She
has the made the campus more
colorful.
Todd Robinson,
building maintenance manager
She was the best, always looked
at the positive in every situation,
always had a smile on her face, and
was always willing to help anyone
out. She had boundless energy and
was involved in everything at the
school.
Rob Hagood,
professional faculty,
physical sciences
Judith is an angel...humble, gra-
cious, and she put so much work
and effort into making WCC a beau-
tiful place. Judith also has an amaz-
ing sense of humor and a very sharp
wit about her. Judith rules.Matt Zacharias,
professional faculty,
digital media arts
based on these ratings. Students
attending high-performing collegescould receive larger Pell Grants and
more affordable student loans.
I believe the rating system
will be accomplished as it is being
done at the moment within the
Department of Education, said
Jason Morgan, Washtenaws di-
rector of Government and Media
Relations. WCCs first priority is to
ensure the rating system measures
real student success rather than
simple completion rates, whichfail to adequately measure student
outcomes.
WCC believes that success is
defined by each student, based on
their needs. True student success
includes completion, transfer oremployment.
In response to this propos-
al, the American Association of
Community Colleges said in a press
release that the federal government
has an essential role in providing
information about the nations col-
leges, but that community colleges
do not support the ratings scheme.
Central concerns include the diffi-
culty of rating diverse institutions
and the fact that most community
college students are place-bound.
In a letter to the Department
of Education, AACCs President
and CEO Walter Bumphus said
that the organizations member
CEOs believe that the proposed
rating system is not the appro-
priate mechanism either for pro-
viding information to students or
for incentivizing higher educa-
tion institutions to improve their
performance.
Bumphus continues to explain
that community college students
do not have as much choices as the
proposal suggests.
The rating system is predi-cated on the assumption that stu-
dents have more choice between
institutions than many students,
at least community college stu-
dents, actually do, Bumphus wrote.
Overwhelmingly, our studentschoose to attend their local com-
munity college precisely because
thats what it is a conveniently
located, affordable, accessible, flex-
ible institution that has a wide array
of program offerings.
Rating two superficially similarcommunity colleges in different re-
gions, even in different parts of thesame state, is unlikely to influence
individual decision-making.
However, not all students agree
with this.
I chose WCC for the reasonable
price for what I was trying to do, said
Shane Law, a 27-year-old video pro-
duction from Hartland. If such a (rat-
ing system) existed, I would definitely
use it.
Psychology major Marko Delic, 19,
chose WCC because of its offerings
and possibilities of transfers.
If the ratings from the Department
of Education reflect the educational
level of the college, then I would defi-
nitely use those rankings, the Ann
Arbor resident said.For some students, proximity
might be an influential factor when
choosing a college, so a rating system
might not be relevant.
I never really thought about (com-
pletion rates), said Jessica Peifer, a
21-year-old undecided major from
Belleville. This was closest. And also
my cousin went here and she helped
me figure everything out.
WCC is represented at the federal
level by the Association of Community
College Trustees and the AACC.
In addition to these organiza-
tions advocacy, WCC President Rose
Bellanca expressed in a letter to
Department of Education Secretary
Arne Duncan her interest in partici-
pating in the discussion that will lead
the Department of Education to de-
velop the rating system, and expressed
the colleges concern regarding the
definition of student success that the
proposed plan presents.
Community colleges bear increas-
ing relevance in education in the
United States, as they serve approxi-
mately 12 million students across the
country, according to Morgan.
Community colleges currently
have an ally in White House admin-
istration with Dr. Jill Bidens work as
a community college professor and
President Obamas stated commit-
ment to increasing graduation at com-munity colleges, Morgan said. Biden
is the wife of Vice President Joe Biden.
The new college ratings system will
be developed before the 2015-16 aca-
demic year.
Cancellations leave students scrambling (and teachers, too)
By DAVID FITCH
Staff Writer
Hope Wade admits that shefreaked out a little bit when she
learned that her political science class
was canceled just a few days before the
start of winter semester.
And she was hardly alone.
This semester, WashtenawCommunity College canceled more
than 160 classes. But its been worse.
Cancellations in previous years have
been more severe.
Accor ding to figure s obtain ed
from Vice President of Student and
Academic Services Linda Blakey, 9.17
percent of classes offered this semes-
ter were canceled.
Cancellations have at times made
up about 12 percent of total class tally.
She noted, however, that this semes-
ters numbers remain tentative, due to
pending factors such as late-starting
courses.
Meantime, many students like
Wade found themselves scrambling
to fill the void left by courses canceled
in early January, just days before the
semester began.
Wade, a 17-year-old welding major
from Ann Arbor, was able to get an
override into another course.
David Mazza, 16, of Ann Arbor,
was less fortunate when his Spanish
course was canceled two days before
the beginning of the semester. After
he rearranged his schedule, he was
left with another problem.
At the end of it, I really wasnt left
with m uch time for w ork, said themath and science m ajor. So now hes
now looking for another job.
For some, though, the switch to an-
other course was an easy one. Rachel
Snyder, a 19-year-old nursing major
from Willis, said that she was able to
switch right over when her chemistry
class was discontinued.
And while many students were able
to adjust their schedules to accom-
modate the change, the shift caused
some bigger challenges for others on
campus. Part-time instructors often
suffer acutely from such cancellations.
Also a part- time instruc tor at
Eastern Michigan University, WCC
sociology instructor Kendra Smith
said that such sudden changes arechallenging.
From semester to semester, theres
a lot of uncertainty, she said.
At times, part-timers are relieved
of classes due to shortages and the
need for full-time instructors to fill
class quotas, said Donna Wasserman,
a full-time social science instructor.
I feel bad for the part-time in-
structors who have been here teach-
ing semester after semester. There just
arent any classes left for them after
the cancellations, she said.
In the past five semesters more
than 200 courses were canceled. The
only exception: Winter of 2012, when
162 scheduled courses didnt go.
Why is enrollment decreasing ?
Statistics suggest that the demograph-ics are changing.
Were competing among all the
different colleges for a smaller pool
of students, Wasserman said. Shealso cited the increasing number of
online courses as another reason for
the smaller number of on-campus sec-
tions being filled.
In any event, the numbers are down
from what they once were, according
to Vice President of Instruction Bill
Abernethy, who said that cancellations
have followed enrollment trends.
I think that nobody really predicted
that enrollment would start falling a few
years ago, he said, adding that this may
have led to higher cancellation rates.
Now, those who schedule classes
are doing what they can to adapt to the
change, he said.
Our enrollments are going to be fat
at best right now. So I dont think that
people are over-scheduling, he said. I
really think that they are doing the best
they can. They dont like to cancel class-
es either. Nobody likes it. The teachers
dont like it. The students dont like it.
I dont like it. Nobody likes it.
One option if your class is
cancelled: independent study
Cancellations of so-called cap-
stone courseslast courses that stu-
dents need to graduatecan stop the
progression of students through WCC.
Instructors and department heads
often need to turn to independent study
courses in order to help students con-
tinue past such a barrier.
Typically, independent study cours-
es consist of a student (or several) and
an instructor who oversees a course.
Such classes are listed as Study
Problems courses.
Often, though such courses prove
to be a difcult endeavor for all par-
ties involved, according to Dean of
Business and Computer Technology
Rosemary Wilson.
The student has to take ownership
of his or her education. Instructors who
agree to teach such courses, often with
only one student, are paid less for their
efforts than they would be paid for
teaching a full class. Departments also
must use precious resources to facili-
tate, such as classrooms, utilities and
technology.
Such courses, though, are at times
necessary to fulll WCCs stated goal
of moving students onward in their
education, said Wilson.
Independent studies can be very
valuable for students, but we are a
community college, she said. And
I dont want to use a lot of resources
toward independent study courses that
a student really should be going on to
a bachelors degree for.
According to Abernethy, the inde-
pendent study option is seldom used.
His job, he said, is to help students get
through their program at Washtenaw.
To create such a course, instructors
or students must take the initiative. A
proposal, ultimately, is brought before
the dean of the department, who de-
cides whether to approve it.
BUILDERSFROM A1
REFORMFROM A1
SOQSFROM A1
LoMonte added that he was es-pecially troubled by WCC faculty
representatives suggestion that
SOQs should not be made pub-
lic because theyre not the best,
most accurate way for students
to choose classes.
That may very well be true, he
said, but we dont withhold infor-
mation from the public just because
were afraid they might rely o n it
too heavily.
Also troubling, he said, was the
fact that WCC Education Association
President Jennifer Baker would re-
fer students to use Ra teMyProfessor,which, he said, is a completely unreli-
able source.
A person can start an account on
RateMyProfessor never having set foot
on your campus, LoMonte said.
The best-quality information is
the opinion of the entire group of stu-
dents who have most recently taken
the class, he said, and there is no
good reason to deny students access
to that information.
Judith Hommel designed many of the hallway art displays like this one in the TI
building BOB CONRADI | WASHTENAW VOICE
By David Fitch
8/12/2019 Wright SOQs
5/5
THE
The student publication of Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor, Michigan
washtenawvoice.com
A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER
Febuary 24, 2014Volume 20, Issue 14
A jazzy
combinationof visual arts
and music
A8
Colleges best practicestied to state funding
Trustees zero in on student success
College mulls modesttuition rate increase
College requests extension on SOQ request
But hourly cost foronline classes may rise
By MARIA RIGOU
Editor
And NATALIE WRIGHT
Managing Editor
Tuition might rise modestly next
fall, but Washtenaw Community
Colleges rates will likely remainamong the lowest in the state, offi-
cials said.
A discussion of rate increases was
a prime topic among several when the
colleges board of trustees gathered for
their annual winter retreat on Feb. 8.
Chief Financial Officer Bill
Johnson led the tuition rate increase
discussion that was based on com-
parisons of WCC to other community
colleges in the state and also on inter-
nal factors, such as the resources that
students need to support their collegeexperience.
We have, historically, and continue
to, trend at a tuition rate below the
averages, Johnson said. And the in-
stitution is very, very proud of that.
Michigans 28 community colleges
provide more than 440,000 students
access to affordable post-secondary
education.
Gov. Rick Snyders Executive
Budget recommendation for fiscal
years 2015-16 makes an increase in the
Education fundsdistributed amongcolleges based onperformance
By MARIA RIGOU
Editor
Washtenaw Community College
scored the highest of all community
colleges in the state in best practic-
es, and as a result, state appropria-
tion revenue increased.
Since Gov. Rick Snyder took of-
fice in 2011, combined operations
and retirement funding for com-
munity colleges have increased by
more than $72 million, according
to the Executive Budget recom-
mendation released by the state
of Michigan.
Snyders proposed budget rec-
ommends an increase in funding of
$371.5 million, of which $173.9 mil-
lion is general fund for 2015, as wellas $390.2 million, of which $192.6
million is general fund for 2016.
Increase in state funding is dis-
tributed to colleges in two parts:
the first half of the new funding is an
across-the-board increase; the sec-
ond half is distributed based on per-
formance metrics, such as weighted
degree and certificate completions,
enrollment, administrative costs as a
percentage of core expenditures and
best practices that enhance local stra-
tegic value.
The best practices, outlined by
Snyder, are a key component in the
governors goal of ensuring that at
least 60 percent of Michigans resi-
dents have high-quality skills train-
ing, a degree or any other credential
by 2025.
Its really what the governor has
identified as the matrix for success
in the perfecting of community col-
leges, Wendy Lawson, vice president
of Advancement, said. We scored the
highest of all community colleges.
In accordance with the EducationOmnibus Appropriation Act for fiscal
year 2014, the college is required to
certify that it meets certain minimum
requirements in order to qualify forstate appropriations.
By NATALIE WRIGHT
Managing Editor
And MARIA RIGOU
Editor
The rate of success among stu-
dents is among the most important
issues facing colleges and universities.
Defining it, however, remains one of
their most difficult challenges.
This is why the Washtenaw
Community College Board of Trustees
put so much focus on it at their annual
winter retreat on Feb. 8.
The discussion, led by Trustee
Stephen Gill, served as a reminder
of the indicators that the college has
identified to define student success
and how it is, as he described it, a
backdrop for what we do.
We identified 16 possible indica-
tors of success, Gill explained. There
is no one indicator. In community col-
leges, it is not fair to say th at comple-
tion in three years is the only indicator
of success (because we serve a variety
of students) ... and in our policymak-
ing we are keeping our sight on all
of these.Even though state and federal ad-
ministrations pay close attention to
completion rates and time frames forcompletion, Gill said that the college
and the board will continue to look atthose indicators and the host of indica-
tors the college has identified, such as
student goals, transfer rates, student
satisfaction, employment rate and
employment retention rate, among
others, to define success.
Student success is what drives
everything at the college, Julie
Morrison, executive director of
Institutional Effectiveness, Planningand Accreditation said. Improving stu-
dent success through both Instruction
and Student Services led the force be-
hind WCCs strategic plan, a document
that was introduced in 2011, she said.
The strategic plan is made up of
eight priorities that involve profes-
sional development, institutional
agility, visibility and branding, work-
force development, partnerships with
K-12 institutions, funding and com-
munity development and, of course,
student success.As we evolved with the priorities
(student success) is the one that not
only involved the most people, but also
kind of imbued every other priority,
Morrison said.
At th e re -
treat, each of
Wa s h t e n a w s
vice pres ident s
presented a re-
port on where
they stand with
their strategic
plan goals and
what they re pri-
oritizing, Wendy
Lawson. vice
president of Advancement said.
And the discussion inevitably fo-
cused on the student success goals,
and there are many.
A list of 13 faculty department ini-
tiatives was presented to the trustees
at the retreat. The school is funding
TUITION
CONTINUED A5
STUDENT SUCCESS
CONTINUEDA6
FUNDING
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Wa s h t e n aw C om m u n i t yColleges General Counsel Larry
Barkoff filed a request for a 10-day
extension regarding a Freedom of
Information Act request by The
Washtenaw Voice seeking Student
Opinion Questionnaires.The request for an extension, in
accordance with the FOIA, was made
on Feb. 19.
On Feb 10 The Voice filed its
appeal of the colleges denial of the
FOIA request for the last five yearsof SOQs.
The college said it would make
a decision on whether or not to re-
lease the SOQs by March 5
The little campus squirrel stood stoically near the GM building unaware of his
increasing popularity with the students walking by. See page A5
KELLY BRACHA | WASHTENAW VOICE
Sulaiman Shaikh, 32, moved from California to Michigan and is his first semester at WCC. Already looking for a college to trans-
fer to, Shaikh spoke to Daniel Medrow, a senior adviser for Eastern Michigan University during the WCC Transfer Fair, an event
that hosts representatives from more than 50 colleges and universities in the Student Center. Its an opportunity for students to
collect information on prospective colleges and ask questions about their t ranscripts. KELLY BRACHA | WASHTENAW VOICE
Wendy Lawson
Going Places
Recommended