Bonfires fuel Faculty Council discussion
Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: Online Exclusives
The Faculty Council discussed issues ranging from student safety to undergraduate admissions at its monthly meeting Friday.
Franklin Street bonfires
Bruce Cairns, a UNC professor in the School of Medicine who specializes in burns, introduced a resolution concerning Franklin Street bonfires following men's basketball game victories. Cairns said that after the NCAA Championship game in 2005, there were 11 patients in the emergency room, four of whom were admitted with serious burns.
The resolution proposes that the Faculty Council, the University, the student body and the town of Chapel Hill work together to ensure student safety by discouraging bonfires.
"We need to develop another kind of celebration so these are safe and exhilarating activities," Cairns said.
He said both N.C. State and Duke universities are examples of schools where bonfires have regulations.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Educational Policy Report
Bobbi Owen, senior associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Arts and Sciences explained the revisions on the policy for academic eligibility for undergraduates, beginning with students entering the University after May 14, 2007.
A floor of nine hours must be passed each semester, in addition to maintaining the 2.0 grade point average minimum, according to the revisions.
If the policy would have been put in place this semester, Owen said 41 first-year students would be on probation. She said an appeal process is critical.
"We would like students to restore their own good standing," she said.
The council passed the revisions.
Undergraduate admissions committee report
Steve Farmer, director of undergraduate admissions, presented five years of data for the freshman and transfer classes between 2002 and 2006.
The data shows that the Hispanic enrollment has doubled in the past five years and that Asian enrollment has doubled in the past 10 years, Farmer said.
"It is vital to the future of our state … that these students go to college," he said.
Council members also discussed tuition rates compared to peer institutions. The tuition at UNC for out-of-state students, Farmer said, is modest compared to competitor schools.
"Our goal is to have Carolina as the first choice for all top students."
Compiled by Hannah Edwards
Franklin Street bonfires
Bruce Cairns, a UNC professor in the School of Medicine who specializes in burns, introduced a resolution concerning Franklin Street bonfires following men's basketball game victories. Cairns said that after the NCAA Championship game in 2005, there were 11 patients in the emergency room, four of whom were admitted with serious burns.
The resolution proposes that the Faculty Council, the University, the student body and the town of Chapel Hill work together to ensure student safety by discouraging bonfires.
"We need to develop another kind of celebration so these are safe and exhilarating activities," Cairns said.
He said both N.C. State and Duke universities are examples of schools where bonfires have regulations.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Educational Policy Report
Bobbi Owen, senior associate dean for undergraduate education in the College of Arts and Sciences explained the revisions on the policy for academic eligibility for undergraduates, beginning with students entering the University after May 14, 2007.
A floor of nine hours must be passed each semester, in addition to maintaining the 2.0 grade point average minimum, according to the revisions.
If the policy would have been put in place this semester, Owen said 41 first-year students would be on probation. She said an appeal process is critical.
"We would like students to restore their own good standing," she said.
The council passed the revisions.
Undergraduate admissions committee report
Steve Farmer, director of undergraduate admissions, presented five years of data for the freshman and transfer classes between 2002 and 2006.
The data shows that the Hispanic enrollment has doubled in the past five years and that Asian enrollment has doubled in the past 10 years, Farmer said.
"It is vital to the future of our state … that these students go to college," he said.
Council members also discussed tuition rates compared to peer institutions. The tuition at UNC for out-of-state students, Farmer said, is modest compared to competitor schools.
"Our goal is to have Carolina as the first choice for all top students."
Compiled by Hannah Edwards
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