DEBATE OVER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE: ATCHLEY LETTER TO ALL FACULTY

From President Bill L. Atchley

To Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans, Directors, Chairpersons, faculty, staff

Dated Oct. 24, 1995

Student Government President Christopher Robertson recently presented to the Administrative Council a very creative proposal to enhance our campus community. Under this proposal, the University would change its class schedule so as to create what the proposal calls a "Common Hour."

The "Common Hour" would be a regular period when no classes are scheduled. As envisioned by the student proposal, the "Common Hour" could be the Tuesday and Thursday period from 11 a.m. until 12:15 p.m., or perhaps the period from 12:30 p.m. until 1:45 p.m.

On one of these days, each week during the Fall and Spring semesters, the "Common Hour" would be dedicated to a campus-wide program with broad appeal. The content of this proposed program series is subject to further discussion, but the student proposal calls for presentations, including some by nationally-known figures, performances by outstanding theater or musical groups, or possibly participation by the entire campus in a teleconference made available by satellite transmission. Because there would be no conflicting classes and because the period would be at mid-day, all faculty, resident students, and, most pointedly, commuting students would be able to attend these programs. The general public would also be welcome, as well as staff whose office responsibilities would permit them to attend during the designated time period. Meetings or other activities could be scheduled on the other "Common Hour" day each week.

In order for this proposal to be instituted in the Fall of 1996, it would be necessary to make the basic decision about a "Common Hour" very soon, since the Fall Schedule of Classes will be going to the printer shortly after the first of the year.

All details, including funding, would have to be worked out during the planning process, but I am enthusiastic about the proposal and wanted to take this means of sharing it with the campus community. Because time is of the essence, I request that you send me your written comments not later than November 7, noting particularly any difficulties your programs would encounter if a Tuesday-Thursday time block were set aside, and expressing a preference for the earlier (11 to 12:15) or later (12:30 to 1:45) period.