2008 Woodie Awards
Course options geared toward interests
Terri Schwartz
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: News
Student Government Association (SGA) officials said they have been working with the provost's office to create a set of courses that are adapted to what students have said they want and need. This summer, these courses are available to Northeastern students.
"[Summer courses are] a huge priority," said Susan Powers-Lee, executive vice-provost for undergraduate education. "I know it's kind of the student sense that they are the leftovers, but it's not. We've worked on [this] as hard, or maybe harder, than the academic terms."
Last semester, SGA put a survey onto the myNEU portal asking students about what they wanted to see for the summer curriculum.
"It was a great way for students to put their input in," said Stephen Lavenberg, SGA vice president for academic affairs. "It was nice to show where the interest was."
Lavenberg said the survey was helpful in deciding what was needed for better class options because the heads of the different colleges were able to find out from students what they wanted and needed.
However, some students, like Keith Vedananda, a senior economics major who will be taking summer courses, doesn't think there is a difference.
"Oh, I never like the selection. It always sucks. It's not going to change," he said. "They offer like, the basic classes I'm already taking."
Specific areas of study that are being expanded for the summer curriculum offerings are business, philosophy and advanced writing, Lavenberg said. The criminal justice department and computer sciences department are also adding some courses, Powers-Lee said.
Powers-Lee said credit for the new courses should go to the deans of the different colleges. She said they helped make the changes to the summer semesters possible.
"The real challenge is the other students who are going to be here," Powers-Lee said. "We think it will be primarily middlers and juniors, because that's who needs to be here."
For John Zavras, a junior pharmacy major, the decision for summer courses wasn't up to him. Since the pharmacy requirements are so rigorous, his courses were pre-assigned.
"[Summer courses are] a huge priority," said Susan Powers-Lee, executive vice-provost for undergraduate education. "I know it's kind of the student sense that they are the leftovers, but it's not. We've worked on [this] as hard, or maybe harder, than the academic terms."
Last semester, SGA put a survey onto the myNEU portal asking students about what they wanted to see for the summer curriculum.
"It was a great way for students to put their input in," said Stephen Lavenberg, SGA vice president for academic affairs. "It was nice to show where the interest was."
Lavenberg said the survey was helpful in deciding what was needed for better class options because the heads of the different colleges were able to find out from students what they wanted and needed.
However, some students, like Keith Vedananda, a senior economics major who will be taking summer courses, doesn't think there is a difference.
"Oh, I never like the selection. It always sucks. It's not going to change," he said. "They offer like, the basic classes I'm already taking."
Specific areas of study that are being expanded for the summer curriculum offerings are business, philosophy and advanced writing, Lavenberg said. The criminal justice department and computer sciences department are also adding some courses, Powers-Lee said.
Powers-Lee said credit for the new courses should go to the deans of the different colleges. She said they helped make the changes to the summer semesters possible.
"The real challenge is the other students who are going to be here," Powers-Lee said. "We think it will be primarily middlers and juniors, because that's who needs to be here."
For John Zavras, a junior pharmacy major, the decision for summer courses wasn't up to him. Since the pharmacy requirements are so rigorous, his courses were pre-assigned.
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