To Refresh Your Memories, My Motion Reads: I Move to Remove Equine Distinction from The

To Refresh Your Memories, My Motion Reads: I Move to Remove Equine Distinction from The

Colleagues,

I want to provide you with a written explanation of my motion regarding the Equine Scholars Program so that you may discuss it in Division Meeting or with me, if you so choose. If this is not necessary, feel free to delete at any time.

To refresh your memories, my motion reads: “I move to remove Equine Distinction from the academic transcript effectively immediately for all students.”

First, allow me to address the issue of timing. In most cases, the faculty has relied on the “Catalog in Effect” rule found on page 188 of the College Catalog. That rule states, “A candidate for a degree may choose to graduate under the regulations of the catalog in force at the time of enrollment or any subsequent catalog provided that the catalog chosen is not more than seven years old.” However, on page 7 of the College Catalog it states, “The catalog is not an offer to make a contract. While the information in this catalog is current at the time of the publication, Georgetown College reserves the right to change or delete any of its courses of study, course offerings, schedule, tuition, and other charges, policies, or programs of the College at any time and without any notice.” In thinking about my motion, I relied on page 7 of the Catalog. I believe that matters dealing with the academic transcript are significant enough to exercise the right to make changes that are immediate and effective for all students. This, of course, is debatable, and I am willing to listen to any debate on this issue.

Second – and at the heart of my motion – only two programs receive special notation on the transcript: the Equine Scholars Program and the Honors Program. I would also like to note that the Oxford Program does not receive a special notation. In my opinion, special notations on the transcript should be reserved for demanding academic items. The Equine Scholars Program does not, in my mind, meet the academic standard that we should be setting for special notations on the transcript. It is primarily an extracurricular program. Compare it to the Honors Program – again, the only other program given special notation on the transcript.

The Equine Scholars Program elements are found on pages 25 and 26 of the College Catalog. Equine Scholars are expected to:

  1. “Attend designated Equine Scholars events”;
  2. “Perform volunteer activities”;
  3. “Complete at least one equine internship, either for academic credit…or not for credit”;
  4. “Maintain at least a 2.75 overall GPA”; and
  5. “Complete an Equine Option project in at least three classes”.

The three academic requirements for the program are, in my opinion, not sufficient for a special notation on the transcript. First, students are not required to complete an academic internship. They may choose to complete a paid internship in the equine industry over the summer without completing any academic work for the internship. How would this be different from a student who works at a paid position for the summer in a job in their field? I would argue that they are both resume builders, but not necessarily academic in nature. Second, an equine option project is only a portion of one class and may consist of any of the following, according to page 26 of the Catalog: a paper assignment, a work of art, a presentation, or a business class project. It is only one aspect of a class and, I argue, a small aspect of the class. It is not even the equivalent of minor. If a student completes three presentations, does this merit a special notation on the transcript? Finally, a 2.75 GPA lies between a B/C and a B average. I believe that this is not stringent enough for a special notation on the transcript.

Now, compare the Equine Scholars Program requirements to the Honors Program requirements, found on page 23 of the College Catalog. Students must “complete 21 Honors credits, including”:

  1. “15 hours (five three-credit classes) of Honors, Honors Increment, or Honors Contract courses”;
  2. “an Honors Seminar”;
  3. “an Honors Thesis”; and
  4. “maintain a 3.3 GPA to stay in the Honors Program”.

Comparing these two programs highlights the academic differences. First, a 3.3 GPA means that you must be approaching an A/B average. Second, Honors courses, increments, and contract courses often require a great deal more work than one presentation or paper assignment. Third, the Honors Seminar is very demanding. Dr. Emerick and I are currently teaching an Honors Seminar and require around 75-100 pages of reading and a response paper each week. In addition, students will be expected to give two group poster presentations that they will turn into campus-wide poster presentations at the end of the semester. In making each of their presentations, they will be in charge of 1 hour of the class time. Finally, the Honors Thesis is very demanding. Many students reach this stage of the process, and never complete the requirements for the Honors Program. There is a stringent process of evaluation in place for assessing the merits of the Honors Thesis. In all, the Honors requirements are demanding.

Thus, I believe it is important to reserve special notations on the academic transcript for demanding academic work. I don’t believe that the Equine Scholars Program meets this standard.

Michael

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