Faculty Council Favors Retitling CLGS Award

Following recommendations of two committees, the Faculty Council yesterday expressed support for eliminating the words "in General Studies" from the Cum Laude in General Studies (CLGS) degree, according to Secretary to the Faculty Council John B. Fox, Jr. '59

There was a general consensus that these words make some students who graduate CLGS feel that they have a "second-class" status, council member Professor of Government Kenneth A. Shepsle said yesterday.

But changing the words on the degree could affect more than the diplomas that are printed, Fox said.

He noted that if students could graduate cum laude without being honors concentrators, the number of students who choose to graduate with honors in their concentration could decrease.

This could decrease the number of students who apply to honors-only concentrations, like Women's Studies and Social Studies, Fox said.

As an example of a technical change that had a dramatic effect on students, Fox noted the introduction of a mark on transcripts next to grades that were the result of a medical make-up exam.

"The number of make-ups went down a lot," Fox said.

But Krupp Foundation Professor of European Studies Charles S. Maier, chair of the Committee on Degrees in Social Studies, said he doesn't believe eliminating the words would provide a disincentive.

"The incentive to write a thesis is not in the degree," Maier said. "The incentive is in the experience itself. Students recognize that there is a type of intellectual focus provided by writing a thesis that they otherwise would not have."

Maier also said that honors degrees with theses ought to be distinguished.

"I have always felt that an honors degree [in the humanities and social science] which entailed writing a thesis had a certain value that an honors degree based only on a grade average might not have," Maier said. "I would like to distinguish those students who write a thesis from those who do not."

Council members, however, said they think the idea would be a positive change.

"I think it's an excellent idea," said Associate Professor of German Peter J. Burgard. "The 'general studies' was confusing. Some students felt it made [the honors degree] look less impressive, as if they didn't concentrate in something."

Both the Committee on Undergraduate Education and the Educational Policy Committee made the recommendation, but the idea of changing of the words is not yet in legislative form.

Because the council endorsed the change, it is likely that a proposal will be drafted. It would then be presented to the full Faculty for a vote.

Fox did not say when a vote could take place orwhen the change could be enacted. He said that iswas unlikely any change would affect currentundergraduates.

The Faculty Council also discussed a report bythe Faculty Standing Committee on Benefits, butneither Fox nor council members would comment onthese discussions.

Fox said that the committee would present itsfindings at next Tuesday's Faculty meeting

Fox did not say when a vote could take place orwhen the change could be enacted. He said that iswas unlikely any change would affect currentundergraduates.

The Faculty Council also discussed a report bythe Faculty Standing Committee on Benefits, butneither Fox nor council members would comment onthese discussions.

Fox said that the committee would present itsfindings at next Tuesday's Faculty meeting