I reckon it's a good idea having a couple of extra years to decide before committing to specific, professional course, e.g. Law. I also like the idea of being more in sync with unis and colleges all over the world. Libby, I look forward to my lollipop and chocolate egg at the next committee meeting!
Growing Esteem makes me sad. Personally, it makes me sad when I discover that my degree will not be on offer from 2008. Apart from my initial my-university-hates-me feelings, I am also saddened by its effect on other students. Current Creative Arts students are no longer able to major or defer. Subjects (and majors, including Gender Studies and American Studies) are being cut from Arts degrees. Students who wish to study Law straight off will have to go elsewhere. I'll admit that the teaching philosophy Melbourne wants to adopt is not all bad. I’d be interested in hiring a Science graduate who knew a bit about Ancient Greek for example. But this is not how it should be done. It should not involve subject cuts. It should not involve a distinct lack of communication to current (and future) students. It should not require students who are already struggling to pay more and more for their degree.
It's weird when a seemingly-distant "policy issue" suddenly comes home. As a Student Councillor and someone involved in student politics, I've been able to watch the debate progress, but never really felt its impact until now. However, taking a few creative writing subjects, I don't know what my future is, particularly if I reduce my workload in the future as I plan to do. If I'm only doing one subject a semester, my choices will quickly dwindle as Growing Esteem shaves away the options available. As much as I love political studies and French, I don't particularly want such a narrow degree- the beauty of Arts is its breadth. Beauty is truth! -Robert Anderson-Hunt
There are a number of Majors that the university wants to cut/turn into minors: - Gender Studies - Chinese Studies - American Studies (cos obviously America and China are no longer important) - Latin (Univesitas est caude: the university is a blockhead. I can murder Latin and love it at the same time.) - Social theory (merged into anthropology) - Socio-Legal Theory (just gone) that's all I can remember
Also, archeology majors will be replaced by 'ancient world studies' only available as a major. WTF? A university that doesn't teach classics and archeology isn't a real university.
'Blake' will no longer be on offer, because the subject is too specialised (inconsistent with the University's supposed wish to offer students different 'ways of knowing'). At least half of the Creative Writing subjects will be cut. Mathematics and Statistics is undergoing a huge overhaul although they (somewhat naively I feel) maintain that heritage students (that's us) will not be disadvantaged.
I know this isn't exactly related but something needs to be done about the ERC. The building is falling apart, the staff seem very poorly trained (in comparison to the Baillieu) and now they want people to check in their own books. I spend enough time lining up for things in the place but having to queue to RETURN library books is a joke!
FACT: Glyn Davis is a highly paid public servant who thinks he's an entreupreneur and earns a salary equal to that of an elite footballer. FACT: So as a career beaureacrat and public servant he's essentially spending public funds that he hasn't earned to tell us that his plan will take 12 years to complete.
OK, these points are not necessarily facts, rather 'abstractions', much like the 'GROWING ESTEEM' and 'MELBOURNE MODEL' whatever's themselves. But we are already seeing an erosion in Melbourne University's cultural worth, and Davi's predictions that billions will be lost.
The Eastern Bloc feel quickly, and there's no reason an institutuin like Melbourne Uni might as well. Smart kids will go elsewhere and rich kids, well they'll just go to groovier universities that offfer the same deal in funkiers parts of the world.
Ultimately I'd feel safer if a tried and tested entreupreneur put forward the Melbourne Model, that a career beaureacrat, or *cough, cough* and intellectual version of Big Kev.
I'd like to know where you people giving information on subject/major cuts are getting your information from?
I'm doing a double degree and planning to study abroad next year, so by the time i finish my course the melbourne model will be well and truly underway, and i'm scared that I will return from overseas unable to complete the majors i've had my mind set on, due to cancelled subjects.
Is there a list somewhere of what is being cut?
(also, has anyone tried to submit a question on the form on the melbourne model website? I tried, but haven't received a response...grrr)
I confess I find it difficult to argue with some aspects of the Melbourne Model. As the son of a Careers Teacher I've spent years hearing about the terrible reasons some people have for choosing their university degrees, and the move towards a generalist undergraduate education option sounds like a positive one.
But, as always, the devil is in the detail. The reduction of an Arts or Science degree from 300 points to 225 points "in faculty" means a significant loss of choice for students undertaking these courses, which in the past have been good options for those with a more vague idea of their final career goals.
My own degree (Music) has been cut nearly in half under Growing Esteem, from 400 to 225 points of Music Subjects. Additionally, the double degree program I intended to undertake, B.Music/B.Teaching, has been scrapped, with a limited teach out (for 2006 intake at the latest) only made available after strong protests from myself and other Music students.
Obviously we've all heard about the Majors being cut from Arts, in both traditional areas like Latin and Classics, to cross-disciplinary areas like Gender Studies, American Studies and Development Studies. Additionally, the treatment of Creative Arts students is simply appalling. The SCA was never supported by the University, but it could easily become the tip of the iceberg in the mistreatment of us "Heritage" students as we struggle to finish our degrees before they vanish from underneath us.
Don't even get me started on the implications of Postgrad Nursing or Primary Teaching, the removal of the Diploma of Education, the likely consequences of a greater reliance of Full Fees (assuming that the ALP don't get in and abolish them, as they recently promised to do), the prospective "eliting" (not a word I know) of the postgrad schools in Law, Medicine, etc...
There are obviously lot of potential pitfalls in implementation that may trip up even the mighty University of the Definite Article, and as I have said above, the problems encountered by SCA students may be just the first of many more that we poor old heritage students will have to face in the years to come.
And too bad to anyone who was thinking about part-time study, or travel, or exchange...I'll go away and stop preaching to the converted :)
The University of Melbourne is currently undertaking changes that will dramatically reshape higher education in Australia. This blog is a space for members of our community, especially students, to engage in the debate and planning surrounding Growing Esteem.
If you are personally affected by the changes you are welcome to write your experiences on this blog. By sharing your experiences you may help other students facing similar situations. You will also assist your UMSU office bearers in representing students accurately during the Growing Esteem transition.
Alternatively you can email Libby Buckingham, your UMSU education officer at elizabeth.buckingham@union.unimelb.edu.au.
10 comments:
I reckon it's a good idea having a couple of extra years to decide before committing to specific, professional course, e.g. Law.
I also like the idea of being more in sync with unis and colleges all over the world.
Libby, I look forward to my lollipop and chocolate egg at the next committee meeting!
Growing Esteem makes me sad. Personally, it makes me sad when I discover that my degree will not be on offer from 2008.
Apart from my initial my-university-hates-me feelings, I am also saddened by its effect on other students. Current Creative Arts students are no longer able to major or defer. Subjects (and majors, including Gender Studies and American Studies) are being cut from Arts degrees. Students who wish to study Law straight off will have to go elsewhere.
I'll admit that the teaching philosophy Melbourne wants to adopt is not all bad. I’d be interested in hiring a Science graduate who knew a bit about Ancient Greek for example.
But this is not how it should be done. It should not involve subject cuts. It should not involve a distinct lack of communication to current (and future) students. It should not require students who are already struggling to pay more and more for their degree.
It's weird when a seemingly-distant "policy issue" suddenly comes home. As a Student Councillor and someone involved in student politics, I've been able to watch the debate progress, but never really felt its impact until now.
However, taking a few creative writing subjects, I don't know what my future is, particularly if I reduce my workload in the future as I plan to do. If I'm only doing one subject a semester, my choices will quickly dwindle as Growing Esteem shaves away the options available.
As much as I love political studies and French, I don't particularly want such a narrow degree- the beauty of Arts is its breadth. Beauty is truth!
-Robert Anderson-Hunt
I just saw above that American Studies is being cut as well as Gender Studies. What else is being cut?
There are a number of Majors that the university wants to cut/turn into minors:
- Gender Studies
- Chinese Studies
- American Studies
(cos obviously America and China are no longer important)
- Latin
(Univesitas est caude: the university is a blockhead. I can murder Latin and love it at the same time.)
- Social theory (merged into anthropology)
- Socio-Legal Theory (just gone)
that's all I can remember
Also, archeology majors will be replaced by 'ancient world studies' only available as a major. WTF? A university that doesn't teach classics and archeology isn't a real university.
'Blake' will no longer be on offer, because the subject is too specialised (inconsistent with the University's supposed wish to offer students different 'ways of knowing'). At least half of the Creative Writing subjects will be cut. Mathematics and Statistics is undergoing a huge overhaul although they (somewhat naively I feel) maintain that heritage students (that's us) will not be disadvantaged.
I know this isn't exactly related but something needs to be done about the ERC. The building is falling apart, the staff seem very poorly trained (in comparison to the Baillieu) and now they want people to check in their own books. I spend enough time lining up for things in the place but having to queue to RETURN library books is a joke!
FACT: Glyn Davis is a highly paid public servant who thinks he's an entreupreneur and earns a salary equal to that of an elite footballer.
FACT: So as a career beaureacrat and public servant he's essentially spending public funds that he hasn't earned to tell us that his plan will take 12 years to complete.
OK, these points are not necessarily facts, rather 'abstractions', much like the 'GROWING ESTEEM' and 'MELBOURNE MODEL' whatever's themselves. But we are already seeing an erosion in Melbourne University's cultural worth, and Davi's predictions that billions will be lost.
The Eastern Bloc feel quickly, and there's no reason an institutuin like Melbourne Uni might as well. Smart kids will go elsewhere and rich kids, well they'll just go to groovier universities that offfer the same deal in funkiers parts of the world.
Ultimately I'd feel safer if a tried and tested entreupreneur put forward the Melbourne Model, that a career beaureacrat, or *cough, cough* and intellectual version of Big Kev.
I'd like to know where you people giving information on subject/major cuts are getting your information from?
I'm doing a double degree and planning to study abroad next year, so by the time i finish my course the melbourne model will be well and truly underway, and i'm scared that I will return from overseas unable to complete the majors i've had my mind set on, due to cancelled subjects.
Is there a list somewhere of what is being cut?
(also, has anyone tried to submit a question on the form on the melbourne model website? I tried, but haven't received a response...grrr)
I confess I find it difficult to argue with some aspects of the Melbourne Model. As the son of a Careers Teacher I've spent years hearing about the terrible reasons some people have for choosing their university degrees, and the move towards a generalist undergraduate education option sounds like a positive one.
But, as always, the devil is in the detail. The reduction of an Arts or Science degree from 300 points to 225 points "in faculty" means a significant loss of choice for students undertaking these courses, which in the past have been good options for those with a more vague idea of their final career goals.
My own degree (Music) has been cut nearly in half under Growing Esteem, from 400 to 225 points of Music Subjects. Additionally, the double degree program I intended to undertake, B.Music/B.Teaching, has been scrapped, with a limited teach out (for 2006 intake at the latest) only made available after strong protests from myself and other Music students.
Obviously we've all heard about the Majors being cut from Arts, in both traditional areas like Latin and Classics, to cross-disciplinary areas like Gender Studies, American Studies and Development Studies. Additionally, the treatment of Creative Arts students is simply appalling. The SCA was never supported by the University, but it could easily become the tip of the iceberg in the mistreatment of us "Heritage" students as we struggle to finish our degrees before they vanish from underneath us.
Don't even get me started on the implications of Postgrad Nursing or Primary Teaching, the removal of the Diploma of Education, the likely consequences of a greater reliance of Full Fees (assuming that the ALP don't get in and abolish them, as they recently promised to do), the prospective "eliting" (not a word I know) of the postgrad schools in Law, Medicine, etc...
There are obviously lot of potential pitfalls in implementation that may trip up even the mighty University of the Definite Article, and as I have said above, the problems encountered by SCA students may be just the first of many more that we poor old heritage students will have to face in the years to come.
And too bad to anyone who was thinking about part-time study, or travel, or exchange...I'll go away and stop preaching to the converted :)
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