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Most WSU students above average: How? | |
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| WINONA, Minn., May 18, 2003 -- More than two-thirds of Winona State students in education and nursing get As, according to the university's own records. In liberal arts, business and science, have the majority of grades as As and Bs. Is grade inflation, rampant in higher-ed nationwide, making it too easy to look good academically at Winona State? And whatever happened to C as an indicator of average accomplishment? In a series of interviews with Winona State deans, reporter Brian Krans found the issue is much more complex than a simplistic Lake Wobegone model of everyone being above average. As nursing Dean Tim Gaspar explains it, pointing to higher admissions standards at the university and in some departments: "The reality is that the students we have are high quality students."
Background: Good grades coming too easily? |
Joint higher-ed bill: Big cutsST. PAUL, Minn., May 18, 2003 -- The House-Senate higher-ed conference committee cut $189 million from the state college system base in a bill that now goes to both houses for probable final legislative approval. The cuts are so deep that Democratic senators said they couldn't sign the committee recommendartion. In fact only Sen. Sandy Pappas, D-St. Paul, was present for the final settling of the bill. Because Senate Democrats had conceded to Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's demand that there be no increases in taxes, and because they would not pass the racino gamblingproposal to raise new revenue, the entire deficit had to be made up through cuts and accounting shifts. Said state college faculty lobbyist Russ Stanton: "The cuts were devastating to everyone." The final appropriation is less than both the Senate and House proposals that went into the conference committee. For the state college system, of which Winona State is part, the bill is only $15 million above the governorŐs original proposal. Not only did the MnSCU taked a cut, the University of Minnesota faces a $196 million base cut.
Legislature cuts student grantsST. PAUL, Minn., May 18, 2003 -- The higher-ed funding plan from a joint legislative committee, usually the final form for state support, trims the original proposal for grants to college students. Gov. Tim Pawlenty had recommended $60 million more to cover the expected increased demand for grants, but the joint bill gives only $40 million. If the appropriation is not enough to cover the demand, individual grants will be prorated to fit within the appropriation.
Background: Student grants survive in Senate
Funds dropped for new nursing planST. PAUL, Minn., May 18, 2003 -- The $6 million ithat the state college systemn had requested for expanded nursing programs did not survive a conference committee that put together the final highe-ed proposal for House and Senate approval.
Background: House GOP sweetens higher-ed deal
State employee wage freeze dies ST. PAUL, Minn., May 18, 2003 -- Republican proposals to freeze wages on state employees and to cap employer contributions for state employee health insurtance appear to be dead in the Legislature -- at least for the moment. A joint House-Senate committe removed the proposals from an appropriation bill. But state employees were cautioned by state college faculty lobbyist Russ Stanton against breathing a sigh of relief too quickly: "At this point in the session everything is volatile so there still is a possibility, very small, the measures could be revived in another bill."Stanton said the plan isnŐt an improvement for employees, but "we were at least successful at damage control."
Early retirement incentive appears deadST. PAUL, Minn., May 18, 2003 -- Several proposals for new early retirement incentives to encourage senior state employees to leave to cut state payroll expenses, including one for college employees, appear to be dead in the Legislature. State college faculty lobbyist Russ Stanton said Senate Democrats are still pushing for the legislation, and some House Republicans would like to see it pass also, but Gov. Tim Pawlenty won't go along. State Finance Commission Dan McElroy "is emphatic that the governor would not support any early retirement incentives for anyone -- period," Stanton said.
WSU recruits 14 for women's trackWINONA, Minn., May 17, 2003 -- Eight high-school women athletes have signed national letters of intent to compete at Winona State University, Coach Kim Blum said. In addition, six others have indicated plans to join the team, Blum said. The coach predicted the newcomers will have "an immediate impact." Letters of intent:Lia Bauman
Jenny Carlson
Hillary Cunningham
Marissa Girolamo
Erin Kurth
Nicole Lonning
Adi Luedtke
Lyndsey Thoma |
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| Delano, Minn.
Iron River, Wis.
Barham, Minn.
Clinton, Wis.
Mosinee, Wis.
Ellendale, Minn.
Andover, Minn.
Farmington, Minn. |
Other newcomers:Laura Fujan
Liz Haumschild
Elizabeth Jones
Jessica Roelofs
Shay Rosborough
Sarah Shurbert |
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| Willmar, Minn.
Waukesha, Wis.
Libertyville, Ill.
Vernon Center, Minn.
Macomb, Ill.
Plover, Wis. |
WSU host to 310 high-school juniorsWINONA, Minn., May 16, 2003 -- About 310 prospective students, a;;high-school jujniors, visited Winona State Univerity on the annual Spring Showcase day, admissions Director Doug Schacke said. For tmost of the students, the visit was their first contact with the campus, Schacke said.
WSU Lincoln wins tentative OKWINONA, Minn., May 16, 2003 -- The Winona School Board voted 7-0 to vacate Lincoln School and sell it to Winona State University. It was a preliminary approval, subject to another vote June 5 after a public hearing. Opposition could arise at the hearing. Displaced from Lincoln would be rent-paying community education programs. Also, parking space is limited at one of the downtown county sites proposed as new school district administrative offices.
Background: Krueger calls deal "win-win" |
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| | The deal is a complex plan. The School Board would move its administrators out of Lincoln into a county building downtown. The Port Authority would borrow money to buy Lincoln, which would sell it through a rent-to-own agreement with Winona State. |
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Does Winona have serial flasher? WINONA, Minn., May 16, 2003 -- A male flasher exposed himself to a 20-year-old woman on Fifth Street near Washington and followed her home, she told police. The incident followed a flashing at Winona State University five days earlier, although police made an arrest in that case. In the new incident, about 8 p.m., Friday, the woman described the flasher as 35, 5-foot-10, with dark, scruffy facial hair. She said he was wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and a white mesh cap.
Background: Police arrest guy after Minne flashing
WSU SECURITY
REPORT
May 15, 2003 | Security guards responded to a medical situation in the Kryzsko student building at 11:10 a.m. and stood by until an emergency crew arrived. |
Senate OKs new higher-ed revenueST. PAUL, Minn., May 13, 2003 -- The Senate voted to raise more than $1 billion in new revenue "to provide financial support for higher education and help to reduce reductions in state and local services." Acceptance of the measure by the the House and Gov. Tim Pawlenty s the key to funding higher-ed at an adequate level, said state colege faculty lobbyist Russ Stanton. Meanwhile, negotiations continue at the leadership level to arrive at tax and spending targets. "Until an agreement is reached on targets it is unlikely the higher education committee will meet," Stanton said.
Background: College funding crossroads
QUICK
SPORTS
MAY 14, 2003 | SOFTBALL (WOMEN'S): Named to the MIAC all-conference team were SMU's Amy Edge and Jackie Huegel.
TRACK (WOMEN'S): Named to the MIAC most outstanding woman performer was SMU high-jumper Ashley Dingels.
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Legion leaders divided on East Lake armoryWINONA, Minn., May 13, 2003 -- The executive board of the Winona American Legion post split evenly on whether to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars post to share a proposed clubhouse adjacent to the new East Lake college dorm on Sarnia Street. Don Blake, a Legion leader, said a membership meeting of the rival groups will be held in June to hash out issues. The proposal is to remodel an old armory for $711,000, which the two posts would have to raise. If the posts decide against the joint venture, the site reverts to Winona State for whatever use it wants to make of the building.
Background: Will vets share East Lake club?
MATT
GEIGER | 
SARAH
DIETHELM | 
ANTHONY
RIZZIO
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TANYA
COOKE
| 
SHANNON
BONA
| 
BRITTANY
NELSON
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| TOMORROW'S GREATEST BYLINES TODAY |
Krueger on Lincoln deal: "Win-win"WINONA, Minn., May 13, 2003 -- A proposal for Winona State to take over the Lincoln school building a block south of the main campus would be a "win-win" for the university and the Winona public school system, university President Darrell Krueger said. The complex proposal, brokered by the city, would generate income for the budget-strapped school district, which would relocate administrative offices to a downtown county building. And Winona State, which needs space but doesn't have the money to buy the building, would make rental payments toward eventual ownership.
Background: City would facilitate WSU-Lincoln deal
QUICK
SPORTS
MAY 13, 2003 | BASEBALL (MEN'S): Named to the Northern Sun all-conference team were WSU pitcher Josh Schultz, designated hitter Luke Short and shortstop Erik Steigerwald. Among honorable metions: WSU first-base player Kyle Butt and outfielder Jeff Dobbertin.
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Chancellor: Shut campuses? Not meST. PAUL, Minn., May 12, 2003 -- The political process should decide whether to shut down underused two-year tech schools and community colleges, state Chancellor James McCormick said. McCormick, asked about a report that one-quarter of the state's two-year campuses are underutilized, said he plans no initiative to trim his system: "The people of Minnesota will eventually decide what they want to pay for want to invest in." Many of the state's 46 two-year campuses, which dot the state, are considered politically sacred because they're in home districts of powerful legislators. The most underutilized facilities, in Canby and Pipestone, were built to serve rural areas.
Background: Too many state tech schools? |
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| 
MCCORMICK
State chancellor |
WSU SECURITY
REPORT
May 12, 2003 | A male flasher exposed himself to a student walking near the Minne classroom building anout 5:30 p.m. Guards caught the guy near the Prentiss dorm. Police made an arrest. |
QUICK
SPORTS
MAY 11, 2003 | SOFTBALL (WOMEN'S): Named to the NCAA Division II all-regional team were WSU at-large player Kristin Noble and outfielder Kara Webers.
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SMU grads told they're "powerful"WINONA, Minn., May 10, 2003 -- Members of the St. Mary's University graduating class were told they are "powerful people" who can be agents to create a better world. Joan Marie Weisenberger Landros, addressing 265 grads, said the grads can find friends all over the world with La Sallian connections: "Imagine what all of you can do together." Landros is an administrator at La Salle University in Mexico City, which operates in the same La Salle spirit as St. Mary's. Besides the ceremony for Winona grads, St. Mary's also graduated 665 students from its Twin Cities program.
Will vets share East Lake club?WINONA, Minn., May 10, 2003 -- The grand scheme for Winona State Univerity to acquire land for the East Lake super-dorm was that some of land be turned over to the Ameican Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for a shared club house and a bar. But it's no done-deal. The rival vets groups are divided on whether to recognize the reality of aging and dwindling memberships and bury old muskets. The American Legion board votes on the issue Tuesday. A straw poll of VFW members in March was only 65-62 in favor. The clubhouse would in the abandoned Army Reserve armory adjacent to the dorms. Renovations would cost an estimated $711,000, requiring income from selling the Legion club at 265 East Third St. and the VFW club at 117 Market St. The Legion post has 800 members, the VFW 300. The armory that would house the combined posts is part of a larger Army plot that Congress gave to Winona Satte for the East Lake dorm on condition that it be shared with the VFW and Legion for a clubhouse.
Background: WSU deeds over armory |
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| Another obstable for an East Lake clubhouse would be a state law banning new liquor licenses within 1,200 feet of a state campus. The Legion-VFW bar, across a parking lot from the new East Lake dorms, would require City Council approval. The city has used the 1,200-foot rule to deny licenses in the past, including the Home Bev license on Huff Street.
Background: Legion bar gigged for under-age service |
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Optional insurance fee heading up at WSU WINONA, Minn., May 10, 2003 -- Optional health insurance likely will increase to $642 next year, said Joanne Beck, counseling office manager. The fee now is $622.
Reporter: Carrie Guler
Here are current and projected Winona State fees: |
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| NICKEL 'N' DIMING
WSU fees can be half again as much as tuition, not counting room and board |
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Student life
Athletics
Health services
Union facilities
MnSCU
Technology
Laptop
Course fees
Residential college
Credit by exam
ID replacement
Textbooks
Overdue book
Lost library book
Late payment
Bad checks
Insurance option |
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THIS
YEAR
$ 120.00
75.00
66.20
204.80
12.48
199.20
1,000.00
Varies
100.00
--
7.00
400.00
10.00
45.00
30.00
20.00
622.00
$ 2,916.68 |
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NEXT
YEAR
$126.00
--
69.60
--
12.48
--
1,000.00
Varies
200.00
--
7.00
--
10.00
45.00
30.00
--
642.00
$ 3,075.48 |
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+ 4.4% |
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| Fees are listed for a typical full-time student per year. The totals include assumptions, including a dorm room at the Lourdes-based residential college. For purposes of illustration, it's assumed too that in the course of a year a typical student loses a campus ID card, has one book overdue at the library, and loses one library book, and buys optional health insurance. |
Reporter: Brian Krans
Too many state tech schools?ST. PAUL, Minn., May 10, 2003 -- Many of Minnesota's two-year colleges are under-used, according to a 2001 study cited by the Associated Press in a news article on higher-ed funding. Four campuses have a 50 percent classroom surplus. Twleve had a 30 percent surplus. The state has 46 two-year campuses, many built in the 1960s when state policy was to have a college within 35 miles of every Minnesotan. The excess space is mostly in outlying areas. Here are some specifics from the 2001 study:Canby: 58 percent of classrooms vacant at peak hourss.
Pipestone: 55 percent of classsrooms vacant at peak hours. The study that generated the data was commissioned by the state college system.
St. Cloud wipes out WSU at regionals
WOMEN'S
SOFTBALL |
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| FARGO, N.D., May 10, 2003 -- St. Cloud State University State defeated Winona State for the second time in the NCAA Division II regionals, eliminating the Warriors. The score: 6-3. Kristin Noble batted in a run and Sarah Carlson homered to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead, but St. Cloud burst ahead in the fourth inning and stayed ahead. Earlier in the tournament, St. Cloud beat Winona State 8-0. In another game Saturday, Winona State defeated Augustana 7-4. |
QUICK
SPORTS
MAY 10, 2003 | SOFTBALL (WOMEN'S): NCAA Division II regionals: WSU 7, Augustana 4; St. Cloud State 6, WSU 3.
TRACK (MEN'S): MIAC Tournament (first day): St. Thomas 222.5 (1st), St. John's 138.5 (2nd), SMU 5 (11th).
TRACK (WOMEN'S): MIAC Tournament (first day): St. Thomas 171.5 (1st), Carleton 115 (2nd), SMU 47.5 (8th). Northern Sun Tournament (first day): MSU-Moorhead 59 (1st), Concordia 47 (2nd), WSU 43.5 (3rd).
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SMU using TB-detection screeningWINONA, Minn., May 10, 2003 -- Questions remain unanswered at St. Mary's Univerity about how a foreign student was admitted to the university without her active tuberculosis being detected. As required by law, the university confirmed the case publicly on Feb. 7, eight days after it was diagnosed. Since then, the university has been slow in releasing details. In a new statement, 3-1/2 months after the diagnosis, the univerity said that tests have found that the disease did not spread to any other students. The statement also said the university "will continue to screen new and returning students" from tuberculosis-troubled regions. The statement did not say when the screening procedures were put in place. To be tested will be students who have been to sub-Saharan Africa, southeast Asia, Central America and South America , the university said.
Background: SMU: Campus tuberculosis never sprea
Comment: The sunshine of openness
GRADE INFLATION
GOOD GRADES COMING TOO EASILY?
When John Kammerer was handed a $100 check for the highest grades among juniors in the college of business at Winona State University, he didn't see it as that big a deal. Some profs patted him on the back, which was nice, but he had worked hard and it seemed par for the course. Yet it nagged him that for all his work, he didn't have perfect grades. His 3.83 was short of the 4.0 that almost all the students in other Winona State programs claim en route to similar awards for top grades.
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| | Kammerer has concluded that it isn't that business students aren't as bright or don't work as hard. Rather, they're in a tougher program. "By far, my business classes are more difficult than any others I have been in," he said. Having also taken courses outside of business, Kammerer has concluded that grades come easier in other academic departments. He's not bitter that he has to work harder: "I take pride in the fact that my department challenges me." But other departments, he's concluded, "are more lax on their students." |
More than two-thirds of Winona State students in education and nursing get As, according to the Winona State University data book for the 2001-2002. The remaining colleges -- liberal arts, business and science -- have the majority of grades as As and Bs in an almost even mix of As and Bs. How such high grades? It might seem that Winona State, like colleges across the nation, is caught up in the same phenomenon -- grade inflation.
What the WSU catalog says:
A
B
C
D
F |
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| Excellent
Very good
Average
Below average
Failing |
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| The facts suggest grade inflation. From 1996 to 2001, four of the five Winona State colleges had steady increases in the number of above-average grades that students received. In business, Kammerer's college, the increase was 4 percent. It's like Garrison Keillor's fictional Lake Wobegone, also somewhere in Minnesota, where "all the women are strong, all the men are handsome, and all the children are above average." Although Winona State isn't fictional, the C seems an endangered species -- even though the university officially says it's average. |
"There is controversy over grade inflation nationwide and it is certainly not unique to Winona State," said Joe Gow, dean of liberal arts. Gow is quick to note that grades at Winona State are consistent with the national norms.
Said nursing Dean Tim Gaspar: "Numbers donŐt tell the story. There are a lot of underlying factors." Like some fellow deans, Gaspar said some colleges require more from their students academically, which reflects itself in stronger performance. Gow made the same point: Higher standards will yield higher grades.
CLEVER,
CLEVER
TWIST
A professor at another university who gave all As explained to critics: "I'm a very, very good teacher." |
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| It true that since 2000, the university has increased admissions standards. Along with accepting only students who are ranked higher in their high school class, the university has also increase the minimum ACT test score for admission. In 2000 the minimum was 18, but in 2001 the minimum score had been 21. Last year, 60 percent of the entering class had an average ACT of 23. The top one-eighth of the freshman class averaged 26 on the ACT, and the scores of recipients of the university's most prestigious academic scholarships ran 32 or higher, according to the Winona State web site. At a 32, Kammerer received the PresidentŐs Scholarship when he came to Winona State in 2000. he also had been valedictorian from high school class in Rochester, Minn. |
Besides ACT scores, some departments use tougher standards. Nursing and education have a strict admittance program, which might account for the higher grades. "The reality is that the students we have are high quality students," Gaspar said.
In education, students must keep their grades high to stay in the program. Students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative grade point average to be admitted. Daan Carol Anderson said the GPA requirement is in place to control enrollment. Elementary education, a section of the education college, is the biggest major at Winona State with more than 10 percent of the university enrollment.
The mass communication department, in the college of liberal arts, felt enrollment pains after increasing standards. In 2002, 508 students were majoring in mass communication, but new academic standards enrollment have cut the number to fewer than 450. In incremental steps, the masscon faculty hiked the GPA requirement to 2.25, then to 2.5. Because of the higher standards, many students were unable to enroll for their fall classes.
Without the high standards, programs would struggle to teach different students on different levels, Anderson said. Anderson added that, with high expectations set for students most of them excel. Once a student is admitted into a department with a strict regimen and extensive in-depth class work, he or she will stick to it, Gaspar said: "Very seldom we have students drop out of the nursing program for academic reasons."
Winona State deans say they are comfortable with the university has set for students. "I have full confidence in the faculty's ability to give students an appropriate grade," Gow said.
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UNDER-AGE
BOOZERS
WHO GOT
CAUGHT
BEING
STUPID
DON'T
TELL
THEIR
MOTHERS
|
CAMPUS
SALARIES
Darrell
Krueger
WSU president
2003: $211,836
Louis
DeThomasis
SMU president
2001: $155,245
Jim Johnson
Tech president
2001:
$125,000
OTHER
SALARIES
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CYBERINDEE
PEOPLE
EDITOR
John Vivian
WEB DESIGNER
Matt Del
Vecchio
2003 CONTRIBUTORS
Angie Anderson
Jackie Applen
Shannon Bona
Jenny Butler
Annie Butlin
Tanya Cooke
Forrest Dailey
Sarah Diethelm
Joey Finck
Matt Geiger
Ben Grice
Carrie Guler
Teresa Hackler
Jenn Higley
Nick Hurd
Brian Krans
Andrea Larson
Shannon Mauger
Brittany Nelson
Kelly Pilarski
Bill Radde
Jerrad Radocay
Anthony Rizzio
Ellen Ryan
Jessica Schank
Paul Sloth
Jill Vierling
Patrick Walsh
Brian Weber
Emily Wilson
Teresa Woodall
EARLIER
CONTRIBUTORS
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