Kansas University's leader urges faculty to see opportunity in the Kansas State Board of Education's evolution decision.
Kansas University Chancellor Robert Hemenway offered help Wednesday to local public school boards that want to keep evolution in their science curriculums.
"Let every community in Kansas know, if it is wanted, that help is available at KU when its school board decides if it is going to teach evolution in its community schools," Hemenway said Wednesday during his annual convocation speech to KU faculty and staff.
Hemenway said the university should view the Kansas State Board of Education's decision this summer to write most of evolution out of science curriculum standards for public school students as an opportunity.
"That is my challenge: Let KU become a national leader in educating scientists, science teachers and scientifically literate citizens," he said.
Hemenway said he will form a task force to study the university's science education program to ensure graduates are scientifically literate.
After the convocation, he said the task force will be formed within a week.
Hemenway also said the university's continuing education program should be a model for the rest of the nation in promoting science literacy.
"Let's see a phoenix rise from these ashes," he said. "To the stars through difficulty. Let KU rise to star status in science education, and overcome the difficulties which the summer of 1999 has imposed on all of us who are proud of this state and respectful of its people."
Speaking after Hemenway, Provost David Shulenburger outlined standards for doctoral education to the 250 faculty and staff attending.
Shulenburger said grants and fellowships for doctoral students should be more readily available, that so much time shouldn't be required to achieve their degrees and that the number of people admitted to doctoral programs should be based in part on market demand.
"When those to whom we provide doctoral education do not enter employment for their degree, we have no real response to those who inquire why we do not accept more students into programs where job demand is strong," Shulenburger said.
He urged faculty to review their programs for possible over-enrollment and to assess mentoring programs for doctoral students.
Shulenburger said a goal of the capital campaign being prepared by the university and KU Endowment Association should be improved funding for doctoral students.
-- Erwin Seba's phone message number is 832-7145. His e-mail address is eseba@ljworld.com.
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