Started By
Message
I think I like our President
Posted on 4/22/16 at 9:52 am
Posted on 4/22/16 at 9:52 am
LINK
This makes me a little more hopeful for the future our university not just turning in to a degree factory as it grows. It sounds like Young is interested in bringing A&M to a better level than some of the previous leadership.
quote:
"I also want to stress that while we do focus on [bringing in distinguished faculty], we also have an extraordinarily large number of very, very good faculty members who have been here for some period of time," Young said. "One of our efforts over the coming few years is to ensure that those faculty are also supported ... We want to show them that this is a place where they can start and conclude their careers."
Young added that the university's relatively high student-to-faculty ratios are also something he hopes to improve.
Since fall 2012, Young said the number of students has increased by 16 percent while faculty and staff have only seen increases of 12 percent and 6 percent, respectively.
In fall of 2014, the student-to-faculty ratio was reported as 23.1 to 1 as compared with the 22.1 to 1 statewide average for that year.
As a reference point, Young said the University of Texas had a 19.1 to 1 ratio. To achieve that, he added Texas A&M would need to add nearly 450 additional faculty members.
To get to the ratio the university wants, Young said it would require an intake of hundreds of new faculty members -- a feat he said would be possible should the proper resources become available.
For fiscal year 2015, the ratio had dropped to 22.7 to 1 for the university.
This makes me a little more hopeful for the future our university not just turning in to a degree factory as it grows. It sounds like Young is interested in bringing A&M to a better level than some of the previous leadership.
This post was edited on 4/22/16 at 9:53 am
6
Posted on 4/22/16 at 10:01 am to Farmer1906
My older brother met him and talked to him for a while at some event a couple weeks ago and said he liked him a lot and was very impressive (much more so than Sharp who was also there). I'm cautiously optimistic. I like what he has to say and the survey he sent out to alumni right after being hired
Posted on 4/22/16 at 10:33 am to ShaneTheLegLechler
Amen to that. It's so frustrating that A&M isn't far behind UT at all, but UT Austin is seen as a far superior school to outsiders. Diluting our degree would be fricking shameful; there are more than enough degree mills in Texas already. We should be equal to UT in academic standing. Lowering the professor/student ratio would definitely help.
This post was edited on 4/22/16 at 10:51 am
Posted on 4/22/16 at 11:07 am to Farmer1906
I am also glad Young appears to be interested in restoring us to top-50 status (which is where we should be).
We are going through some growing pains and changes that are setting us back short-term, but don't kid yourselves. Quick short-term growth will be a long-term positive, for both the academic side AND the athletic side.
More students short-term = more donations long-term. More living alum generates more money and interest (including national/international), more competition, more selectivity, and ultimately, a much more competitive university.
I predict that in 10 years, we will blow past all other in-state universities but Rice. I predict at least a top 50 to top 40 ranking.
Having a shite-ton of people who want to come to school at A&M is really NOT a bad thing in the long run.
We are going through some growing pains and changes that are setting us back short-term, but don't kid yourselves. Quick short-term growth will be a long-term positive, for both the academic side AND the athletic side.
More students short-term = more donations long-term. More living alum generates more money and interest (including national/international), more competition, more selectivity, and ultimately, a much more competitive university.
I predict that in 10 years, we will blow past all other in-state universities but Rice. I predict at least a top 50 to top 40 ranking.
Having a shite-ton of people who want to come to school at A&M is really NOT a bad thing in the long run.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 12:13 pm to KaiserSoze99
I'm also low-key happy with Young because he's not exactly a good ol' boy. Washington is a perfect example of what I would like A&M to be in terms of academic quality.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 2:32 pm to ShaneTheLegLechler
Your brother was probably impressed by Young's mormon-isms. Young is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Those folks are always very nice...too nice if you ask me. It borders creepy-ness IMO.
(I apologize to any Mormons on this board who take offense to this...it's just the truth. Cant diss me for speaking the truth
)
(I apologize to any Mormons on this board who take offense to this...it's just the truth. Cant diss me for speaking the truth
)Posted on 4/22/16 at 2:58 pm to K
Have you seen the South Park Episode on Morons. It is one of their best and touches exactly on what you're talking about.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 3:02 pm to Farmer1906
quote:
Have you seen the South Park Episode on Morons.
Intentional?
This post was edited on 4/22/16 at 3:05 pm
Posted on 4/22/16 at 3:07 pm to AgBQ00
No
Posted on 4/22/16 at 3:10 pm to Farmer1906
Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb
Posted on 4/22/16 at 3:11 pm to K
quote:
Young is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Those folks are always very nice...too nice if you ask me.
Truth
Posted on 4/22/16 at 5:33 pm to Farmer1906
I'm just thrilled that he's not Rick perry.
Posted on 4/22/16 at 8:44 pm to K
I think it was more about how he conducted himself in a public setting and articulated, but you're spot on about the Mormon niceness
Posted on 4/23/16 at 10:16 pm to Farmer1906
quote:
In fall of 2014, the student-to-faculty ratio was reported as 23.1 to 1 as compared with the 22.1 to 1 statewide average for that year.
Is this including grad school and independent studies? The only classes I ever had that were that small were labs and maybe one or two upper level electives during the Summers. I would think the lectures with 200-400 students would skew that average a little higher if we're talking about undergrads.
God, how I miss those glorious 8AM classes in giant lecture halls with profs (maybe) who never looked up from their podium and TA's who didn't speak a fricking word of English. Good times.
This post was edited on 4/25/16 at 9:01 pm
Posted on 4/26/16 at 12:35 pm to Farmer1906
quote:
To get to the ratio the university wants, Young said it would require an intake of hundreds of new faculty members -- a feat he said would be possible should the proper resources become available.
Maybe we could cut some admin staff to make room for the faculty, so we don't continue to drive up prices to ridiculous amounts.
Just a thought.
Posted on 4/26/16 at 1:02 pm to cokebottleag
I'm not saying that is or isn't the right answer, but why do you think we need to cut staff? Are we bloated?
Posted on 4/27/16 at 10:32 pm to Farmer1906
I guess I'm too business-minded. It would seem that the teachers that can effectively teach at higher student-teacher ratios would be the best.
Posted on 4/28/16 at 3:10 pm to Smoke Ring
Yeah, but those professors are usually the ones that warrant incredibly high salaries, benefits, and some may even demand tenure (which is not cheap).
Maybe cutting enrollment down is the best approach here. Having more Aggies isn't exactly the best thing considering our acceptance rate is one of the highest in the state (hell, even some other schools within our own system have lower acceptance rates!). Too many idiots have fallen through the cracks and dummies who should have ended up at Texas Tech are now landing at A&M.
Let that sink in. Texas fricking Tech quality students being admitted into A&M.
Maybe cutting enrollment down is the best approach here. Having more Aggies isn't exactly the best thing considering our acceptance rate is one of the highest in the state (hell, even some other schools within our own system have lower acceptance rates!). Too many idiots have fallen through the cracks and dummies who should have ended up at Texas Tech are now landing at A&M.
Let that sink in. Texas fricking Tech quality students being admitted into A&M.
Page 1 of 1
Latest Texas A&M News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News