By Sara Berry
CCSU’s faculty senate opened the semester with a major discussion of the limited availability of internships and independent studies for psychology students.
Rebecca Wood of the psychology department informed those present at Monday’s meeting of the department’s concern over the shortage of opportunities for their students. Wood and Jason Sikorski discussed the importance of internships and independent studies as educational experiences that help students gain professional experiences as well as entrance to graduate programs.
The psychology department’s concern over the availability of internships was echoed by Cindy White of the communications department. White said that internships are an important part of a student’s educational experiences and provided essential skills and knowledge in environments that constantly change.
The discussion continued with comments from several other departments. Also part of the discussion was the issue of whether or not internships and independent studies should be the same across disciplines. White said that the communications department had been given a model for fashioning its internship programs that allowed for far less contact time with agencies than the department requires. It became very clear very quickly to those present that an internship for a biology student is different from that of a psychology student or an education student.
The psychology department provided the senate with research information illustrating the importance internships have in affecting student relationships with the department and faculty, as well as their perceptions of their readiness for graduate study. Sikorski handed out a graph showing the differences between the attitudes of students having had internships and those who have not. He also noted that internships are important not only to the students but to the department and the community. When a relationship is formed with an agency or organization through the process of placing an intern, it benefits both the student involved as well as future students who could take advantage of established relationships.
The issue of limiting internships and independent studies is a result of financial concerns related to the increased costs of running departments on the same budgets as in prior years. The issue was referred to the steering committee for further consideration before the Faculty Senate takes any action.
Other issues addressed during the meeting included the search for a new Connecticut State University Chancellor due to last semester’s announcement that current chancellor David Carter would be retiring. Senate President Candace Barrington informed the gathering that the search committee has been formed and were working on a document specifying the characteristics that were desirable for the next chancellor to possess. Faculty and staff were asked to view the document and suggest any changes they felt necessary prior to midnight Wednesday.
In addition, there was discussion of the need for gender-neutral language to be used on campus and that action groups had been formed to examine the issue and make recommendations for action. Chief Diversity Officer Rosa Rodriguez has also been asked to issue a statement on the issue.
Also mentioned was the need for faculty to complete an online training module regarding the FERPA law regarding students’ academic privacy.
Faculty senate will next meet on Feb. 7.