The Exponent Online


02/19/02	Previous Edition 2/18

Economic conditions affect Graduate School enrollment

By Kelsey VanArsdall
Campus Editor

Graduate School applications for Purdue have increased almost 30 percent from the same time last year.

An increase that Tom Atkinson, the assistant dean of the Graduate School, said could be attributed to the downturn in the economy.

"Economic conditions certainly impact graduate enrollment," said Atkinson. "It's commonly thought that the Graduate School's enrollment is inversely related to the strength of the economy."

For this spring semester there are 6,227 graduate students enrolled at Purdue. Last spring there were 5,855 graduate students enrolled; even before the recession hit America's economy there was an increase of 372.

Because the job market is seeing the largest recession in years, the thought in many upperclassmen students' minds is whether to brave the job market, or resort to applying for Graduate School to further their education.

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Senate considers professor reviews

A study group will be selected to propose a post-tenure review policy to a committee in Purdue's senate after the results of a faculty survey showed that a majority of the professors that responded supported regular performance reviews for full professors.

Around seven years ago, post-tenure review was brought up in the senate, but without systematically collected information, it was rejected.

Now, with the results of a recent faculty survey completed by over 800 faculty members, showing that 93 percent of assistant professors, 80 percent of associate professors and 66 percent of full professors support some kind of peer performance review, the senate will once again look at the issue.

The committee selected will have four to five members representing different University ranks, not necessarily members of the senate, but with at least one member from the faculty affairs committee.

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Lent brings students together

Sept. 11 brought new meaning to Christians celebrating Lent.

Father Daniel Davis of St. Thomas Aquinas said that because of the events on that day, people realize how important it is to come together as a community, and Lent is a good time to do just that.

Lent is a season celebrated by Christians 40 days prior to Easter Sunday. These 40 days, beginning with Ash Wednesday, are used to fast and reflect on the sacrifice Jesus Christ made by dying on the cross.

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Campus

Economic conditions affect Graduate School enrollment