Faculty News: Welcome, Mr. Ron Pack!
UWT is delighted to introduce Mr. Ronald Pack as our newest faculty member.
Mr. Pack is a graduate of the Department of African and Afro-American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Chapel Hill, Mr. Pack broke the record for highest number of independent study courses taken by an undergraduate student, as well as the record for the greatest number of courses taken in a single department. "It was important to me that I personally maintained the greatest degree of control over my own learning as possible," he explained. "I chose my major based on the program's willingness to accommodate me in that respect."
He brings with him an innovative teaching style reflective of the academic experience he had as an undergraduate. "My favorite type of class is one free of traditional lectures and readings. You decide what you want to learn and turn in a paper at the end."
Mr. Pack's hands-off methods initially drew skepticism from his new dean, Adeline Parke. "A lecture class without any actual lectures and with only a single paper as the basis for a semester's grading would not typically be considered adequately rigorous for an institution like the University of Western Topeka," said Dean Parke. "We were concerned that someone might enroll in the class, do no work whatsoever during the semester, turn in a single paragraph of elementary quality work as the final paper, and expect an A-. However, we revisited our reluctance after considering the fact that Ron's curriculum at Chapel Hill consisted almost exclusively of these types of classes. A school of that stature has only the highest standards and would never allow the sort of situation we were contemplating. If they can make it work, then so can we."
Pre-registration for Mr. Pack's Spring 2015 courses will begin in late October for athletes and student government executives. Any remaining spots will be released to the general student body in mid-November.
Mr. Pack is a graduate of the Department of African and Afro-American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Chapel Hill, Mr. Pack broke the record for highest number of independent study courses taken by an undergraduate student, as well as the record for the greatest number of courses taken in a single department. "It was important to me that I personally maintained the greatest degree of control over my own learning as possible," he explained. "I chose my major based on the program's willingness to accommodate me in that respect."
He brings with him an innovative teaching style reflective of the academic experience he had as an undergraduate. "My favorite type of class is one free of traditional lectures and readings. You decide what you want to learn and turn in a paper at the end."
Mr. Pack's hands-off methods initially drew skepticism from his new dean, Adeline Parke. "A lecture class without any actual lectures and with only a single paper as the basis for a semester's grading would not typically be considered adequately rigorous for an institution like the University of Western Topeka," said Dean Parke. "We were concerned that someone might enroll in the class, do no work whatsoever during the semester, turn in a single paragraph of elementary quality work as the final paper, and expect an A-. However, we revisited our reluctance after considering the fact that Ron's curriculum at Chapel Hill consisted almost exclusively of these types of classes. A school of that stature has only the highest standards and would never allow the sort of situation we were contemplating. If they can make it work, then so can we."
Pre-registration for Mr. Pack's Spring 2015 courses will begin in late October for athletes and student government executives. Any remaining spots will be released to the general student body in mid-November.
