Jordan Responds to Washington Post Article

President Jordan’s response to ‘The Washington Post’ article on Gallaudet 

Since 1864, Gallaudet University has had a unique mission of providing
opportunities to students with diverse educational backgrounds and
needs. Since its inception, the University has offered remedial programs
and, in recent years, a challenging Honors Program. Gallaudet remains
committed to ensuring that all our students have the opportunity to
succeed and, to graduate, every student must satisfy the academic
requirements set by the faculty.

Under the leadership of then provost Dr. Jane Fernandes, a new strategic
plan, New Directions for Academic Affairs, was developed that included
raising admissions standards. That planning effort was co-chaired by two
members of the faculty (who constituted a majority of the Academic
Affairs Planning Committee) and was comprised entirely of faculty,
staff, and students). In that document is a plan for increasing the
number of articulation agreements with community colleges, particularly
those who already have experience teaching deaf students, so that
remedial courses can be taught there and students transfer to Gallaudet
when they complete those courses successfully. The faculty and the board
have given their strong support to this and all of the plans contained
in New Directions, and these agreements with community colleges are
being developed. Anecdotes about a student or students who cannot
multiply without a calculator make good news copy but do not represent
an accurate picture of the student body at Gallaudet University. We have
ambitious strategic goals and plans that are designed to ensure that
Gallaudet students receive an exemplary education that will prepare them
for the challenges in our rapidly changing world.

Regarding grading practices at the University, it is important to note
that there is a standard institutional process for addressing issues of
academic performance. There are procedures in place where students can
formally bring forth their concerns about their grades to their
professors, department chairs, and deans.

Gallaudet remains steadfast in support of our faculty to ensure
long-standing academic integrity. Above all else, Gallaudet is dedicated
to providing quality education for deaf and hard of hearing students.

Dr. I. King Jordan, President

Note: The Washington Post article can be found at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110802401.html

http://pr.gallaudet.edu/dailydigest/?id=9722

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