Officials may cut Maymester from summer school schedule

Maymester, which has been recommended for elimination, is hanging in the balance until Ralph Slaughter, Southern University’s system president and the Southern Board of Supervisors are able to review the document. The next scheduled board meeting is on Feb. 29, according to Johnny Tolliver, vice-chancellor of academic affairs.
“Due to fiscal and academic reasons, the recommendation was rendered,” said Tolliver. Nonetheless, summer sessions one and two, which are four week classes, will be offered and executed as before, running concurrently with the regular summer session which is eight weeks.
From Tolliver’s recollection, revenue generated from Maymester has been in the neighborhood of 70 – 80 thousand, but as of Maymester 2007, that amount has dwindled to approximately 22 thousand. Twenty-two thousand is the amount after the faculty has been paid, not including room, board, electricity and other needs.
Flandus McClinton, vice chancellor for finance and administration, was not available for the exact figures.
According to Tolliver, the proposal has been signed by the vice chancellors for finance and administration, student affairs, enrollment, academic affairs, the faculty senate president and the interim-chancellor. The next stop is at the president’s office, but the president did not comment on the matter because he has yet to see the document.
Tolliver stated that Maymester 2007 was cost ineffective for Southern.
“We only had about 600 students; we cancelled over half of the classes we had offered for Maymester. We had 26 students living between two dormitories,” said Tolliver.
When Tolliver checked with the dining hall, he was told approximately six were being served breakfast on a daily basis and about seven or eight for both lunch and dinner.
“When you look at having the two dormitories opened, the amount of meals being prepared, having all the classrooms open, the high cost of energy, high cost of faculty, we had to make a decision,” said Tolliver.
Robert Jones, a senior mass communications major from Jeanerette, said school is a business.
“If I had a product that was not making any money, I would let it go also,” said Jones.
For Tolliver, he does not feel that Southern students get the full benefit of a three-week instructional period. Furthermore, grade point averages were reviewed of those enrolled in these three-week courses and 70 percent of those averages were below 3.0, said Tolliver. He explained that learning how to write English compositions and work mathematics warrants more than three weeks. Ambrose inclined to agree.
Tolliver said canceling the four-week summer sessions was a thought, but after meeting with the faculty senate, due to foreign language, that idea was not supported. According to the advocates for foreign language, part one can be taught in the first four week session and part two can be taught in the second four week session.
Jasmine Nappier, a freshman biology major from Oakdale, agreed with the foreign language representatives.
“I reviewed the catalog for my major and saw that foreign language was itemized under my junior year, but since the four week summer sessions are still available, I will complete my foreign language requirements this year,” said Nappier.
For those needing Maymester to graduate, Tolliver informed that Southern will allow someone to participate in graduation providing only three to four hours are needed. Tolliver added that the problem with that is many students are not coming back until five or six years later when it is forced upon them to present a degree. In cases like that, a student’s situation is case by case and subject to the department’s discretion.