CLSEducationReform (8 vs. 9)

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 CLSEducationReform 9 - 11 Feb 2010 - Main.RonMazor
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  Some data points: 

+ A graduate recently told me that Columbia switched from an Excellent/Very Good/Good grading system to a letter system sometime in the 90's, in response to concerns that students weren't as competitive with out of town firms.
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  Actually, I might be able to chime in with some useful information on this issue. In the Fall, a number of issues were raised on the Senate floor with regard to exam feedback. A lot of suggestions were made about how to increase the effectiveness of post-exam reviews, and what steps could be taken by professors to better convey to students how they can improve for the future. The minutes of the meeting can be read here.
 Changed: 
<
< http://www.columbia.edu/cu/law/senate/meetings/minutes120809.pdf
>
> http://www.columbia.edu/cu/law/senate/meetings/minutes120809.pdf
  One of the problems which repeatedly came up is the fact that, at Columbia, the Faculty enjoy great freedom and discretion. If professor conduct is to be reformed, either with regard to post-exam feedback or altering the grade structure to allow for writing assignments/midterms, the reform will need to be self-initiated by the Faculty. As I understand it, the Senate doesn't have direct authority on academic matters or professor conduct--the best we can do is express the student position to the Faculty and attempt to persuade them to change their behavior. 
 Changed: 
<
< On the basis of similar discussions, I can point to two hurdles that will need to be overcome.
>
> On the basis of past discussions, I can point to two hurdles that will need to be overcome:
   
 A proposal for establishing midterms or written assignments will require Faculty to voluntarily increase their workload. Given human nature, and Eben's previous observations on the character of law school professors, this is not an easy proposition.
 
 Changed: 
<
<  
 Often, the arguments that are most persuasive before the Faculty are those which demonstrate that Columbia is falling behind its peers. However, Columbia's current policy on law school exams is pretty standard. To make matters worse, we would be attempting to convince the people who are most responsible for perpetuating the current system, and who are most likely to have loyalty to the system, that the system is broken. 
 
>
>  
 Often, the arguments that are most persuasive before the Faculty are those which demonstrate that Columbia is falling behind its peers. However, Columbia's current policy on law school exams is pretty standard. To make matters more difficult, we would be attempting to convince the people who are most responsible for perpetuating the current system, and who are most likely to have loyalty to the system, that the system is broken. 
 
  Nevertheless, I think your idea of a mass-mailing to representatives could be a good way to get some movement on this issue. If this is a widespread student concern, then it is something that the Senate should address. If you're able to demonstrate student demand utilizing this new system, the Senate will have a high interest in responding favorably.

So, in short, while creating midterms or written assignments faces a significant uphill battle, it is a good idea, and it is worth an attempt. At the very least, I'll vote for it :).
 Added: 
>
> -- RonMazor - 08 Feb 2010

Additionally, the Senate had a long discussion in November with Dean Greenberg-Kobrin regarding reforming Legal Practice and Legal Research.

Minutes: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/law/senate/meetings/minutes111009.pdf

 Some felt that the course was not challenging enough, and that not enough reinforcement of research skills was done. Others felt that they put sufficient work in to receive a grade, and were disappointed that the class boiled down to pass/fail. One proposal which stood out was to have LPW run concurrently with Legal Methods, so that we would be given familiarity with Lexis and Westlaw early on in law school.

Does anyone have thoughts on what might be done to improve the experience and value of Legal Practice/Research?

-- RonMazor - 08 Feb 2010
 Some data points: 

+ A graduate recently told me that Columbia switched from an Excellent/Very Good/Good grading system to a letter system sometime in the 90's, in response to concerns that students weren't as competitive with out of town firms.
 Actually, I might be able to chime in with some useful information on this issue. In the Fall, a number of issues were raised on the Senate floor with regard to exam feedback. A lot of suggestions were made about how to increase the effectiveness of post-exam reviews, and what steps could be taken by professors to better convey to students how they can improve for the future. The minutes of the meeting can be read here.
-<
<
+http://www.columbia.edu/cu/law/senate/meetings/minutes120809.pdf
->
>
+http://www.columbia.edu/cu/law/senate/meetings/minutes120809.pdf
 One of the problems which repeatedly came up is the fact that, at Columbia, the Faculty enjoy great freedom and discretion. If professor conduct is to be reformed, either with regard to post-exam feedback or altering the grade structure to allow for writing assignments/midterms, the reform will need to be self-initiated by the Faculty. As I understand it, the Senate doesn't have direct authority on academic matters or professor conduct--the best we can do is express the student position to the Faculty and attempt to persuade them to change their behavior.
-<
<
+On the basis of similar discussions, I can point to two hurdles that will need to be overcome.
->
>
+On the basis of past discussions, I can point to two hurdles that will need to be overcome:
  A proposal for establishing midterms or written assignments will require Faculty to voluntarily increase their workload. Given human nature, and Eben's previous observations on the character of law school professors, this is not an easy proposition.
-<
<
+ Often, the arguments that are most persuasive before the Faculty are those which demonstrate that Columbia is falling behind its peers. However, Columbia's current policy on law school exams is pretty standard. To make matters worse, we would be attempting to convince the people who are most responsible for perpetuating the current system, and who are most likely to have loyalty to the system, that the system is broken.
->
>
+ Often, the arguments that are most persuasive before the Faculty are those which demonstrate that Columbia is falling behind its peers. However, Columbia's current policy on law school exams is pretty standard. To make matters more difficult, we would be attempting to convince the people who are most responsible for perpetuating the current system, and who are most likely to have loyalty to the system, that the system is broken.
 Nevertheless, I think your idea of a mass-mailing to representatives could be a good way to get some movement on this issue. If this is a widespread student concern, then it is something that the Senate should address. If you're able to demonstrate student demand utilizing this new system, the Senate will have a high interest in responding favorably.

So, in short, while creating midterms or written assignments faces a significant uphill battle, it is a good idea, and it is worth an attempt. At the very least, I'll vote for it :).
->
>
+-- RonMazor - 08 Feb 2010

Additionally, the Senate had a long discussion in November with Dean Greenberg-Kobrin regarding reforming Legal Practice and Legal Research.

Minutes: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/law/senate/meetings/minutes111009.pdf

 Some felt that the course was not challenging enough, and that not enough reinforcement of research skills was done. Others felt that they put sufficient work in to receive a grade, and were disappointed that the class boiled down to pass/fail. One proposal which stood out was to have LPW run concurrently with Legal Methods, so that we would be given familiarity with Lexis and Westlaw early on in law school.

Does anyone have thoughts on what might be done to improve the experience and value of Legal Practice/Research?

-- RonMazor - 08 Feb 2010

Revision 9	r9 - 11 Feb 2010 - 00:44:49 - RonMazor
Revision 8	r8 - 10 Feb 2010 - 23:09:40 - RonMazor

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