Science senator goes hick for students
Billy Ray Cyrus’ mullet has nothing on Science Senator Steve Skinner.
The Associated Students of Utah State University representative wanted to find out what students in the College of Science thought about advising, teaching and research. To reward students for taking the survey last week, he offered to cut his hair in a style determined by survey-takers.
That is, if looking at his new hairstyle, which he calls the Texas Tailgater, can be called a reward.
“It’s not something I want to have or something I enjoy having,” Skinner said. “Since the students voted for it, I did it.”
What Skinner lost in hair and appearance, he gained in knowledge about what science students want.
“There have been some concerns that we’ve heard,” he said. “There are a lot of people that want to get involved in research but don’t know anything about it or don’t know that it’s important.”
While it was found that students would like to learn more about research opportunities, Skinner said, it was surprising that students said they were as happy with the teaching quality as they are.
“There is kind of this opinion that we hire researchers more than actual teachers,” he said.
Students were asked to rate the quality of teaching in their program on a scale of one to 10. The average score was between a seven and eight, Skinner said.
The Science Council put the survey together. Skinner said it was created so students could fill it out quickly and to minimize impact on the classes it was distributed in. The classes that were given the survey were randomly selected.
Skinner said it is hard to gather student opinions when there are seven departments spread across campus in six buildings.
The results of the survey will be given to the dean and department heads, Skinner said.
Even with the new hairdo, Skinner said, the survey was worth it to get a better idea of what students want.
“Every person running for senator, on their platform, always says that [they want to conduct a survey,]” said Ryan Wilcox, a junior pre-med major and member of the Science Council.
“No one ever does it,” Skinner replied.
Until now. And the Texas Tailgater stands as evidence.
-str@cc.usu.edu
BEFORE (Photo by John Zsiray)