Concerns of students and faculty should be understood according to Covey principles.
The district administration approved adding to the core curriculum EDUC 1300, Learning Framework, a three-hour class including the leadership principles of Stephen R. Covey, author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”
However, district itself is not following Covey principles.
Habit 2 encourages to Begin with the End in Mind. This asks readers to envision ideal characteristics and goals.
The Learning Framework and Student Development committee met March 28 at this college to discuss who is going to teach the course and how to make sure the course is not similar to the current student development course, SDEV 0370.
Shouldn’t the district administration have already decided how much the book would cost and what goes into the book?
The administration is also breaking Habit 1: Be Proactive, which advises taking responsibility for choices and their consequences.
Students and faculty at this colleges and other Alamo Colleges have said they do not want to take a course based on a self-help book in addition to the student development course currently required.
These concerns are not being listened to, so does the district administration think the choices they made – which are being opposed by so many – do not have consequences because they refuse to consider their choices are not the best?
The administration should also — like Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood — listen to the opposition of EDUC 1300.
The administrators are thinking only of themselves, instead of thinking of solutions that also benefit students like Habit 4: Think Win-Win, states.
If the students and faculty are not going to be listened to, the least administrators could do is follow the principles they are trying to enact.
Is the district administration exempt from following the same principles they want to use for their new course?
If students are expected to learn and use the seven habits, then the district should be expected to follow them as well.