<p>Ya I found this article in the JHU news letter:</p>
<p>CUE update addresses Univ. flaws</p>
<p>Students' concerns conflict with report's new recommendations
By CHRISTINE HIGGINS
May 05, 2006</p>
<p>A second Commission on Undergraduate Education (CUE) Report proposes recommendations to alleviate campus-wide problems recognized by the administration, primarily in the areas of academics and recruitment, despite student concerns focusing on social limitations and quality of life. </p>
<p>Since 2003, the CUE has been responsible for formally promoting changes to the University; resulting projects include the construction of the Charles Commons and revamped dining services. </p>
<p>The administration is currently confident that the addition of the recreational space in Charles Commons will improve the vitality of student life on campus, as well as mark the beginning of moving upperclassmen back into the fold of the Hopkins community. </p>
<p>Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education Paula Burger said, "We're counting on one hand, not two, until the University can offer housing to more upperclassmen in light of the completion of Charles Commons and the purchase of The Charles and Blackstone. Although there is a significant amount of work to be done before either is treated as part of University housing." </p>
<p>Underclassmen have lamented the apparent absence of juniors and seniors to serve as role models and leaders outside of academic settings. Freshman Mary Schindler said, for example, "The only time I interact with seniors is during my upper-level courses. There is no central Univ. flowsplace for all students to gather. The library shouldn't count and neither should the dining halls, even if they do improve. From talking with friends at other schools I feel like Hopkins is very decentralized, which is ridiculous because we're a very small school." </p>
<p>Also, more students vocalized the desire for a better social environment. Freshman Matthew DeSantis said, "As a competitive and prestigious university, Hopkins is required to continually improve our academic programming. It seems that sometimes the administration forgets that while we are all here receive a superior education they also have the obligation to make our lives enjoyable in the process. It's not a coincidence that Hopkins is stereotyped as a 'nerds that have no fun' school." </p>
<p>Some of the prominent recommendations in the newly revised CUE report, whose release is scheduled for May 18, include the alternation of class scheduling, specialized recruitment for minorities and humanities and continued improvement with both housing and dining. </p>
<p>It is the administration's hope that with the completion and betterment of these facilities undergraduate life will improve. "There is no lack of activity on campus. There are events and speakers every week that go by under attended because student life is so hectic," Berger said. </p>
<p>Another issue raised in the CUE report is the lopsided and top-heavy nature of current course scheduling. Administrators feel that despite student claims that weekends are well spent interning and working, University studies have shown that Hopkins students spend equal time researching and working outside the classroom as students at our peer universities. </p>
<p>Additionally, there is the worry that professors are unable to teach as effectively as they would otherwise be able to with a more even class schedule. "Professors have said to me that they feel students do not have the same amount of time to finish reading assignments and other coursework when classes occur on consecutive days," Burger said. </p>
<p>"By spreading out the work week, we hope to reduce the amount of stress placed on students. However, there has been some resistance to these kinds of changes from students. Either way, there will be some form of scheduling revision in effect by Fall 2007, whether it's an entirely new scheduling policy or a better structured revision of our current system remains to be seen," she concluded. </p>
<p>With the positive reinforcement that accepted students in the class of 2010 were slightly more than 6 percent African American, which is an approximate 2 percent increase over the pass few years, the CUE report recommends following through with more forceful, though presently effective initiatives. The University has potentially secured a chair for the African-American studies program.</p>