Quick Takes: Medical College Group to Study Conflicts of Interest, Virginia Professors Object to Semester at Sea Link

Well, it is about time people start discussing whether SaS is just a cash-generating machine, or really adds anything to scholarship beyond being a collegiate love boat. I don’t have a position on this, but I think that people will need to prove (not just via student testimonials and balance sheets) the worth of putting classrooms on ships.

Larry, at 10:50 am EST on February 22, 2006

Well, I obviously don’t know enough about the SaS to come to a conclusion about it, but here is what I know. Ships, by their very nature are 1) small; and 2) not conducive to having professors with families inhabit them. Therefore, the ship probably lacks a large library and other facilities that students need to learn. (Yes, even undergraduate students need libraries and labs.) Likewise, it is doubtful that the SaS can attract mid-level and above full-time professors, who, like most are surrounded by families who need to do family-like things. Now, it may be possible that the SaS makes up for these inherent shortcomings, but I don’t see how it does it. Instead, it looks like a party boat. But, I might be wrong.

Now, I know, and you know that many schools are really party schools. But even they have large libraries and full-time faculties and such.

Larry, at 4:20 pm EST on February 22, 2006

Larry,Large libraries and full-time faculty? That’s what makes a strong program? Doubtful. Put some ownership on the student — a college education is greatly affected by what resources the student chooses to take advantage of during their collegiate career.

SAS provides an opportunity of a lifetime — a learning experience you simply can’t gain from a textbook. Education is not as linear as textbooks and labs. There’s a lot more to learn out there...

Katelyn, at 8:35 am EST on February 23, 2006

Katelyn, Can you be a bit more specific than saying that SaS is the “opportunity of a lifetime.” Students are on a tour with other students, pretending to learn. Is there ANYTHING on this boat that can’t be done elsewhere. You also dismissed by arguments by saying, “doubtful.” Can you tell me why libraries are not important to colleges. I am genuinely interested in what a professor or graduate student (not a partying undergrad) has to say.

Larry, at 3:50 pm EST on February 28, 2006