[Fumblerooskies]

It's not too bad...

[shukcb04]

just saw that someone said that some classes will have an enrollment of 150. who actually likes having classes that freaking big?

[SuperJon]

Shuk, there are quite a few classes at LU that are 300-350 students. They're the GNED (basic required class for all freshmen), Theology with Dr. Towns, New Testament, etc.

[shukcb04]

Shuk, there are quite a few classes at LU that are 300-350 students. They're the GNED (basic required class for all freshmen), Theology with Dr. Towns, New Testament, etc.

what is a class like with that sort of size? do you just sit there and listen to someone lecture the whole time?

[Fumblerooskies]

There are SEVERAL lower level classes...especially those which can be used for the General Studies requirement...that have had their enrollments boosted...especially with the new classrooms under construction in CN.

[SuperJon]

Shuk, there are quite a few classes at LU that are 300-350 students. They're the GNED (basic required class for all freshmen), Theology with Dr. Towns, New Testament, etc.

what is a class like with that sort of size? do you just sit there and listen to someone lecture the whole time?

Pretty much. The professors are good about asking a question if someone has the guts to raise their hands, but not many people have the guts to raise their hand in front of that many people. A lot of people take the bigger classes because they're generally considered easier. I had Theology 201 with about 40 people and liked it a whole lot better than my Theology 202 with about 330.

[shukcb04]

i'd learn absolutely nothing in a class like that unless i taught myself because i'd be falling asleep every single class. i'd feel like i'd be wasting my money that way, at least that's what i thought when i had a history class at LC that was taught that way even though the professor could ahve easily implemented much more effective teaching methods considering the class only had about 25 people in it.

[El Scorcho]

who actually likes having classes that freaking big?

Not many people, really. But lecture hall classes are part of attending a larger school. I don't know anyone who's been to a university of any size that didn't have to sit through a few gen-ed lecture hall classes.

[JDUB]

yeah, but some classes should not be done like that. someone wrote earlier that math was gonna be a big class. that is ridiculous. you need very close interaction with the teacher in math class, at least most people do. i didn't really mind the gned classes, i thought the teachers did a good job considering the conditions. i think the school needs to be careful not to turn too many classes into these massive ones, b/c that will turn away new students

[shukcb04]

yeah, but some classes should not be done like that. someone wrote earlier that math was gonna be a big class. that is ridiculous. you need very close interaction with the teacher in math class, at least most people do. i didn't really mind the gned classes, i thought the teachers did a good job considering the conditions. i think the school needs to be careful not to turn too many classes into these massive ones, b/c that will turn away new students

if i had to take a math class filled with geometry or calculus and i got very little individual attention due to the class size, i'd be royally screwed beyond belief.

[Purple Haize]

i'd learn absolutely nothing in a class like that unless i taught myself because i'd be falling asleep every single class. i'd feel like i'd be wasting my money that way, at least that's what i thought when i had a history class at LC that was taught that way even though the professor could ahve easily implemented much more effective teaching methods considering the class only had about 25 people in it.

Maybe that is why my students were always named "Most Well Rested'

[ATrain]

Yeah, Math classes need to remain small. However, I had huge GNED, Evangelism, Theology and Bible classes and I was fine with them.

[JDUB]

i've had 2 huge gned, OT, and i'm taking a huge NT this semester. oh yeah, evangislism too. i enjoyed the classes, but honestly i think i learn more in a smaller class, even though i can pull an A in the big class it doesn't necessarily mean i'm learning a whole lot

[El Scorcho]

someone wrote earlier that math was gonna be a big class. that is ridiculous.

If that's true, then I agree.

[SuperJon]

It came straight from my math professor's mouth.

[mrmacphisto]

Over the past several years, the priority has been recruitment. Every other department has been forced to adjust. I don't know what it's like now, but for a while they were back to packing the students into dorms like sardines and renting hotel rooms to get everyone in. There were food shortages and not enough space in the dining hall. The directive was to get 25,000 on campus before Doc retired. Now that he's retired and we still don't have 25,000 students on campus, it will be interesting to see if recruitment continues to be the #1 priority. I'd personally rather see academics set higher on the list, as well as more concern and care for the students we already have. Not that those aren't priorities, but they should be higher than recruitment at this point. LU has established itself as the top Christian university in the nation, so we can stop whoring ourselves out and trying to come up with gimmicks to get people here.

To answer the original question, there was a time in the not-too-distant past that LU was growing too fast. I think there are probably some lingering effects of that overwhelming and sudden growth, but hopefully it's not as bad as it used to be.

[TDDance234]

At the same time, there are only 8 signed up for my SMGT 400 class next semester.

[RagingTireFire]

At the same time, there are only 8 signed up for my SMGT 400 class next semester.

The higher the number the smaller the class.

[ALUmnus]

Food shortages? Come on, lets not jump the ship here.

[RagingTireFire]

so we can stop whoring ourselves out and trying to come up with gimmicks to get people here.

I'll bet they just love you down at the Visitors Center.

[Sly Fox]

Here's a little historical perspective from an Old Hag. In the spring of 1985 when the name of the school was formally changed form Liberty Baptist College to Liberty University, the enrollment was 2500. In the fall of 1985, I was among 2500+ freshman who began classes on the mountain (along with all three members of dcTalk and a number of other FlameFans). We heard the same arguments from upperclassmen that this would ruin the school and we were growing too fast. Guess what, it all worked out just fine ... until the PTL scandal but that is a completely other story.

The problems you guys are stating are the same issues nearly every major school int he nation faces. Large 100 & 200 level classes go with large enrollment. If hands need to be held to get through freshman and sophomore classes then perhaps community colleges would be a better option (sorry, to be so matter of fact). Upper level classes still have the lower student:teacher ratio.

The fact of the matter is that the growth is nothing new and it is not likely to slow down anytime soon. Historically there have been surges in enrollment every 4-5 years and we appear top be in one of those growth stages. This is a glass half full vs. half empty argument. Consider me polyannish but I prefer to view this growth as a blessing and not major pitfall. Growth brings with it a unique set of challenges and we appear to be handling them much better than many folks on campus would care to admit.

[SuperJon]

Sly, I have no problem with your GNEDs, Evangelisms, etc being huge classes. The ones I have a problem with are maths and histories. Those classes should not be over 40 (math) and 50-60 (history).

Most of the stuff I said was just to help out with the current growth and make the campus a better place for the students.

[RagingTireFire]

Sly, I have no problem with your GNEDs, Evangelisms, etc being huge classes. The ones I have a problem with are maths and histories. Those classes should not be over 40 (math) and 50-60 (history).

What level maths and histories, though? If those are upper-level classes required for Math or History degrees, then I agree. If it's freshman level math and history core courses, then I say forget it and everybody suck it in cuz we're adding seats.

[SuperJon]

I know college algebra is what he was talking about, and while it's the only math required for most degrees, about 75% of the students I know are having to take Math 110 (basically Alg 2 in high school) before they get to Math 121. I just think math one field where you have to have interaction with the professor.

[El Scorcho]

I just think math one field where you have to have interaction with the professor.

I agree, but I've always had a hard time with math. For whatever reason, I can't focus on it. I was always too distracted to even get through a single class paying full attention.

Then again, I met my wife in a math class at Liberty. So I guess that worked out for me.