Jim Parsons
Managing Editor
Though an internal audit of the University of Houston's graduate programs turned up no conclusive evidence of so-called "dummy courses," the audit's findings suggest the need for changes in the way UH runs graduate studies.
The audit's results were announced in a May 11 press conference, and an e-mail memorandum sent to faculty and teaching assistants the same day from Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Edward Sheridan detailed the proposals for change.
The alleged "dummy courses," or graduate courses for which students enrolled and received credit - but no instruction - surfaced during a regular accreditation study by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The detailed internal audit, conducted in conjunction with the state auditor's white-collar crime unit, took place at UH System Chancellor/UH President Arthur K. Smith's request after a student survey found that more than 30 percent of graduate students claimed to have been enrolled in dummy courses at some point.
"(The auditors') findings make it clear that our primary problems have been ones of misperception and poor communication," Sheridan wrote in the memorandum.
He added that the problem was intensified by "sloppy record-keeping" in the academic departments, a problem Smith had pointed out earlier.
The initial findings of the December student survey indicated that, if students had not actually been enrolled in fake courses, they might have been confused about exactly what they had been involved with.
Smith said in December he was concerned the survey did not provide an adequate definition of "dummy courses" nor a time frame in which students might have been enrolled in such courses.
Sheridan outlined the auditors' recommendation that the university create an administration to oversee graduate studies, a proposal that has been considered by various campus legislative bodies for several months.
"This is a very decentralized university, and decentralization works exceedingly well in many cases," Smith said in reference to the proposed graduate administration. "In some cases, decentralization can be carried too far.
"I believe this case demonstrates we are too decentralized, and that doesn't work to the benefit of either the university or students," he continued.
Smith said he will work with Sheridan and faculty leaders to define the new position, which may be filled using an internal search, a more expedient method than searching for a candidate from outside the university.
According to Sheridan's memo, the new administrator would specifically have oversight of evaluations, policies, assistantships and fellowships, advising, orientation, records and stipends in the graduate programs - in other words, most aspects of graduate education.
"The auditors found inconsistency in departmental grade forms, descriptions of graduate programs, the information provided graduate students about their courses and requirements and the manner in which departments identified (independent-study) faculty," the memo said.
Sheridan also addressed the need to make the recommended changes quickly.
"It is clear from December's preliminary perceptions check that a number of our students have not been well-informed about expectations or procedures for these individualized study courses," he wrote. "We are committed to ensuring that this does not recur in future semesters."