A Report on a Pilot Study of the Image of Humanics at Springfield College by Charles Weckwerth and Barbara Jensen (August 1976)

Item Information

Title:
A Report on a Pilot Study of the Image of Humanics at Springfield College by Charles Weckwerth and Barbara Jensen (August 1976)
Description:
“A Report on a Pilot Study of The Image of Humanics at Springfield College 1974-1975” was completed by Charles F. Weckwerth and Barbara E. Jensen in August 1976. The two write that the study’s purpose was to develop The Humanics Semantic Differential Scale, which they designed to measure “the meaning of Humanics as the term is related to the concept of general education and the meaning of Humanics as the term is related to the emphasis upon the curriculum of Humanics at Springfield College.” From their findings, Weckwerth and Jensen conclude that: 1. Women and Men don’t differ in their interpretation of the term; 2. Undergraduate Springfield College alumni don’t differ in interpretation from those who graduated from other institutions; 3. “Various numbers of years of exposure to the Springfield College campus do not appear to have an influence on the interpretation of the term humanics”; 4. Springfield College alumni have similar interpretations of Humanics, regardless of differences in the amount of money they donate to the school; 5. Faculty from all three divisions have similar ideas about Humanics, but some differences can be found between the Community Education Division and the Division of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; and 6. Trustees, Corporators, Administrators, and Faculty have a similar interpretation of the term Humanics. There is also a digital copy of this publication, which has a different formatting. Humanics has a special meaning in the history and philosophy of Springfield College. The Oxford English Dictionary defines Humanics as, “the subject or study of human affairs or relations, especially of the human element of a problem or situation as opposed to the mechanical.” In 1962, Dr. Glenn Olds, President of Springfield College at the time, began to wonder why this name was given to the intended philosophy of the college by Dr. Laurence Locke Doggett, Springfield College’s first full-time president. Olds acknowledged that the practices of the faculty were in large part consistent with the Humanics philosophy, but he believed that a more self-conscious application would improve chances of its continuity and survival. To ensure this, a Distinguished Professor of Humanics position was created at the college, first filled by Dr. Seth Arsenian from 1966-1969. The purpose of this position was to catalyze a renewal of consciousness in the philosophy. This was done by annually mandating the Distinguished Professor of Humanics to give a Humanics lecture on the definition of Humanics and what the concept means to them. Arsenian started this tradition in 1967 with his speech titled, “The Meaning of Humanics,” in which he described the concept as a set of ideas, values, and goals that make our college distinct from other colleges and make commitment and unity toward commonly sought goals possible.
Creator:
Weckwerth, Charles F.
Creator:
Jensen, Barbara E.
Date:
August 1976
Format:
Documents
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Subjects:
Humanics
Springfield College
Springfield College--Alumni and alumnae
Springfield College--Faculty
Weckwerth, Charles F.
Jensen, Barbara E.
Books
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Extent:
99 Pages
Link to Item:
http://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/21470
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Language:
English
Identifier:
report-on-a-pilot-study-of-the-image-of-humanics-weckwerth-jensen