Kenneth Janken is a professor and the director of undergraduate studies for UNC’s Department of African, African American and Diaspora Studies. He said he thinks he took the director position in fall 2011 and he does not recall approving any independent studies since assuming that position.
He said he didn’t want to speculate whether the lack of requests for independent studies has to do with the scandal.
“I’ve not talked to anybody who has said to me I’m not taking independent studies with you because ‘whatever’ — I’ve not had this discussion with any student,” Janken said.
Alan Jones, a biology professor, said the new rules and regulations that have been put in place are changing the process of how an independent study operates.
“The final reports are now read by another faculty member than the mentor,” he said in an email. “Someone else in consultation with the mentoring professor assigns the grades.”
He said he thinks the Wainstein report affects all departments across campus.
“It will make our jobs a little harder. But most importantly, it will create great resentment. Those of us who work hard to train, teach UNC students are now assumed to be a source of the problem or have the potential to be like the few professors and counselors that created this problem,” Jones said.
Asa Kelly, a senior biology and African, African American and Diaspora Studies double major, said she took an undergraduate research seminar in the AAAD department.
