By Shane Hilde
LSU provost, Steve Pawluk, sent out an email Sept. 2, 2010, to what appears to be every LSU student who has taken one or more biology courses at La Sierra University since 2006.
Good Morning!
Because you have taken one or more biology courses at La Sierra University, we want to know about your experience as a student at our university.
In light of concerns that have been publically expressed about the ways in which creation and evolution are being taught in La Sierra University’s biology classes, academic administration and the faculty of the Department of Biology want to determine, in an objective manner, what our students are being, or have been, taught on this subject. Therefore, you are being asked to respond to this brief survey.
Your responses will be kept completely confidential. Completion of the survey is expected to take about 10 minutes.
If you are able to participate, please follow this link to start the survey: [edit]
We appreciate, very much, your time and the important information that you will provide. Thank you.
Steve Pawluk, Provost
The Survey
Our biology faculty members of La Sierra University want to teach complex issues effectively. In light of concerns recently raised about the ways in which creation and evolution are being taught in La Sierra University’s biology classes, academic administration and the faculty of the Department of Biology want to determine, in an objective manner, what our students are being taught on this subject. Therefore, because you have been a student in our biology program, you are being asked to respond to this brief survey.
We are interested in hearing what you, personally, experienced while studying biology at La Sierra University.
We appreciate your honest responses. Thank you for taking a few moments to respond to these 17 brief survey items. Your responses will be kept completely confidential.
[Students would answer on a scale of Strongly agree(5), Agree(4), Neutral(3), Disagree(2), Strongly disagree(1), No basis for response(0)]
1. It is appropriate to present evolutionary theories in biology classes at La Sierra University.
2. Evolution is presented as a scientific working theory in biology classes.
3. The differences between theories, facts, and beliefs were explained in my biology classes.
4. The changing and always tentative nature of even strongly- established theories was explained in my biology classes.
5. Data relevant to testing the strengths and weaknesses of evolutionary theories were discussed in my biology classes.
6. Evolutionary theories were taught as the factual explanation of the origin of life.
7. My professors presented helpful ways of relating science and religious faith.
8. The Seventh-day Adventist view of creation was presented in biology classes.
9. The Seventh-day Adventist view of creation was supported in biology classes.
10. Science is an effective, but tentative, way to understand and explain natural processes.
11. Science offers an effective way to prove beliefs about God and God’s creation.
12. Science and religion are valid but different ways of understanding the world.
13. Science is unable to definitively answer questions about the ultimate origins of human life.
14. Biology professors treated my questions and views on issues of origins, science, and religious faith with dignity and respect.
15. Biology professors encouraged my faith in a personal God.
16. Biology professors supported my faithfulness to my religious heritage.
17. I would encourage others to study biology at La Sierra University.
Please tell us a little about yourself so that we can classify your responses appropriately.
18 * I am responding as a:
Graduating biology major 2010
Graduating biology major 2009
Graduating biology major 2008
Graduating biology major 2007
Graduating biology major 2000
Student who took General Biology in 2009-2010
Student who took General Biology in 2008-2009
Student who took General Biology in 2007-2008
Student who took General Biology in 2006-200719 I am a:
Female Male20 I belong to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.
Yes No21 I:
Began as a freshman at La Sierra University
Am/was a transfer student to La Sierra University
