IUS Times

Chancellor's Outlook - In the Boat at Full Sail

At some time all of us have experienced the "lightbulb switching on" in our heads - a sudden insight often made more dramatic by the preceding struggle to "figure it out." Those moments of intense learning can happen to us alone, during everyday activities, in a class, or through the aid of a guide or mentor. Over the years I have heard a myriad of stories from grateful students who cherished the roles their teachers have played in encouraging them to learn well and thus better their lives.

In the tenth grade I encountered such a talented and devoted teacher. We kids just knew him as Mr. Tingleff, a six-foot-five, bald-headed, ex-football player in his sixties. He taught geometry, and he simply was the best. Although I was good in math, I remember how I marveled at Mr. Tingleff's teaching ability. He could even take the kids most characterized by math-anxiety and get them to truly understand geometry. We didn't sit in our seats; we all were constantly at the board scribbling equations and formulae, drawing diagrams, and working proofs. It was fun. And when something went awry in a proof, Mr. Tingleff, who always slowly paced the room, would quietly stop beside your shoulder, softly slap his hands together, flip his right hand palm up in front of you as though asking for some candy, and gently say, "Sandy, you missed the boat." He always had a full repertoire of ways to help you get back in the boat. The lightbulb invariably clicked on. To this day I love geometry and cherish my memories of learning it from Mr. Tingleff. He was top-notch and helped me appreciate the other great teachers that came my way in college and graduate school.

Some consider outstanding teachers like Mr. Tingleff to be rare. However, at IU Southeast I believe we have many such teachers. Ever since I came to IUS over three years ago, I have been delighted to hear story after story about the high-calibre teaching and supportiveness of our professors. And the praise comes from those who know - their students and IUS graduates going all the way back to Warder Park days. Our faculty members truly make the difference one student at a time.

However, like many colleges across the nation, we are experiencing a significant wave of faculty retirements. Nevertheless, in line with Goal 4 of our Strategic Plan, we are committed to hiring excellent faculty, like Mr. Tingleff, and to continue the high-calibre teaching and student engagement so characteristic of IU Southeast. We want all our students to be "in the boat at full sail."

-Back to Top-