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President Carol T. Christ is holding small-group
conversations with students, faculty and staff about positioning Smith most successfully
for the future. Here's a summary of one of the discussions.
Emily Leonard, president of Scales House, welcomed President
Christ and thanked her for giving students the opportunity to play an active role
in the college’s strategic planning process.
The president thanked the group for hosting her and
began the conversation by proposing to answer the following questions: Why strategic
planning? Why now? She explained that strategic planning typically coincides with
the college’s decennial accreditation review. She cited a number of significant
outcomes of the most recent planning process, including the Brown Fine Arts Center,
the Campus Center, the Olin Fitness Center, the Kahn Institute, Praxis, the Picker
Engineering Program and the Poetry Center.
She posed three questions to the students:
The president went on to discuss some of the distinctive
characteristics of Smith, citing its outstanding art department and art museum, the
strength of the music program, the poetry center, the landscape studies program and
the sciences, to name a few. Regarding the sciences she stated that 30 percent of
Smith students are studying the sciences compared to 18 percent nationally.
Many faculty, she said, feel that students should be
fluent in qualitative reasoning when they leave Smith. Alumnae, for their part, often
stress the importance of communication skills. She asked the students what capacity
they felt was most important.
One student commented on how she appreciated being at
Smith when she went on a junior-year abroad program. Comparing the range of courses
she can take at Smith with those available to students she met from other colleges,
she noted that, at Smith, “you can take everything you want and get credit
for it.” Another participant commented that, even as a first-year student,
she could explore just about any course she wanted, compared to most schools that
restrict students to “core” courses in their first year.
One student suggested that students returning from study
abroad, as well as transfer students, participate in a program to help them acclimate
(or reacclimate) to life on campus. One student commented that the International
Study Office helped her transition back to Smith but that a more comprehensive program
would be helpful.
Another student observed that she doesn’t always
know what resources are available at Smith and suggested some type of central place,
perhaps online, for students to find what they need. An example would be information
on how to apply for funds for student organizations. She felt such a clearinghouse
would help students be more resourceful.
One student suggested the college offer a for-credit
entrepreneurship program. President Christ described the Women & Financial Independence
Program and the seminars that they offer. It was noted that MIT has a similar program,
offered over Interterm. A student suggested that, since Northampton community services
don’t have resources, Smith student could offer services to these organizations
for credit.
President Christ asked the group to reflect on the college’s
strengths outside the classroom. There was consensus among the group that, first
and foremost, Smith offered them a sense of community, in part as result of life
in the houses. Some students commented that the community is changing as a result
of the dining reconfiguration and that each house needs to be more creative to maintain
a sense of connection among residents. Most students said they liked the former dining
situation, although there was positive feedback about the flexibility of the new
dining plan and the ways it helps student athletes, in particular, who have unusual
schedules. They expressed their desire to bring back house teas and candlelight dinners.
One student applauded the Campus Center, saying that it feels like a community space,
a place to see people.
Apart from dining, President Christ observed, a number
of features set Smith apart. These include the engineering program, the first such
program at a women’s college, the emerging alliance between the arts and technology,
and the socioeconomic diversity of the student body.
When asked for final thoughts, several students talked
about the lack of financial support and attention to athletics. When student athletes
are competing, whether at the club or varsity level, they don’t always have
what they need, she said. Another student commented on the importance of the Get
Fit Smith program and the need to provide a physical outlet for students.
In closing, a student thanked President Christ and asked
that she continue to make herself available to students, perhaps by coming to student
houses for dinner. The president offered to come to any meal to which she is invited
so that conversation could continue. |
