|
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.
President Christ welcomed the group and noted that we
are approaching end of the strategic planning conversations. Three campus meetings
remain. After recounting a number of outcomes from a similar process a decade ago,
she posed three questions for discussion:
The president noted that she has had 35 related discussions
with alumnae groups and 10 more are planned. She has seen graduates from the class
of 1932 to the class of 2005. Some haven’t been to a Smith alumnae event in
more than 20 years but felt that engaging in the planning process was very important.
The goal of the on-campus and alumnae discussion, she said, is to formulate six to
eight critical issues to be considered by the Committee on Mission and Priorities.
Strategies for addressing these issues will then be developed.
President Christ reported that alumnae believe students should graduate with certain
skills, including writing, public speaking, quantitative reasoning and the ability
for civil discourse or an argumentative capacity. Alumnae say students should be globally
well-informed and have knowledge of at least one culture other than their own. They
also stress the need for moral reasoning skills.
The president went on to say that sustainability and social engagement have emerged
as important issues in the on-campus conversations. A discussion ensued about strengthening
independent academic work opportunities for Smith students, whether on campus or in
the local community. Issues raised included the need to recognize faculty members’ independent
work with students in the context of faculty evaluations and the potential for attracting
strong students with a message about self-designed majors and interdisciplinary work.
Smith’s open curriculum was discussed. President Christ cited a student’s
recent op-ed piece in the Sophian that expressed a yearning for greater structure
in the curriculum. Some expressed concern about students’ differing levels of
preparation intersecting with the fact that they can take any course they want without
prerequisites. Some students require extensive help; others are not challenged. There
were differing opinions about whether the imposition of distribution requirements
would be an effective response or whether students are be more inclined to learn the
skills they need in the context of a course that interests them. One participant observed
the culture at Smith sends the message that “it is okay to say no to quantitative
skills but to feel the opposite with regard to writing skills.” There was strong
support that the college’s success in teaching writing can be repeated in the
area of quantitative skills.
Discussion moved to the issue of creating a meaningful junior year experience for
those students who do not elect to go abroad. Faculty Council has proposed a junior
year seminar focused on an urgent societal problem. An outcome of the seminar would
be a white paper to be posted on the Web. This could give purpose to the junior year
at Smith and would address moral capacities. Participants noted that a program such
as this would make it special to stay at Smith and would give focus to the junior
year. It should not, however, be a requirement for those who stay.
One participant urged consideration of the whole when thinking about improving the
curriculum. “The world is in a peculiar and serious situation. What is the philosophical
ground of what we study? What are the more profound reasons for interdisciplinary
studies?”
The topic of academic centers was discussed. Some participants felt there is a need
for a home for students who are working across disciplines in the arts, a way to bring
them together. A suggestion was made that departments be more welcoming to others;
for example, the performing arts departments (music, theatre, dance) should talk to
each other more. Also discussed was the Center for International Studies, which is
intended as a place where those involved in the study of global cultures can meet.
President Christ told the group about a recent Teagle Foundation conference which
addressed the concept of “the major.” Does it still work, is it healthy?
A good major was defined as having sequential course work culminating in a capstone
project. It was agreed our larger majors don’t have capstone projects although
some department have retained the senior experience from the “competencies” which
were required years ago. Many students are double majors and are resistant to projects
or capstone experiences. A participant wondered whether the number of double majors
offers insights into the health of the major at Smith..
The president closed by thanking the group for a thought-provoking discussion.
|
