Dean of Faculty Search
Last week, the D reported on a search that is currently under way to appoint the next Dean of Faculty (DoF). Although this article highlighted the importance of this position and the challenges that come with it, there was no mention of the relationship (or lack thereof) between the DoF office and the student body. Granted the DoF does not serve students directly, but the decisions made by the DoF still have a tremendous impact on students' academic experiences. Among other things, the DoF is charged with overseeing educational policies and curriculum development. These issues are clearly relevant to students as evidenced by op-eds and articles in campus publications in recent years regarding the elimination of the human biology program, the elimination of the speech department, oversubscribed courses, the disturbing pattern of women and people of color in the faculty leaving under unusual circumstances, and the lack of leadership on establishing Asian American Studies.
Besides campus publications, students have few avenues for voicing these concerns. Last term, the McKinsey consultants met with several student organizations to get feedback on how well different parts of the administration were serving students. When concerns about course oversubscription and the accessibility of the DoF office were raised, they made it clear to us that the DoF office was off-limits-- no further discussion, criticism, or review allowed. Furthermore, finding opportunties for meaningful dialogue with the DoF office on these matters is near impossible. My presonal interactions with that office have only confirmed that the DoF has no interest in seriously engaging students questions and concerns.
While I appreciate the challenging nature of the job (especially the difficulty of navigating faculty politics) and understand that the DoF's primary obligations are to the faculty, students deserve substantive answers when they raise legitimate questions... Or at least something more than superficial P.R. efforts and pat on the head.
Besides campus publications, students have few avenues for voicing these concerns. Last term, the McKinsey consultants met with several student organizations to get feedback on how well different parts of the administration were serving students. When concerns about course oversubscription and the accessibility of the DoF office were raised, they made it clear to us that the DoF office was off-limits-- no further discussion, criticism, or review allowed. Furthermore, finding opportunties for meaningful dialogue with the DoF office on these matters is near impossible. My presonal interactions with that office have only confirmed that the DoF has no interest in seriously engaging students questions and concerns.
While I appreciate the challenging nature of the job (especially the difficulty of navigating faculty politics) and understand that the DoF's primary obligations are to the faculty, students deserve substantive answers when they raise legitimate questions... Or at least something more than superficial P.R. efforts and pat on the head.
posted by marie at 4:14 AM Permalink
2 Comments:
"The elimination of the speech department" is an old canard. It's not so much the department that was eliminated as it was the professor, Jim Kuypers. He was awful and he was canned. (For evidence, see SA guide responses to African American oratory class. He was unqualified to teach this, he did it anyway, and he taught unquestionably the worst course Dartmouth has ever seen. The reviews are negative to a person).
Not only that, his personal ultra-conservatism was a noxious presense in the classroom. And his book on media bias has this suggestion: to balance the liberal media's tendency to portray gays as victims (of discrimination or violence), for every depiction of gays as victims, there should be a story portraying gays as pedophile murderers.
"Eliminating the speech department" was one of the best decisions during my term at Dartmouth.
-Chase
The SA guide? Give me a break! If Kuypers's classes were so terrible, why the long wait lists? Apparently Chase has a problem with anyone who challenges him. Check out the Student Testimonials for a little better idea of what a speech class was all about.
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