Dean's Letter
No one reading this needs a reminder that these are difficult times. The daily news and workplace word of mouth tell us plenty on that score every day. But as we come to the end of another academic year, I thought perhaps a quick word might be in order about the way Emory is facing the current economic landscape.
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Dean Robert Paul |
We in the College are constantly focused on the undergraduate experience and always trying to improve. That hasn’t changed while I’ve been at Emory, and it won’t change now. In fact, extraordinary circumstances—in this case, increased costs, falling endowment income and a rising need for financial aid—tend to return a person or family or organization to core beliefs and principles. The crucible of tough times forces us to ask the hardest questions, which are often the most important: What are our highest priorities? What is of most value?
We’ve all been doing a lot of thinking along those lines, and I want to share some of our early answers. Even under the strictures of an economic downturn, we are confident we can not only maintain but enhance the Emory experience. Consider a few of the changes awaiting first-year students this fall:
Even before our stellar students arrive, we’ve devised a way to get them acclimated to university life, so they can jump in with both feet when they get here. It’s called the Pre-College Program, and it gives college-bound high school seniors a summertime glimpse of life at a top-ranked national university, taking classes (for credit or not) taught by our world-class faculty. You can find more information at http://college.emory.edu/program/precollege/.
Once on campus, first-year students can move into two brand-new, innovative residence halls. Few Hall, for example, is home to a First Year at Emory themed community called Living Green: Sustainability in the 21st Century. It offers single and double rooms, large windows, air conditioning, and ample community space as well as such amenities as bike storage, high-speed ethernet and cable service. Green living comes in the form of recycling bins, efficient use of energy and construction materials, rainwater-enhanced waste removal, solar-powered pumps, and a host of other good ideas.
Few Hall also embodies a different way of integrating the elements of the College community. Living quarters share space with freshman seminar classrooms and a branch of the Writing Center. Jason Breyan, assistant dean for undergraduate education and dean of the first-year class, has his office right in the building. “It’s great,” he reports. “Students don’t have to seek us out for help. We’re right here.” The College encourages close interaction between all its elements, so that student, staff and faculty ideas can circulate freely.
We’ve revamped our course distribution, too, revising the general education requirements (GER) to add flexibility without losing rigor or range. Faculty from all departments studied the curriculum thoroughly last year and voted to reduce required courses, reorganize the categories, and expand the number of courses that meet each requirement. As always, we have kept the best traditions, such as our hugely successful freshman seminars. The new requirements will take effect in fall 2009.
To improve first-year advising, this year our faculty considered a number of approaches—a permanent cadre of faculty advisors, a rotating percentage with advising duties, small teams—before deciding that advising is important enough that all members should participate. So beginning in fall 2009 every faculty member will advise three freshmen, guiding them through that crucial first year of their formative four at Emory.
Much of the talk during the financial crisis that still stretches unpredictably ahead of us has been about investments. This makes sense, with large Wall Street firms collapsing and retirement funds dwindling and Ponzi schemes in the news. But I don’t think it’s too fanciful to view our drive to improve Emory, even during rocky economic times, as another sort of investment—in the kind of people who might eventually solve these kinds of problems. College faculty and staff want our students to enter the adult world of work and family and learning and service prepared to be razor-sharp critical thinkers, careful decision makers, part of an active, informed citizenry. If they do that (and year after year they do), all the hard work and hard questions will be fully justified.
Robert A. Paul, PhD
Dean of Emory College
of Arts and Sciences
Editor's Letter
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David Raney |
You’re holding the eighth issue of Quadrangle, the result—like the first seven—of many talented people’s work. Writers, designers, photographers, printers, it takes a village. Please let us know what you think when you have a moment, either by mail (back cover) or email (below). One specific question: Which story from the last few issues sticks in your mind the most? There’s another reason I hope you’ll write. But first, a correction. In the spring 2008 Quadrangle Corners (“New Stories in an Old Forest”), we mistakenly listed Georgia Power as the founding force behind the Hahn Woods reclamation project rather than its true benefactor, Georgia Pacific, the company T. Marshall Hahn, Jr. served for many years as director, chair and CEO. I regret the error, which arose from a transcribing slip due, in the final analysis, to my hieroglyphic handwriting. The wages of poor penmanship. Better news: the park is coming along splendidly, with the Friends of Emory Forest planting an additional 100-plus native trees and shrubs last November near the dam and bridge.
The other reason I’d like to hear from you involves your time here. I’m curious who your favorite professors were, your favorite spots on campus (to study, party, avoid your roommate), the best concert you went to as an undergrad. Did you meet your mate here? How? Were you the originator or victim of an inspired practical joke? I hope you’ll tell me about it, in third person if necessary—if, for instance, the statute of limitations hasn’t expired.
I’m compiling your responses for future stories. So add your voice to the mix, and please let me know the year you graduated.
As always, thanks for reading.
David Raney, 99PhD
Editor
draney@emory.edu