Godfrey is currently undergoing a departmental performance review, a standard procedure that occurs three years after the hiring of a new professor. The Committee will determine whether Godfrey should be renewed and continue on a tenure track.
The Committee of Six will make a recommendation to President Tom Gerety. He will review the decision of the Committee of Six and then make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
Godfrey received his master's degree in fine arts in 1998 from Edinburgh College of Art in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was hired three years ago to replace former Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Karen Staff and currently teaches sculpture and introductory art courses.
The fine arts department has the highest turnover rate of any department. Andrew Epstein '01E would like this trend of high turnover to end and see Godfrey keep his job.
"Dewitt [Godfrey is] a great professor," said Epstein, who has taken four of Godfrey's classes. "His teaching style is especially good in that he allows students to work with him on large projects, which is the best way to learn."
"Inside the classroom, he compares well to other professors," added Epstein. "He holds honest discussions without preaching at students and he helps students to verbalize, which is one of the hardest things to learn to do with art."
Godfrey's potential dismissal has resulted in some protest among students, especially those students that have relied on Godfrey for support on their theses or other projects.
Hugo Vial '02, sent an email to fellow students expressing concern over what he believes are the politics involved in the situation. He also is concerned with how Godfrey's possible dismissal could affect the credibility of his diploma.
Epstein, Vial and other art majors to write letters to the Committee of Six in support of Godfrey.
Art students are concerned not only about their own welfare, but also about the future of art at the College. If the Committee of Six asks Godfrey to leave, only one tenured studio art professor will remain in the fine arts department.
Art majors are concerned that if the high turnover rate continues, the fine arts department will have an increasingly difficult time hiring and retaining professors.
"There is little incentive for professors to want to teach at Amherst and for students serious about studio art to come here," said Epstein. However, Epstein believes that the addition of new professors in the department would bring new ideas and teaching styles, which could benefit the department in the long run.
Godfrey's work includes the recent "Amherst Drawings" project, a topological outline of the campus. Other projects of Godfrey's include the "Once Removed" show, which was featured at the Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, N.Y. two years ago.