Associate Professor of History and Women's and Gender Studies Martha Saxton summarized the findings of the report that the Special Committee on Amherst Education (SCAE) submitted to the Committee of Six last June. In its inquiries, the committee visited 10 comparable institutions, interviewing students and faculty, reviewed institutional research and examined course-picking patterns of students.
"We became convinced that we wanted to affirm Amherst's open curriculum … which prohibits easy fixes," said Saxton. She identified curricular support as the most pressing concern, admitting that the open curriculum could "encourage avoidance in underprepared students" referring to the concern that underprepared students could avoid challenging subject areas.
To counter this, the committee suggested that a diagnostic exam be administered to all first-year students. Those students who failed the quantitative skills portion and wanted to continue on the science or mathematics track would be advised to take a remedial course; the same would apply for those who failed the writing portion.
Saxton remarked that the report found that 20 percent of students felt their lack of writing skill stopped them from taking certain courses. "This strikes me as something that is very un-Amherst-this emphasis on remediation. Yet it is something we should do," said Professor of English Judy Frank.
The SCAE also recommended strengthening the role of the Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) in leading curricular improvement. "We as a faculty need to take greater responsibility as a community ... we should think about strengthening the CEP as the natural body on campus," said Assistant Professor of Economics Steven Rivkin, who sits on the SCAE.
Regarding curriculum expansion, Saxton said that the SCAE suggested development in global education, visual knowledge and community-based experiential learning, but needed more time to refine its conclusions. Rivkin expressed a need for more institutional research. "We actually need to learn about we are doing," he said.
The Committee of Six proposed a motion to make the dean of the faculty an ex officio nonvoting member of the CEP. The motion was postponed until the next faculty meeting. If approved, the dean of the faculty will sit on the CEP for a provisional basis of three years, after which a vote would decide whether the practice be continued or discontinued.
Professor of Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies Rose Olver spoke against the motion. "I am nervous about changing the 40-year separation of power between the administration and CEP," she said.
Professor of European Studies Ronald Rosbottom spoke in favor of the motion. "It's crucial that [the dean of the faculty] not be too isolated in the administration … This could become an ongoing locus for conversation between the faculty and the administration."
Marx again focused his discussion on health care. He stated that the initial staff-wide one-time salary boost of $400 proposed at the last meeting will be increased to $500. The salary increase is intended to alleviate the cost to individuals of covering 20 percent of their HMO care, which was previously covered in full by the College.
The increase has been proposed because calculations reveal that after two years, the additional cost to individuals of contributing this 20 percent will rise from $32 per month to $53 per month. "The board of trustees is as committed to providing competitive compensation overall as it is to financial aid and diversity," said Marx.
Under the proposed plan, the College will pay for Medicaid B upon retirement for a limited time for those College employees who are at least 55 years old and have 10 years of service and do not fall under the "grandfather clause" regarding post-retirement benefits. The reimbursement would occur on a sliding scale and could amount to as much as half of an individual's health care costs.
"We will be exploring ways in which people can collectively invest these lump sums," said Marx, referring to the one time salary boost. "We have worked hard with these proposals … we hope we have stayed true to fulfilling the main principles that governed this search from the beginning…especially vulnerability," he added.
Marx will present the proposed changes to the board of trustees, which will vote to approve or deny them.