Many people within the College community are concerned by the unusually low percentage of black students in the class of 2008. Is the board doing anything to work with the admissions committee to help ensure that the problem does not become a trend for future matriculating classes?
Colin Diver '65: "Diversity is a very important part of the College. The board has been involved over the last 15 or 20 years in the discussion to put resources into diversity. ... Given that fact, the board is naturally going to be concerned if what happened this year represents a trend. ... We know [Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Tom Parker] is, to his core, committed to diversity. The other [schools] are stealing from his game plan. ... It's a fiercely competitive business."
Steven Gluckstern '72: "I think all trustees are committed to making Amherst a place with a wonderfully diverse student body, both racially and socio-economically. ... The more we can make this a diverse student body, the more enriching the experience. ... This school is committed to providing students of all walks of life and all backgrounds the opportunity to come here and thrive."
Many students are concerned that the new Committee on Academic Priorities (CAP), along with the new research of both quantitative and writing skills, will encourage the faculty to embrace a core curriculum. How does the board of trustees feel about the open curriculum?
Scott Turow '70: "I don't think there will be any kind of curricular change ... without discussion by the College community. ... I don't believe any decisions will be made top down. ... The board is looking at the future of instruction at the institution and will be guided by recommendations of the administrative, faculty and student committees, and accordingly, will keep track of the [CAP's] progress."
Diver: "The trustees don't have much to say ... about the curriculum. ... We wouldn't take it upon ourselves to tell faculty what to teach or how to teach or whether they should have a [core] curriculum or an open curriculum. ... The pressure for curricular reform ought to come from the president and the faculty, but by and large, not from the board."
Jonathan Landman '74: "Curricular changes go on all the time. ... The trustees don't ever dictate the curriculum changes. ... The trustees do not assemble in secret and proclaim [requirements]. ... [The board would] never prescribe a specific curriculum." Landman also explained that part of the problem in creating curriculum requirements is that there is a big space between a complete core curriculum and a totally open curriculum. He said it is difficult to discuss the possibilities of a common experience for all students at the College because it is impossible for everybody to agree about what that experience ought to be. "It is not in the nature of the way the trustees of this College work to proclaim 'thou shalt take math 11.'"
Does the board plan to do anything with the CAP to increase the number of faculty members at the College?
Gluckstern: "The faculty is at the core of the experience here. If there's a rationale to increase the number of faculty and if we can afford it, I'm sure we'll consider it."
Landman: After the board's first meeting with the CAP this weekend, Landman explained that the committee made no decisions yet, but rather provided the trustees with the opportunity to meet with committee members. "The idea [of the meeting] was to let the trustees join the conversation that faculty, administration and students had already begun. No more, no less."
Will the board of trustees have the opportunity to actually make any policy changes?
Diver: Diver explained that members of the board work with the student life committee, with the admissions committee and with the financial aid committee. "[W]e don't usually have a policy-making role in those departments. It is relatively rare that we would actually make a decision or vote on it."
Turow: "All trustees will be involved in considering the various committees' proposals."
What does the board of trustees do in addition to considering student life?
Turow: "[The board] seems like a black box because nobody knows who the trustees are or what they do, but there's nothing mysterious about it. ... Members of the board are caretakers of the College for the future. ... What the trustees do is care for the College in the long term. ... [The board takes care of] Amherst's financial and physical well being, as well as faculty appointments ... through discussions with faculty and the administration who are the primary decision-makers regarding new professional hires. ... The students are the present of the College. The alumni and the trustees work for the future. Amherst College is gifted with an extraordinarily active alumni body." Turow also explained that alumni participation is one of the "many moving parts" that help maintain the College.
Gluckstern: "The board has a long-range commitment to providing a first rate 'physical' campus. ... Periodically the trustees examine what it is that [students] do every day. ... Let's make sure that what we ask of students is what we want to ask. ... We constantly look at what one should expect of students and faculty."
Diver: "The board of trustees is the official governing body of the corporation. ... We make decisions about finances particularly." Diver explained that the board manages the money and considers long term decisions such as tenuring of faculty, reviewing the president and hiring other senior staff members, but noted that, for the most part, the faculty make their own hiring decisions. "We have to make sure the long term appointments make sense." Diver also explained that the board of trustees approves all land acquisitions and construction projects on College property.
Bill Ford '83: "During the course of the year, the board considers the annual budget, compensation and tuition matters, as well as meeting with the College's faculty and staff committees. We also work with the faculty at instructional meetings to find out what the issues are in the minds of the faculty."
Why do the trustees host this Pizza with the Trustees event?
Ford: "It's nice for us to meet with students because we get to know what's on the students' minds ... and to hear what is going on on campus."