The CAP arranged these open discussions to allow the faculty an opportunity to make recommendations to the committee before the committee submits its final recommendations in December to President Anthony Marx and the Committee of Six. The CAP is also using this opportunity to share its current ideas with the faculty and to get feedback from them.
The CAP has been meeting weekly since January, with only a brief break from meetings during the summer, to discuss ways to improve the College's long-term academic development.
Marx explained why the CAP decided to hold the open meetings. "The CAP decided that there were two ways to explain that process while in its deliberations," he said. "One was to encourage the faculty at a formal faculty meeting to have a full-scale discussion of the working group reports that have been bubbling through the system for the last three or four years."
The second way to explain the CAP's recent activities was to hold small, open meetings. "[Ultimately] what the CAP decided to do was invite the faculty to a set of informal meetings where the faculty would be divided alphabetically in order to make the size of the groups more manageable," said Marx.
In order to ensure that discussion at these open meetings would be effective, CAP divided the faculty alphabetically into four groups and assigned each group to a different date. "We want the faculty to have a chance to discuss CAP's proposal in relatively small groups before we discuss these proposals in a more formal setting, in the presence of the entire faculty," said Professor of Political Science and Women's and Gender Studies Amrita Basu, a member of the CAP.
Members of the CAP decided that open meetings would be the best way to hear concerns and advice from the entire faculty. "We've reached a point in our work where it seemed desirable to bring our colleagues up-to-date with what we've been doing and to solicit their advice on some aspects of our work," said Professor of History John Servos, co-chair of the committee.
Servos also explained that the committee hopes to receive advice from faculty members regarding delegating resources. "In particular, we've been seeking counsel regarding methods by which the College might dedicate new resources to academic needs that cut across departmental lines," he said.
Members of the CAP firmly believe that faculty members can provide valuable advice and ideas about how to improve the future of the College. Mike Simmons '06, who was elected by the Association of Amherst Students (AAS) to serve as a student representative to the CAP, explained the benefits of allowing the voices of the faculty to be heard. "Faculty bring the special sensitivity they have as employees of different departments to the discussion, which helps us spot ancillary issues or potential roadblocks in our final report to the president and Committee of Six," he said.
Simmons went on to emphasize that these meetings can help the CAP to gauge the faculty's concerns and interests. "Consulting with our colleagues from the faculty and administration also gives us the chance to clarify how our report will proceed to a vote and eventually be implemented and adhered to," he added.
Associate Dean of the Faculty Rick Griffiths, a CAP member, echoed Simmons' sentiment. "In setting academic priorities, it's important to consult faculty, students and alumni at multiple points in the process," he said. Griffiths added that students soon will have a similar opportunity to voice their own concerns and suggestions to the committee.
Marx agreed that it is crucial to get as much input as possible. He said that in addition to the four open meetings, the members of the CAP are always willing to receive feedback from the faculty. He also said he is working to set up another town meeting so that the entire student body can have the opportunity to discuss with him their concerns about academics at the College.
Members of the CAP hope that their recommendations to Marx and the Committee of Six will be the result of a general consensus among the faculty. "We'd like to shape recommendations on which there is the possibility of achieving consensus," said Griffiths. "We have received extensive reports from all academic departments about their missions, needs and aspirations. Out of the common directions of those reports we are trying to chart a course for the College in the next decade and beyond."
Marx emphasized the importance of the committee's willingness to discuss its goals with, and receive suggestions from, the faculty prior to providing him with their recommendations. "I think the CAP recognizes, and the Committee of Six agrees, that if we wait to start discussing with the broader faculty all the possible policy implications that will come out of the CAP after the CAP is finished [submitting its recommendations], then we will not benefit from the views and the discussion and the wisdom of the faculty," said Marx.
According to Marx, the CAP's recommendations will reflect the needs of the faculty and students; therefore, it is crucial to maintain open dialogue. "The matters discussed by the CAP are not matters of high state secrecy. These are deliberations about what our future should look like and how we get there," he said. "The committee is interested in the views of the faculty to help us form those choices before the set of recommendations are made."