Himmelstein described the different opportunities for experiential learning at the College. Currently, students have many opportunities to participate in co-curricular experiential activities doing volunteer work through efforts coordinated by the Community Outreach office. Also available are a few courses that provide students with the chance to work in the community. Himmelstein cited both English 6 and Women's and Gender Studies 53, but noted that the working group believes there is much room for expansion in this field.
Professor of English and American Studies Karen Sanchez-Eppler, another member of the working group, indicated that hiring a distinguished visitor for a brief period of time is more effective than hiring a full time employee because the College does not historically hire new staff based on their teaching methods.
By bringing in visitors for a semester or a year, the College can ensure that each department has the opportunity to benefit from a temporary staff member who can guide them in incorporating experiential learning in their coursework.
Professor of Sociology and American Studies Jan Dizard and Professor of Chemistry Pat O'Hara, both members of the group as well, each provided the faculty with anecdotes indicating that students become more involved with their course work when they are actively investigating a problem. "What happens when students apply themselves to an intellectual or social problem ... changes the whole tenor of the experiment," said Dizard.
O'Hara echoed Dizard's sentiments when she described an experiment in which her introductory chemistry students tested chemical levels in local water sources. "These are real things that [the students] have sampled ... and so it matters to them what the results are," she said.
Professor of English and WAGS Michele Barale expressed concern about letting students who might be naive and sheltered have so great a presence in the lives of individuals in Holyoke, many of whom are struggling enough without the added burden of an Amherst student. "These people's lives become our students term papers," she said. Barale said she finds the situation "ethically difficult."
Professor of Anthropology Deborah Gewertz agreed with Barale that faculty must be careful about how they place students in the community because "it can be done extremely wrong. It is hard to send untrained children into the community," she said. Gewertz voiced her support for the working group's recommendation, noting that it will be helpful for the faculty to know what methods of curricular community involvement are successful.
Lawrence Douglas, professor of law, jurisprudence and social thought, asked the working group and the Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) whether they had considered granting academic credit for internship programs. Professor of American Studies Frank Couvares, a member of the CEP, said it was not a consideration. "The idea of experiential learning is not the idea of finding things outside the classroom to give academic credit for, but rather finding things in the world to enrich the experience in the classroom," he said.
Others voiced concern that community organizations might feel pressured by the College to accept volunteers; Director of Community Outreach Scott Laidlaw tried to assuage their fears. "We work hard to make sure that the students going into the community are serving needs that are identified by the community," he said. "The community is in the driver seat."
In addition to this discussion, the faculty approved four new courses for the spring semester: one cross-listed in black studies and sociology, one cross-listed in black studies and music, one music course and one religion course.
The faculty also spent a great deal of time discussing a motion that would grant students the opportunity to submit electronically their course evaluations for junior faculty members at the end of each semester. After much debate regarding possible breaches of authenticity due to the electronic submission, the faculty postponed further discussion on the motion until the next meeting.
Dean of the Faculty Greg Call opened the meeting with a report of the Committee of Six minutes. Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science Austin Sarat voiced concern with minutes from last month, which made it seem as though President Anthony Marx was directly suggesting which departments deserved visiting professors, while standard College policy dictates that the departments must approach the dean of the faculty. Professor of Psychology Lisa Raskin, former dean of the faculty, suggested that the Marx's actions seem to "erode the autonomy of the departments." Marx said he would reevaluate his role in the process with the Committee.
Marx briefly updated the faculty about this weekend's meeting of the board of trustees. He relayed the board's commitment to providing more opportunities for students to engage in one-on-one mentoring and research with the faculty, and explained the College's current investments in the Sudan. (See Reeves urges students to voice their opinions on Darfus genocide, page 3.)
Co-Interim Athletic Director Dave Hixon '75 discussed the merits of the College's new summer football camp program for prospective students. He said he believes the new camp is ideal because it will allow the College to get a stronger academic group of student-athletes in the football program, it will allow them to look at students from more racially and economically diverse backgrounds, and it provides students with a detailed understanding of how the recruiting process at a Div. III school like Amherst works. He said he will track the percentage of camp attendees who apply to and matriculate at the College.