REPORT: Notes From… Breakfast with the Deans
[Another in our “Notes From…” series - short notes by volunteers summarizing various events around the school, to help those of us who didn’t/couldn’t attend. Watch for several other “Notes From…” throughout the year. If you have one, send it in! Or let us know in advance that you’d like to do one; or after the evsent, too. You can see the master list of all the “Notes From” items here.]
On Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007, Deans Lemann, Klatell and Sreenivasan hosted a Breakfast with the Deans. About 30 students attended.
Notes by Elizbeth Rogers, TC intern in the DOS Office
* Opening Comments and Reminders from the Deans:
o Updated construction finish date is November first week–at latest, all major construction should be done by Thanksgiving
o Students should already be in conversation with their Master’s Project advisers
o It’s never to early to get in touch with Career Services.
o Importance of checking email/using Columbia email address (can do this through gmail and other providers—ask classmates if you need help setting it up)
o Next event will be “Nick at Night” on November 14th 5-6:30 in the lobby
o Contact SPJ academic affairs committee with your concerns. They exist to deal with issues that students raise.
* Question: How is new RW1 going?
o Some students feel as though they know more than their professors
o Suggestion of separating classes based on skill level or prior knowledge of programs
o Suggestion of dividing the class more by medium
o Suggestion of having a buddy system in RW1 to exchange stories and get feedback before turning stories in to professor
* Broadcast Student Responses to RW1:
o Students feel as though quantity is stressed over quality. Professors are teaching how to work hard instead of how to write well.
+ It is essentially a double major: broadcast and print.
+ way to fix it: teach broadcast only
+ Pro: lets broadcast students take elective in fall
+ Con: would result in less writing in RW1
o Suggestion that students should have to take a few writing classes before actually reporting
* Spring Semester Comments from the Deans:
o Spring schedule is not finalized yet.
o More information will be available in coming weeks on strategies to get the courses you want
o Reminder to students that in order to keep classes small and give students individual attention it can be impossible to ensure that every student gets a first choice class
o However, in the past, 90 percent of students get 2 out of their 3 first choices in spring
o Survey might be sent out to poll students so the appropriate number of course sections can be created based on interest
* Other student comments:
o Students are confused about courses: when/where do I post things, constantly changing deadlines, no central space to post syllabi
o Students are frustrated that they are unable to attend sessions that are frequently scheduled during class time
o Student feels a general sense in the school of shying away from math. Solution might not be teaching a math course but a kind of math boot camp seminar on interacting with data confidently.
