These two words sum up the philosophy behind my ideas for academic improvement and reform on this campus. Our education should be viewed as a process in which we are the most important component, a constantly moving and active participant. The ultimate goal in everything I intend to do as Academic Vice-President would be to encourage more input and participation at each point along the academic spectrum. I firmly believe that we should never be frustrated by our limits in scheduling and course opportunities, and my platform seeks ways to motivate and inspire all of us to seek out new adventures in the academic spectrum. Our renewed enthusiasm can also inspire faculty and administration to work harder and find greater fulfillment in their work. But perhaps most importantly, we as students must be inspired to realize that there is more possible in our education than we are aware of. I want to focus on what we can do in the academic arena rather than on what we cannot do. Active education is the key to pushing the envelope of academic opportunity on this campus.
As ASG Academic Vice-President, I will work with enthusiasm to introduce legislation, find support in the student population, and lobby faculty in all six schools for any viable student initiative pertaining to academics. However, my chief interest lies in promoting the following areas of concentration:
1) AN IMPROVED ADVISING SYSTEM.
Advising needs to be personal. The current (and not-so-well-publicized) Academic Information Center on the Web is a great idea, a massive information source available at any hour of the day. However, it is not complete by any means. I will work to make it a real source of answers and common-sense help, and to publicize it so that all will seek it out.
In addition, I will work to expand the current system of peer advising and to develop a network of people you can contact with questions if your faculty advising experience is unsatisfactory. This will chiefly be done through a new student liasons program provided through the Academic Information Center. You will find lists of liasons divided by department that are willing to answer questions and provide advice based on their particular area of expertise. For example, if you have a question about a philosophy course, you can consult the AIC to find a list of student liasons in the philosophy department, each of whom will provide a list of the courses they have taken as well as their phone number and E-mail address. The answers to your questions on that philosophy course are just a point and a click away. Thus, one-on-one interaction can be provided in a relatively painless manner for both parties through upperclassmen in each school and department who can advise based on their unique experiences. The ultimate goal is to personalize advising on all levels at all times.
2) INDEPENDENT CURRICULUM CONSTRUCTION.
Many students are unhappy with current major options. Are they aware that they can create an ad hoc major? Yet this is not something to be taken up lightly. I want to work for more public awareness of the options available. More importantly, I hope to see a series of templates developed for common ad hocs in each department and school. These templates should be available for all students to consult, a common record of what has been done in the past, along with a list of recommended course constructions should the student choose to pursue the major. This is not meant to make the process less rigorous; approval by a committee would still be required. The difference would lie in the removal of the stage of uncertainty and confusion about where to begin in constructing an ad hoc major.
Other improvements might include a specific ad hoc advisor in departments where one does not already exist, available for consulting by students interested in an ad hoc major, or a full-time advisor in the CAS office of studies and other schools. Full records would be available at central locations, if even just in a folder. Similar improvements could be made to independent study programs in each school, especially if they fall into areas that have been explored by previous students.
3) SCHOOLS WORKING TOGETHER.
First, this concerns the new Study Abroad program, a very exciting expansion. I will work hard to influence decisions on behalf of students concerning where and when students want to do affiliated Study Abroad. We can vote with our feet on this. It’s really great that the administration has taken the initiative to do this on its own.
Second, I will work to get more interaction between schools on this campus in dealing with academic issues. For example, there’s already an Integrated Arts program—could there be an Integrated Writing program? Or take Engineering First—why not English First as well? These are just ideas to whet the appetite; programs which work well in one academic area should be experimented with in other areas as well.
Finally and most radically, I propose that two specific schools work together—Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. Across the country, cross-registration is becoming more popular and schools are reaping the benefits in both prestige and learning opportunities. I will research current programs at other schools and attempt to sell this idea to the faculty. Reciprocating scholarships, even starting at a low level of ten per year, could induce student interest in taking courses there at a more steady percentage. Clearly each campus is unique; why not exploit that uniqueness and bring two exceptional learning institutions together to complement each other? Remember that several times throughout our school’s history these two schools have tried to merge, even as recently as within the past thirty years. Certainly we can take this opportunity to share our expertise and work together toward greater opportunity for students at both schools.
I have tried to choose ideas for my platform that are innovative and at the same time within the power of the office to implement successfully. I cannot promise that every one of these ideas will come to fruition, but each of you has my word that I will work for all of your needs as students to transform education on this campus into a more exciting and active experience for us all.
— Karl-Dieter Crisman