EDITORIAL The Case For a Review of Abroad Grades, Advising and Economic Woes Bind the Endowment and Families

Author: Jonathan White

The Case For a Review of Abroad Grades and Advising

In its Dec. 9 meeting, the College faculty voted to include grades from overseas institutions and programs in students' cumulative GPA.
The Student Government Association (SGA) has voiced concern that students were not present for this vote. This is lamentable, though it is the job of the SGA to see to it that students attend these meetings. The SGA should make good on its resolve to have a representative attend all faculty meetings in the future. The faculty, for its part, should actively consider student input on this important issue.
In some circles, the faculty vote may be seen as giving mettle to the academic side of study abroad. An article in The Campus on Jan. 29 identified faculty members as skeptical of student achievement overseas. Yet a survey conducted by the College administration in the spring of 2002 showed students obtained higher GPAs while abroad on Middlebury programs than they did on-campus.
Thus the case for the incorporation of study abroad grades is three-fold and not limited to a matter of student underachievement. First, there is a need to recognize the achievements of students who push themselves while abroad. There is also a need to compel some students to take academics seriously in international programs. Finally, the College should create an even playing field. If Middlebury programs abroad translate grades, then fairness dictates that non-Middlebury programs should also translate, especially given the rise in popularity of these programs. The Educational Affairs Committee (EAC) should look closely at models from other schools. A clear example of the success of including grades would make the EAC's case persuasive and would address the SGA's legitimate concerns regarding this restructuring.
This moment of transition also provides an opportunity for academic departments and the Office of Off-Campus Study to re-evaluate their usefulness to students. Are students being properly advised when making study abroad choices? We sense a discouraging absence of strong advising that must be remedied. If the College is to add gravity to the study abroad program with this new proposal concerning grades, academic and Off-Campus Study advisors cannot afford to be nonchalant or, in some cases stand-offish, in guiding students. While the ultimate decision to study beyond Vermont rests with students, there is a clear need for stronger, more informed, more honest and more helpful advising. The restructuring of the study abroad grading policy should bring a concomitant look into the advising behind what is considered one of the College's "peaks of excellence," that is Middlebury's reputation as a leader in international study.

Economic Woes Bind the Endowment and Families

Today the Executive Council released its recommendations to address the gap between endowment revenues and expenditures. While Winter Term off-campus study opportunities will be missed, the council is to be commended that this is the only salient change in the lives of students. Elsewhere, the recommendations proceed from a genuine concern for maintaining the quality of the Middlebury experience, while keeping staff relations amicable by avoiding antagonistic layoffs.
We commend the fruits of the council's labors as a measured approach, though we recognize that future cuts as a result of further economic malaise and a war-troubled economy may necessitate more noticeable cutbacks. At the same time, we ask that the College recognize that as it must make cuts to handle a dwindling endowment, Middlebury families are also hampered by the nation's economic woes. As such, we hope that this weekend's presentation of the comprehensive fee for 2003-2004 will be balanced, not outrageous.