Few Faculty Meet for J-Term, ADA Update

Author: Taylor Johnston

The Middlebury College faculty convened on Monday for a sparsely attended meeting, which consisted largely of informational reports from various committees.

The faculty committee exploring Winter Term reform possibilities postponed an anticipated discussion, claiming its investgation remains in the preliminary stages. On Sept. 5, the faculty met at the Breadloaf Campus to discuss various benefits and drawbacks of Winter Term.

Recently, members of the faculty have called into question the effectiveness of the Winter Term program in accomplishing its so-called "idealistic" academic goals and voiced concerns about a lackadaisical "student culture" associated with the term. Though the committee has set no deadline for bringing its report before the faculty, it anticipates a discussion of the issue at the January faculty meeting.

Coordinator of the Americans with Disabilities Act Jodi Litchfield delivered a report about the resources the office has to offer both students and their professors.

"We work as facilitators between faculty, staff and students," explained Litchfield. "Some things may come up that make professors uncomfortable, and we are here to help with that."

According to Litchfield, one out of every 18 students at Middlebury College lives with some sort of disability. Twenty-two percent of those students have some sort of learning disability, 11 percent have a psychological disorder, seven percent are dyslexic and the rest have some other impairment - such as a physical disability or mobility problem. She anticipated the ratio will drop to one in every 17 students by next year.

The office offers a number of services to help these students, including working with professors to allow up to double time on an exam and arranging for other special exam provisions. Litchfield stressed that professors should keep student disabilities confidential and work through the office to help prevent abuses of the system.

Several other committees, departments and faculty members gave brief reports at the meeting. Dean of Library and Information Services Barbara Doyle-Wilch gave an update on the new BannerWeb registration, and President John McCardell presented a long list of recent faculty accomplishments.

McCardell adjourned the meeting, anticipating looming end-of-term anxiety. "As you all know we are now entering into a time when the weather will get gloomier, days will get shorter, and stress will mount for reasons both known and unanticipated. It is important to take into account the realities of this season," he advised.

The faculty will hold its next meeting on Dec. 8.