Committee proposes multi-major limits

Author: Zamir Ahmed

Members of the faculty discussed a proposal to restrict the number of majors and minors students can declare, and when they can declare them, at the monthly faculty meeting on Monday. The proposal drew immediate objections from faculty members of smaller departments who felt that the strategy would hurt their ability to attract students who become interested in a field as juniors or even seniors.

The proposal, which was introduced by the Educational Affairs Committee (EAC) and calls for the elimination of triple majors, stems from recommendation number 37 of the College's Strategic Plan and is aimed at taking pressure off the curriculum and faculty. The measure would allow students to declare at most two majors without the option for a minor or one major with at most two minors.

"We felt that the faculty was almost unanimous in wanting to eliminate the triple major to work towards reducing some credentialing," said Baldwin Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy Pete Schumer, a member of the EAC. In his presentation of the bill to the faculty, Schumer said that the proposal will "add a little bit of structure to what students can choose as far as majors and minors, to allow departments to plan ahead in a more timely fashion."

Some members of the faculty took issue with the scope of the proposed limitation on majors and minors.

"If the purpose here is to eliminate the possibility of a triple major, which is one of the rare occurrences, then it seems like a big flyswatter for a small fly," said Cut C. and Else Silberman Professor of Jewish Studies Robert Schine.

Faculty members also objected to a proposed change in the deadline for officially declaring majors and minors. Under the EAC's measure, all students would have to officially declare a major by the end of their fourth semester of study at the College, while all minors would have to be declared by the end of the sixth semester of study.

"Currently our regulations state that students must declare a major by the end of their third semester," said Schumer. "This does not replace that but forces students by their fourth semester that want to add a second major [to do so]. This doesn't allow students, most importantly, to declare a major or second major for the first time when they return to campus in their senior year."

The proposition drew opposition from professors mainly in departments that tend to attract students looking for a secondary major. Language, humanities and social science professors argued that the new guidelines would make it harder to recruit students later in their academic careers.

"Sociology and anthropology would be one of those departments which is frequently a second major," said David Stoll, associate professor of Anthropology. "One of the reason is that I think most students have to be here at least two semesters before they are even aware of what sociology and anthropology is. I have the impression that I've recruited some very good majors in their junior year, and even at the start of the senior year."

Faculty members in other departments that see a late influx of secondary majors echoed Stoll's sentiments.

"At least for some of the language [departments] it happens fairly often that people will take Russian, for example, and go abroad and change their minds about what they want to do in that junior year," said Professor of Russian and chair of the Russian Department Kevin Moss.

"I would not only add Religion's voice to the chorus of small departments worried about this early cut-off," said Assistant Professor of Religion James Davis, "but also it seems to me that the logic of the rationale does not line up with what the proposal actually says. If you're really worried about students backing into a major in their senior year, why cut it off at four semesters? Why not cut it off after six semesters."

Schumer explained the EAC's rationale for introducing the proposal as an attempt to increase communication between students and their advisors before students go abroad to study, while also helping departments plan

"For many departments, once [students] go abroad we really don't see them again until their senior year," said Schumer. "The end of their sophomore year is really the last chance we have to talk to them in person. A lot of declaring a major is the one-on-one discussion with your advisor and we're trying to put into place as much thoughtfulness on the students and from the departments on planning ahead as much as possible."

If adopted, the measure should not affect a large portion of the student body. Less than 15 percent of students currently are working towards a double major while there have only been a handful of triple majors over the past few years, according to Schumer.

The EAC will hold an open meeting on March 14 for faculty with questions or suggestions regarding the proposals, which are scheduled for vote at the April faculty meeting.

The faculty also continued its discussion on terms of eligibility for faculty committees. In an amended proposal that was introduced at the meeting by the Faculty Council, faculty members would be allowed to take a hiatus after their term on a committee ended before they had the possibility of being elected to another committee position. Although the measure was schedule to be voted on at the meeting, discussion on the length of the hiatus, as well as the necessary length of time served on a committee before being eligible for hiatus, delayed vote on the measure, which was tabled until the April faculty meeting.

Associate Professor of German Roman Graf, a member of the EAC, updated the faculty on the committee's study into consolidating the College's distribution requirements, a recommendation made by the Strategic Plan. The study found that the requirements current meet student needs and do not need to be amended, although the committee is still exploring the option on a lab science requirement.

Professor of Geology and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Research Pat Manley also addressed the faculty about the Spring Student Symposium, which will feature presentations by 80 students in early April.

The faculty will convene again on April 10 at 4:15 p.m. for its second-to-last meeting of the academic year.