New deans address students' questions

While yesterday's forum with the Wharton deans was designed to let students ask hard-hitting questions, most of the hour-long discussion was about generalized issues, from pass/fail courses to class sizes. Wharton Dean Thomas Gerrity and Vice Dean Janice Bellace opened the forum by detailing their background and future plans before taking questions from the 60-member audience. Removing his grey suit jacket, Gerrity took an informal approach to the discussion, with an enthusiastic and off-the-cuff style. During the hour-long discussion sponsored by the Wharton Dean's Advisory Board, Gerrity emphasized the need for some change in the school saying "we've got a lot more to do." But he did not outline any specific program changes. The dean stressed that Wharton students should develop broader leadership skills and enhance their ability to adapt to a diverse work force and marketplace. He also advised the Steinberg-Dietrich Hall crowd to capitalize on emerging technological industries, especially biotechnology, saying that these new advances are going to revolutionize society. Vice Dean Bellace, a graduate of the College and the Law School, said the student body has improved since she was an undergraduate. Bellace, an associate Legal Studies professor, used some of her remarks to emphasize integrating Wharton with the rest of the University. "The dichotomy between Wharton and the College is exaggerated," Bellace said. During the question-and-answer session some audience members asked broad questions while others argued over specific Wharton policies. The deans said they will not consider adding more pass/fail courses to the curriculum and told a student they haven't considered bringing more German professors. Bellace laid out some of her long-term goals, which included creating a "small school" environment within Wharton. "You should know your advisors [in order to] feel like you are in a small college while in a big university," Bellace said. But she added that students should take a leading role in improving their school. Both Gerrity and Bellace, however, considered a well-rounded curriculum to be the key to a good business school. Bellace humorously warned students that they should not get too involved in extra-curricular activities. "Don't go overboard," she said. "We want you to have a good GPA." Students afterwards said that although the deans may not have laid out any definite plans for the future they were impressed with their candidness.

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