Provost places new emphasis on education

Students may eventually see their academic lives combined with activities and programs usually run by the Vice Provost for University Life's Office, Provost Stanley Chodorow said last week. The integration of the VPUL office with curriculum issues and the undergraduate schools is the central aspect of the provost's plan to evaluate and reform the University's approach to undergraduate education. "We need to create a sense of an academic community, which is formed around an academic program," Chodorow said. "Student services can then become imbedded in that." While Chodorow does not have a specific plan, he said he hopes one will "evolve" over time. "As far as exact changes, I can't and I wouldn't want to say," he said. "My view of leadership is to raise the issues, put the matter in front of the faculty, and help their discussion, not necessarily to have a vision and march with it." But Chodorow said his central goal is to "link the two functions of university life and curriculum very closely." "I want to see how the connection can be made more effective," he said. In connection with his plans for undergraduate education, Chodorow also discussed the concept of "One University," an idea based on a report released by the University Development Commission in 1972. The "One University" theory advocates a connection between the various schools within the University. It has had some problems in the implementation stage, he said, because of the University's fiscal management policies. Chodorow said the "One University" concept is "such a big idea that it doesn't touch ground in many places." "It's a good idea but what does that mean?" he said. "Schools are moving in a certain direction and we have to evaluate how to organize it." Although Chodorow said he plans to consult with as many groups as possible when discussing the details of his plans for undergraduate education, he added that "representation is a difficult issue." Chodorow said he hopes to involve students in the discussion process, but added that there are difficulties in doing so. "Students should play an active and substantial role on the VPUL's side," he said. "But it's hard to sort out what their role will be on the curriculum side." Chodorow said issues of who is best to represent the undergraduate population and how many representatives should be involved have to be resolved as well. "The problem with student participation is that many of them don't have much time," he said. "It's not as if students are the best organized people in the world." "They want to be involved but they sometimes really can't," Chodorow added. "And you have to wonder if the student is speaking for the whole or for himself."