SEAS deans, students talk at forum

Students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science had a chance to participate in a "Dialogue with the Deans" yesterday about improvements in the undergraduate program. The meeting provided a moderated forum for students to speak to Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington, Undergraduate Associate Dean David Pope and Director of Admissions and Advising John Keenan. Sponsored by the Engineering Undergraduate Advisory Board, this was the second annual open dialogue between the administration and students. Engineering junior Gregory Grimaldi moderated the dialogue, introduced the deans and led the question and answer period that followed their brief speeches. Farrington discussed recent improvements in the Engineering School -- including last summer's start of a two-year effort to install new heating and air-conditioning systems in the Moore Building. He also described plans for "major renovations on a whole series of lecture halls" followed by the renovations of many classrooms for next year. He said one of his goals is to create a "small college [environment] within a large University." He also advocated social events within the Engineering School, such as dinners with faculty members. And Farrington expressed optimism about the future of the school, citing admissions statistics. "Applications to this school were up to the highest level in history in both numbers and in quality," he said. Keenan focused his speech on improving advising for Engineering students. To improve undergraduate advising, he said, seminars will be set up to educate advisors about effective advising techniques. Keenan also said the advising manual will be revised. In response to questions and criticisms of Engineering advising, Pope explained that new databases have been created to help keep track of the school's large number of students and their advisors. The deans also discussed improvements in study abroad programs. The new plans will allow students abroad to take co-curricular courses taught in English, but would also require a rigorous language study program. Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Zimbabwe have already been selected for this program. Other improvements discussed include a new Pentium computer lab, and possible printing privilege reform.