Approval likely for new requirement

Starting with the Class of 2002, College students would have to take a quantitative analysis course. In accordance with the College of Arts and Sciences's academic priorities released yesterday, College faculty are expected to approve a quantitative analysis addition to the General Requirement -- effective for the Class of 2002 -- at their February 4 meeting. If approved, the requirement will ensure that every student complete one course that uses a mathematical or statistical analysis of measurable data, according to a report by the Committee on Undergraduate Education. College Dean Robert Rescorla and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs Kent Peterman are meeting with the chairpersons of various departments to discuss which areas can incorporate the new requirement. "History is the most obvious of the humanities," Rescorla said. "But we are very eager to have departments throughout the curriculum offer courses to fulfill the requirement." Peterman cited Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Professor Nancy Steinhardt -- who built quantitative material into her Egyptian art class -- as an example of the diverse fields in which the material can be studied. "It's a skill which crosses all the various disciplines based upon a way of thinking rather than based upon the content," Rescorla said. Ingrid Waldron, the undergraduate Biology chairperson who also heads a committee on quantitative skills, said she hopes the new requirement will help faculty realize the growing importance of such analysis. Anthropology Chairperson Gregory Possehl said the faculty in his department strongly favor of the requirement. And Chemistry Chairperson Hai-Lund Dai said he supports the move also. "We live in a world in which being able to look at things with quantitative measures is important," Dai said. "For the future of society it's something that makes sense." Waldron said students must have a good comprehension of quantitative skills in order to consider themselves well-educated. Political Science Chairperson Thomas Callaghy said he also supports the requirement, although he believes it will be "tricky to implement" in various departments. But some faculty and students have unanswered questions about the proposal. General Honors Program Director William Harris, a Political Science professor, expressed concern that although the new requirement should help students master basic methodology, it may not enable them to think and incorporate concepts in mathematical terms. "I'm uneasy with it," Harris said. "The way its formulated it looks like an empirical social science requirement instead of a mathematical one." He is also concerned about the addition of yet another requirement in the College, saying the General Requirement is "turning into a connect-the-dots exercise." But Waldron said the requirement is designed so that undergraduates can fulfill a general or major requirement while simultaneously completing the quantitative one. Student Committee on Undergraduate Education Chairperson Ben Nelson said although he agrees with the "underlying rational" for the requirement, he has reservations about its implementation. "We want to ensure that the courses will be reviewed to make sure that they actually add value," said the Wharton senior. "Right now there are courses [which fulfill the requirement] that in present state don't add numeracy knowledge." He added that he believes students who profess proficiency in quantitative skills should be exempt. But Waldron said quantitative skills, like writing skills, can always be improved and the College is better off spending time and energy to teach its students rather than test them. Nelson said although some faculty members do not support the proposal he does not believe there will be much opposition. "It's pretty sad," he said. "I don't think any of faculty think it is a particularly good fight."