SCUE calls for more innovation in U. education

The organization's 1999 White paper calls for more student research. The Student Committee on Undergraduate Education released its first "White Paper" since 1995 on Tuesday, containing a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at improving undergraduate education at Penn. Highlighting the 1999 report was a requested increase in undergraduate research opportunities and the creation of several non-traditional methods to facilitate faculty-student interaction. The report's recommendations fall into several broad areas, ranging from the establishment of a Center for Innovations in Education to offering more 1 1/2-credit courses. "One of the main themes is giving students more of a voice in their education," said recently elected SCUE Chairperson Aaron Fidler, a Wharton junior. Provost-designate Robert Barchi said SCUE's proposals deserve "careful consideration." "SCUE has already demonstrated its intellectual strength and creativity in previous proposals? such as the preceptorials and the [Speaking Across the University] program," noted Barchi, who will take over as Penn's chief academic officer on February 1. In the White Paper, SCUE proposed the creation of the CIE, which would function in a manner similar to the Kelly Writers House and Civic House by providing a central location for the development and implementation of new ideas in educational programming. According to the White Paper, the CIE would consist of a core committee composed of SCUE members and possibly other students, as well as administrators, with two responsibilities -- initiating the development of new educational programs and sustaining current ones. Members of the University community would present their experimental education ideas at committee meetings. The committee would then establish a subcommittee to develop and implement the ideas. Fidler noted that SCUE would be able to assist with some of the funding for CIE and its programs, but he added that he would also like to secure external funding. Another program highlighted in the report is the Penn Scholars program, an interdisciplinary year-long research project conducted on a general abstract theme, like "war" or "time." Five or six undergraduates would be chosen from various disciplines across the University and would meet with a moderator -- possibly from the provost's office -- three times over the course of a year to discuss their progress. At the end of the year, the scholars would present their research to a panel. "Our aim was to provide a program that would cut across the school [and promote] a comprehensive research opportunity," said former SCUE Chairperson Rachael Goldfarb. "We're interested in creating a workable program, but we're more interested in creating an interesting intellectual experience rather than [working out] all the nitty-gritty details," the College senior said. Another initiative -- thematic semesters -- would link courses in five different departments by a common theme and was proposed as a cohesive way for students to fulfill the General Requirement. College of Arts and Sciences Dean Richard Beeman said the College is interested in moving forward to implement that idea. "I am also strongly in favor, at least in principle, of developing educational options for students that would include a 'thematic semester' in which students would take courses that are thematically linked," Beeman said. And another SCUE idea, 1 1/2-credit courses, would give students the opportunity to enroll in a University seminar which would be supplemented by a half-semester research project. "We'd like to push for the thematic semester to give students a more holistic approach, the Penn Scholars program to supplement a research aspect to the University and the 1 1/2-credit course to provide depth to the current undergraduate curriculum," Fidler said. The White Paper also proposes that the Speaking Across the University program becomes a requirement for graduation, similar to the existing writing requirement. It also pushes for more student participation in classes as a way of improving students' verbal communication skills. "Traditional modes of education weren't producing the intellectual stimulation we as students were looking for," Goldfarb said. "These programs will offer extraordinary academic opportunities."