The Student Committee on Undergraduate Education is kicking off its biggest event of the year tomorrow, and College sophomore Samantha Springer is ready to oversee it.
Springer took over as SCUE chairwoman from College junior Ophelia Roman yesterday afternoon.
"I'm so excited," Springer said, describing the organization she will lead as one that works to expand curricular opportunities by monitoring and creating undergraduate programs and by advising the administration.
Springer, who previously served as secretary and as SCUE's representative to the Dean's Advisory Board, has just seen one of her projects come to fruition.
Springer -- along with fellow committee member College senior Matt Grady -- has been working on the Learner-Centered Learning Project since freshman year.
Described as her "brainchild," this program is focused around class recitations. Under the project, students will lead the recitations, with teaching assistants serving more as guides. This new learning style will hopefully be implemented this semester.
One of SCUE's most notable accomplishments last semester was reinstituting the Penn Course Review with the help of the Undergraduate Assembly.
Springer said that she is very pleased with the review and hopes it continues in this direction.
Roman added that it should be completed with student comments posted online by the end of the semester.
Another major project that should be finished by next year is a "how-to" book on surviving Penn from the first day until graduation. This guide will be distributed to next year's freshmen.
The biggest event for SCUE this year is the first annual Education Week.
The goal of the program "is to encourage Penn students to become involved in their education," Springer said.
University President Judith Rodin will give the keynote address, and the three winners of the Spotlight on Teaching Awards will also give lectures throughout the week.
In an effort to inspire more involvement, students who have gone the extra mile with their Penn educations will lead a panel discussion.
Students also have the opportunity to eat dinner with the deans of several of the University's colleges, as well as University Provost Robert Barchi.
Students applied to attend these dinners, and according to Springer, SCUE was forced to turn people away before they even finished looking at the applications.
Springer said she is looking forward to Education Week and to "going back and working on SCUE-related projects within the organization, along with the UA and Dean's Advisory Board, to create more educational opportunities."
