College junior Alexandra Berger has a vision.
Elected chairwoman of the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education on Sunday night, Berger's goals for the year include developing the group's relationship with the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships and continuing SCUE's efforts to promote non-traditional learning and improve online tools like the Penn Course Review and Penn InTouch.
Berger, who was promoted from her former position of vice chairwoman, said she looks to expand upon past success.
"We've made a progression toward being much more vibrant and much more visionary," Berger said. "That's what the next year is: dreaming toward big ideas."
Looking ahead, Berger said she eagerly anticipates working with CURF to facilitate research options, such as freshman research seminar offerings, and to develop an advisory board that would connect graduate and undergraduate students.
With its recent administration and program overhaul, Berger said CURF is a potential partner in improving academic life and that future collaborations will prove beneficial to both students and the University.
Berger also intends to continue past initiatives.
SCUE has recently made efforts to promote learning beyond the classroom. Berger said she hopes to continue these efforts by developing unique courses taught in college houses and preceptorials that will provide a more multifaceted approach to a subject.
The most recent proposal includes the creation of a specialized course on international development.
Instead of the traditional lecture-style class, students would be given a dilemma, such as a malaria outbreak, and would employ real-world problem-solving techniques.
SCUE will also unveil new online initiatives as Berger's term progresses.
Students registering for fall classes will find qualitative student comments supplementing quantitative data on Penn Course Review.
The newly-reworked Penn InTouch will also be in place for students at the beginning of the fall semester.
Finally, Berger noted that the long-in-the-works online syllabi initiative will be in place by the end of the semester. The administration approved the proposal and is working with professors to supply online syllabi information.
Throughout the year, SCUE will work on the latest edition of the White Paper, an in-depth report published every five years that details the committee's accomplishments. The next edition will be released in January 2010.
Wharton and College senior and outgoing SCUE Chairman Zach Fuchs said he is confident that the group is "in good hands going forwards."
He described Berger as "fabulous" and "a shining light of SCUE," adding that he "couldn't be happier with how the transition is working out."
In addition to Berger, SCUE elected six new members to the 2009-2010 board: College sophomore, Vice Chairwoman and Daily Pennsylvanian features editor Jessica Riegel, Engineering junior and Treasurer Sarah Doherty, College junior, Secretary and former Daily Pennsylvanian reporter Monisha Chakravarthy, College freshman and Member-at-Large Justin Rand and Engineering junior and Member-at-Large Christopher Pynn.
