Many students are unable to study abroad, but now they can interact with students in other countries through a recently-established program, the Global Classroom Initiative.
In Spring 2012, Professor Austin Sarat pioneered a faculty discussion and planning group to discuss the feasibility of a project called the Global Classroom Initiative. The result was a proposal to the Administration for a three-year pilot program.
On Feb. 3, the College’s strategic planning committees held a town hall meeting to discuss the progress they have made since September and ask for student input.
Directed by Provost Peter Uvin, the strategic planning committees are organized under four core themes: The Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning, The Integration of Curricular and Co-Curricular learning, Diversity and Community and The Internalization of Liberal Arts Education. Each committee consists of diverse range of students, faculty and staff.
Marisa Dolmatch ’15, a European studies major, is writing her senior thesis on current anti-Semitic sentiments in France. She is studying whether reactions and responses to today’s anti-Semitism are influenced by the memory of the Nazi occupation of France in World War II. Her adviser is Professor of French and European Studies, Ronald C. Rosbottom.
The Office of Student Affairs plans to initiate discussions with the college community this semester about the possibility of creating residential “neighborhoods” among campus dormitories.
The neighborhood plan was first proposed during the strategic planning process last spring. Vasquez cited the success of similar programs at other institutions, including the University of Notre Dame, as inspirations for proposed changes.
The Association of Amherst Students debated van use policy last week, as the senate discussed whether students should be allowed to use AAS vans for profit.
The subject arose because some senators originally believed that a student had used the college’s pool vehicles to run a private shuttle service over interterm. The student, Alex Southmayd ’15, had advertised on Facebook that he would provide rides to campus from Bradley Airport in Hartford at a competitive price of $40.
Amherst has admitted 172 out of 482 Early Decision applicants to the class of 2019, the Office of Admission reported last week. The college received a total of 8,549 applications for the class of 2019, an increase from last year’s 8,460.
This year’s Early Decision pool was the second largest in the college’s history, with the record being 490 applications received in 2012. The college received six more Early Decision applications this year than last year.
Of the 492 candidates, 187 were deferred to the Regular Decision round, and 123 were rejected.
Jim Larimore stepped down from his position as Dean of Students in an unexpected move announced Monday evening.
Although no new Dean of Students has been named, former Athletic Director Suzanne Coffey has assumed the position of Chief Student Affairs Officer, taking on many of Larimore’s previous responsibilities. Larimore will remain at Amherst as an advisor to President Biddy Martin until the end of the academic year. Don Faulstick, formerly the associate athletics director, has assumed the job of Interim Athletic Director.
