GF faces new advising option

Dean of Students Peter Goldsmith discussed his preliminary proposal to restructure College advising procedures with the General Faculty on Tuesday. Goldsmith hopes to bridge the gap between a student's academic and social realms by providing a resource that will encompass both of these aspects.

Goldsmith presented his ideas in an open letter to the community distributed to the General Faculty prior to the meeting. In his letter, Goldsmith outlines the pitfalls of current advising procedures. "The administration can seem anonymous and distant to many students; it is not sufficiently apparent that deans are sources of support in working through individual problems," said Goldsmith in his letter.

Goldsmith goes on to explain that faculty advising does not provide a link to the administration. While he did not set forth a formal plan, Goldsmith did express his goal: "I believe it is time for Oberlin to consider developing an administrative structure which provides every student with direct access to the administration."

Goldsmith believes this can be accomplished without increasing the administrative workforce, and without detracting from other advising structures already in place. "What we need is an integrated, holistic system which has administrators working in concert with one another to ensure students' academic and personal success."

Goldsmith opened the General Faculty floor up for suggestions on his planned advising deans, receiving both positive and negative feedback.

Student Senators, probably the most well represented body in attendance, raised multiple concerns over the preliminary proposal. Sophomore Chris Anton said, "This is just going to tack another title on people's names." Anton believed there is little need for the advising deans, and asserted that offices are already in place providing guidance.

Goldsmith replied that a student senator like Anton is better versed in administrative offices that supply these services than the average student. "For other students, managing the bureaucracy is rare," said Goldsmith.

Professor of Classics James Helm continued the discussion with his question, "Can you give us an example of issues that might be addressed by such advising?" Goldsmith explained that the system would most frequently be utilized in the advent of a crisis or severe problem.

The idea of a crisis situation later came into question by Professor of African American Studies James Millette. "How would this proposal fit with a non-crisis," said Millette. Goldsmith described his own experience with advising, and explained that the advising deans, with a strong knowledge of the curriculum, could help point students in an academic direction.

Professor of Politics Ronald Kahn defined Goldsmith's advising deans as being a source of information, being a coordinator of administrative action, and being a mentor to students, and then proceeded to question this dynamic. "Would all three functions necessarily be in the same person?" said Kahn.

Goldsmith then brought up one of his strongest points, which is to make the administrative relationship with the student as personal as possible. "Effective deaning goes one face to face," said Goldsmith.

Associate Professor of English Nick Jones backed up Goldsmith on this point. "I think that we need to connect in person," said Jones.

Some concerns still existed in the caucus of Senators, faculty, and administrators. Associate Professor of Theatre Jane Armitage said, "I am not quite sure what this means to the faculty advisor. I hate to see anything that would dissipate those of us that take advising seriously."

Goldsmith assured her that the advising deans would be working together with academic advisors. In his letter, Goldsmith said, "Such a system should support and complement a faculty advising system, providing an additional net for those students who might too often find Oberlin to be impersonal."

Associate Professor of Physics John Scofield then questioned how personal a relationship one of these advising deans could have with students, when they would represent hundreds of students.

Associate Professor of Classics Jennifer Lynn evened out the support of the proposal when she expressed her problems with advising. "I'm not always sure where to send students. I hardly know what to tell them," said Lynn. She also brought up the point that her advising relationship can sometimes conflict with her classroom relationship with a student - a problem that the advising dean would solve.

President Nancy Dye supports the proposal, in light of the complex administrative structure. "Many students experience Oberlin as an overly complicated and bureaucratic place. There ought to be something that can help you deal with just about every aspect of Oberlin College," said Dye.

Goldsmith has yet to make any formal proposal, which would have to go through the Student Life Committee or the General faculty Council before being presented to the General Faculty.