Minutes:
8/24/00
9/14/00
9/28/00
10/19/00
11/02/00
11/16/00
12/07/00
12/21/00
1/11/01
2/15/01
3/01/01
8/07/01
9/20/01
12/06/01
Annual Reports:
Important
Undergraduate
Events
[Public web]
[Staff web]
MIT Libraries Undergraduate User Group
Undergraduate User Group minutes: 12/07/00
Present: M. de Popolo (minutes), T. Gabridge, S. Wenzel [Not distributed to all-lib because of Dean's discussion in item 1.]
1. Update: Report on the Presentations of Deans Redwine and Benedict to Library Council
Each dean spoke of his experiences, goals, and concerns. Dean Redwine called it a "special time for undergraduate education," with financial resources available, a lot of energy coming from the Deans' offices, and commitment to change and improvement made at the top. He would like MIT to set the standard for technology-oriented undergraduate education. In five year's time, he wants to look back and see these improvements: Lessening of student cynicism; innovation in teaching the core subjects; an improved advising system; all undergraduate students with an MIT-provided laptop, a standard suite of programs, and a common platform; a culture change that would recognize that student life and learning are not two separate things, brought about in part by an increase of faculty interaction with students outside the classroom. He said that both Deans are taking direction from the Report on Student Life and Learning.
Dean Benedict said his broad goal was improving the quality of undergraduate life. Basic conditions needing improvement are
-- the residential system (deplorable state of facilities, little faculty presence on the east side of campus, greater integration of faculty presence and programming in the residences needed); Simmons Hall, with 5 faculty apartments planned, will be a model for other residences when it opens in September, 2002.
-- the dining system (he wants residence dining reinstated)
-- and health and exercise programs, which need program improvements (including more coaches), improved physical facilities, and increased funding. He looks forward to having next year a new associate dean for programs and education in living environment and group health.
He has been talking to and visiting students to find out what is unique about MIT, a quality he defines as "quirky but wonderful." He thinks the library is a special place to students, representing "home" and "comfort."
In discussion thereafter, Dean Redwine cautioned that culture changes must come about gradually and not be forced, else they may backfire. Dean Benedict made the observation that many students return to their residences from classes on the campus around 4:00, have dinner, and then study from 8:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. He described a series of "stochastic dinners" held by the Deans, to which a random sample of students have been invited for food and discussion. These have happened about once a month. He suggested we might want to have a library person included in these next year. Dean Redwine talked about the goal of increasing financial aid and scholarships in the next year or so, to ease the necessity of students' working as much as they now do. He thought the library staff could probably supply information to the Deans about issues of pressure and pace in the lives of students. One of the Library Council members suggested a resident librarian might be a good candidate for one of the 5 faculty units planned for Simmons Hall.
2. Gabridge and Wenzel introduced a first draft of a library web page expressly for undergraduates. They will send a memo about next steps to be taken and the URL to members of the group for comment and later discussion.
Next meeting: December 21, LCR.