5.1

CAMPUS

The Norwich Guidon
October 16, 2003

Large Norwich freshman class poses challenges for professors, advisors

By Kevin Clarkson
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Despite the largest incoming class in more than a decade, Norwich faculty advisors see no major hindrance to academic advising.

"We started off this year with such enthusiasm and pride," said NU Dean of Enrollment Karen McGrath, adding that "663 young people really wanted the Norwich experience."

McGrath said this increase sent the number of full-time students at Norwich to 1,844.

Despite the significant increase in the number of freshmen this year, Professor Stanley Shernock, Chair of the Department of Justice Studies and Sociology, said he and collegues are "managing the numbers okay."

"As far as we're concerned, we have the same number in criminal justice as last year," Shernock said. "There is no major increase over last year. We have about 310 total, of which 110 are new this fall."

However, despite the optimism of some professors, others find that their plate is a little too full, and they have more advisees than they expected at the beginning of the school year.

Humanities Division Head Professor Andrew Knauf said that this year his number of advisees has almost doubled, going from 12 to 21. Although Knauf has no trouble dealing with the extra load, he said he should have more advisees than any other single member of his division.

"We had 35 to 40 upperclassmen who didn't have permanent beds at the beginning of school," McGrath said. The hardest part does not seem to be specifically finding beds for the students, it's finding "the magic number," McGrath said, adding that "the freshmen class size cannot continue to grow" each year.

Engineering Professor Fred White said, "there are some [advisors] who don't want to do it. And there are some who don't do it very well."

Shernock is convinced students know this, as well. He said 10 to 15 students outside of his department came to him for academic advising just this semester. However, as much burden as that puts on the advisors, Shernock believes "students are responsible for themselves."

According to White, the increase this year as a "delightful problem," and he hopes it continues.

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.