Faculty votes in favor of honor code change

Author: Derek Matus

In a preliminary vote on March 9, members of the College faculty expressed strong interest in amending Middlebury's honor code to allow professors to proctor student exams. The faculty enjoys support from the Community Council, but the proposed measure faces stiff resistance from the Student Government Association.

For the amendment to pass, two-thirds of the student body on campus would have to vote, with two-thirds of those voters approving the measure. Charles A. Dana Professor of Political Science Murray Dry advised against an official vote if the student body is so opposed to the amendment and asked if the faculty could make the change.

Acting Provost Tim Spears pointed out that the rules correspond to an honor code constitution penned by students and approved by the administration during the 1960s. Acting Dean of the College Gus Jordan responded that the committee would continue to work on a compromise.

The faculty also voted to change the criteria necessary for a full professorship. The new amendments include a decrease in the number of years that the Faculty Committee must examine student reviews and an outside letter of recommendation. These proposals will be discussed in two open meetings to be held before and after spring break.

On behalf of the committee, Associate Professor of History Bill Hart introduced a suggested update to the College Handbook's language on academic freedom - the addition of a new paragraph to affirm that the College does not discriminate against its professors. The change would reflect not only the College's Equal Employment Opportunity Policy but also the current literature of the American Association of Univeristy Professors. A vote was moved and the amendment passed unanimously.

Associate Professor of History of Art & Architecture Pieter Broucke followed with the developments of the Educational Affairs Committee. He recapped a recent retreat about the implementation of the senior work requirement. He also discussed meetings with the curriculum committee to examine whether to award credit for summer internships as the College does with internships during Winter Term. Several faculty members expressed concern over this suggestion, arguing that work experience should not count as a regular semester credit at a liberal arts college. Broucke acknowledged these concerns and assured the faculty that the committee is still considering the issue. The committee is also reviewing the financial feasibility of Winter Term, although no consensus has yet been reached.

Liebowitz concluded the meeting by addressing the College's current financial situation. The board recently expressed its satisfaction with the way the administration has handled its finances despite a 20.3 percent decrease in endowment from a high in June 2007

. Liebowitz was also optimistic that the annual fund would meet its yearly goal although the total number of donors has decreased. Still, the Budget Oversight Committee has continued to meet every Wednesday to discuss possible cuts, though none have yet been made to academic programs. Although next year's tuition has not been finalized because the administration wanted to gauge what its peer institutions would do, he projected that the increase will be between 2.5-3.9 percent.

Liebowitz assured the faculty that the College is comparatively well off and ended by encouraging departments to share their funds and work together.

After attending the faculty meeting, Broucke voiced his support of the administration.

"I have been very satisfied with the College's openness about the current financial situation," said Broucke, "and the faculty has been constantly notified of developments."