Two senior administrators briefed students on the progress of the University’s prominently spotlighted initiatives at the Student Association Senate meeting Monday.
Provost Steven Lerman highlighted efforts with GW’s ongoing strategic plan – a blueprint designed to guide the next decade of academics and student life. Earlier this month, a committee tasked with creating the plan laid out potential changes to tenure policies, academic focuses by field and undergraduate general curriculum requirements that could be part of the plan to be finalized this summer.
Lerman said he and the committee members now have two months to solicit feedback from students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni and trustees about the proposed changes.
“We’re trying to do this as openly transparent as humanly possible,” Lerman said about creating the plan. “We’re going to get out there as much as we can with the time we have.”
This month, Lerman said he has spoken to multiple academic departments, both the alumni and parent associations and has held several dinners at his on-campus residence with interested stakeholders. He plans to travel to New York to talk trustees in that area in the upcoming weeks.
“This stage of the process is just beginning,” Lerman said of the committee’s outreach phase.
The plans will be delivered to the community next fall. The team hopes to make final presentations to the Board of Trustees at its October board meeting, he said.
Dean of Students Peter Konwerski told senators about the overhaul of career services that will bring about changes to professional support at GW starting this summer. Konwerski oversaw efforts of a committee – spanning about a year and a half – to plan more industry-specific and proactive career services.
The Class of 2016 will start exploring career interests at Colonial Inauguration, Konwerski said. When students learn about the services early in their academic careers, he said they will likely return and seek help.
Robert Snyder, executive director for the Dean of Students Office, worked with Konwerski to steer the project. He told senators that the University hopes to see every student finish their second year with the basic skills “mastered,” such as resume writing, interviewing, business etiquette and networking.
A new hire for career services will manage career services across campus, Konwerski said – a change from the current decentralized model among the University’s 10 schools. The main office will also be moving into the Marvin Center and out of its current space in the Old Main building.
