Callan told the Faculty they need to crack downon "advisors who expect students to live for theirwork alone, who repeatedly criticize students, whohang on to grad students for longer than necessaryto complete the Ph.D., or those who neglect theirstudents, even to the point of refusing to meet astudent or read his dissertation."
The GSC is drafting a document titled "GraduateStudent Life and Education," which outlines theways in which current FAS policy "does not playthe important role in the day-to-day conduct ofgraduate education" that it "was meant [to] at thetime of its formulation."
The proposal calls for systematic changeswithin the advising structure, such as requiringall decisions regarding a student's progress to becommunicated in writing to the student.
The document, which is targeted for completionby the end of the calendar year, will go to theFAS for review.
Can Things Change?
In the meantime, GSA Administrative, DeanMargot N. Gill says she and Wolff are continuingto encourage all 47 programs of the GSAS to pursuemore frequent contact with students and moreregular reporting to students about theirprogress.
To improve student life annually, theadministration surveys graduate students andtransmits the data back to the departments inaggregate to ensure confidentiality, Gill says.
And she will encourage departments to take partin the GSAS discussion panels at Dudley House,which will continue next month, although Callansays he hopes the administration will not stopthere.
While "a lot of interesting ideas came out ofthose discussions," Callan says, "there's been alot of talk, but no action."
To be sure, Gill can only "encourage"departments to participate in GSAS activities.
When asked whether his department sentrepresentatives to this spring's roundtablediscussions, Alan K. Long, director of thechemistry laboratories, said "no," indicating thatmembers of the department "must have been toobusy."
"Each department does things differently," Longsays. "We're fairly autonomous."
Calling for a "genuine commitment from theGSAS," Callan advocates placing "a lot ofpressure" on the Faculty to establish standardsfor advising.
"Things can be made to change, even at Harvard,"Callan says.
Gill says she "anticipates full participation,"especially in light of Altom's death, which "hasclearly reminded us how important these sessionsare."
Gill also notes there will increased resourcesfor international students, who face "specialproblems and must make special adjustments."
Recognizing that it is not enough to provide aseparate orientation for international students,GSAS will offer a seminar next month, "After theFirst Month in the New Culture," to try to addressproblem that students could not anticipate duringthe first week of school.
And Callan is currently working with the GSC toestablish a series of advising awards--similar tothe Levenson Awards for undergraduate teaching--toincrease the emphasis on quality mentors.
The idea was the brainchild of Provost HarveyV. Fineberg '67, and was raised by President NeilL. Rudenstine in his annual meeting with the GSClast April.
"If anything good comes of this suicide, it maybe renewed vigor on the part of GSAS, theUniversity and the GSC to work hard," Callan says."It's possible that an event like this mightgalvanize efforts. That would be good--though notnearly worth the cost."