“We...heard from freshmen anecdotally that they didn’t feel connected to each other and that they wanted to meet more people,” McLoughlin says.

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...

According to McLoughlin, Dingman’s move to the FDO and Nathans’ departure provide an opportunity to rethink aspects of the freshman year experience.

“With leadership change at the FDO everyone will be looking with a fresh perspective,” he says.

Still, James Mancall, one of three Associate Deans of Freshmen, emphasizes that the goals of the FDO will not change.

“I know both Dean Nathans and Dean Dingman to be fair, thoughtful, and experienced administrators,” Mancall says, “and the mission of the FDO will remain the same—helping first-year students to make the important transition from secondary school to college and beyond.”

—Staff writer Liz C. Goodwin can be reached at goodwin@fas.harvard.edu.