Changes 2012-13

The Elimination of the Writing Exemption

• As of this year, no incoming student is exempt from the writing requirements (no exceptions!). All students must take either Writing 5 (predetermined and scheduled for either fall, or winter term) or Writing 2-3 (fall-winter sequence; pre-enrolled).  This means that there are no fall first-year seminars.  Students will continue to enroll in a seminar the term immediately following the completion of the writing requirement (either Winter or Spring).
• The Humanities 1-2 sequence will now fulfill the first-year writing requirement in place of Writing 5 and a first-year seminar.

New Registration Process

• Last year, the Registrar  upgraded the registration process, which has several implications for the advising process.
  • Instead of choosing both first choices and backup choices (as in the past), now students simply elect their three top choices constituting their ideal schedule.   They will be placed into classes (or not) according to availability and the priority system.  Students can then add courses that have room in it during the drop/add period through Bannerstudent.
  • Important: Students cannot type in the class they want to elect. They must click through and select the course, otherwise the election won't "stick".
  • Important: This election process will not work when using the Chrome internet browser. Firefox, Safari, etc. will work well.
  • Now, writing courses (Writing 5, but not Writing 2-3) are elected at the same time as the rest of their courses. (Students in Writing 2-3 are still pre-enrolled.) A student chooses only ONE writing choice as part of their overall "ideal" schedule. If they do not get into their first choice, they can then add from remaining availability, just as with any other course.  (See below)
  • Saturday September 8 and Sunday September 9 are now reserved for first-year students to adjust their schedule. Drop/Add for all other students begins at 8AM on Monday September 10, the first day of classes.
  • It is likely that students who do not get their ideal first set of choices will want to communicate with their advisors again after receiving their schedule and before courses start.  We ask that you be available by email on Saturday to any student who did not get their three courses.
• For detailed information and instructions on the course election process, please refer to the Course Election Reference Guides the Registrar's web site.

Writing 5

• Because of the change in registration processes, whereby students now enter one Writing 5 choice, it is likely that many students will not get into their first choice on account of the small size of these classes, and the rigorously enforced enrollment limit of 16.
• The Institute for Writing and Rhetoric has set up a "switch site" (http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/policies/f12switchpage.html) designed to allow students who want to "switch" with another student to help identify a "switch match"
• The biggest problem with the advising process will most likely be students who did not get their first choice of writing course and find their options are now limited.  Available spaces are filled on a first come, first served basis. No waiting lists will be maintained.

• As of last year, the Undergraduate Deans Office has been restructured.  A summary is that:
  • What were formerly the First-Year Office and the Upper Class Deans Office have merged into a single office called the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students.
  • Incoming students are now assigned a dean, who will be their dean for all four years. The student deans (whose official title is now "Assistant Deans of Undergraduate Students") will have a mix of students from all four years. Any student is of course able to meet with any dean.
  • Last year, the college hired four new deans, making the dean-student ratio more manageable.  The Assistant Deans of Undergraduate Students are: Francine A'ness (for East Wheelock), Paul Buckley, June Chu, Kristi Clemens, Teoby Gomez, Natalie Hoyt, Brian Reed, Leigh Remy, Lisa Thum, and Kent Krchik-Shoemaker.  The office is led by Dean of Undergraduate Students Deborah Tyson.
  • The Dean of the College is Charlotte Johnson.  Associate Dean of Student Support Services in Inge-lise Ameer, who oversees the offices in the dean of the College area that support student academic success (ODUS, OPAL, Academic Skills, Accessibility Services, and Career Services)
  • A great deal of relevant information for first-year students, including the "Explore ENGAGE Excel" booklet posted on the Undergraduate Deans web site at: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~upperde/incoming-students/
  • The deans have moved to their new space on the 2nd floor of Baker Library (from Parkhurst). They are now in Baker Library, Suite 224.

New Chemistry-Biology Combination

• Chemistry and Biology are offering a new joint-taught, two-course sequence (Chemistry 8-9/Biology 8-9: Chemical Principles and Biological Processes I & II; offered fall-winter).
• This is an alternate sequence for general chemistry (Chemistry 5) and intro biology (Biology11). Upon completion of BOTH Biology/Chemistry 8 and 9, students will have fulfilled the prerequisites necessary for entry into Chemistry 6 and any of the foundation level courses in biology (Biology 12 – 16).
• A student can get to either Chemistry 6 or to the biology foundation courses (12-16) in one of two ways.  Either by:
  • taking the 2-term sequence Biology/Chemistry 8-9; or
  • taking Chemistry 5 and Biology 11 (Chemistry 10 is the one-term honors course equivalent to the Chemistry 5-6 sequence)
• The choice between one path and the other really rests in what the student is more interested in.  Biology/Chemistry 8-9 explores the chemical foundations of biological processes, and is geared to students who are interested in how the two spheres of knowledge intersect.  Students interested in the disciplines in a pure sense may choose to stick with the traditional sequencing.  For those interested in fulfilling pre-health requirements, either path will do.
• This two-term course will cover principles and processes of general chemistry as applied to biochemistry and cell biology.  Successful completion of only the first term (Biology/Chemistry 8) will result in a SCI distributive credit but will not fulfill any prerequisite requirements.  Biology 8 and 9 are the same as Chemistry 8 and 9.

Pre-Health Advising

• Pre-health advising is offered through the Health Professions Program (HPP), run by Professor Lee Witters MD and Sarah Berger (Pre-Health Advisors). Any student interested in pursuing a curriculum that will prepare them for medical/dental/veterinary school or other graduate schools in the health professions should contact the Health Professions Program Administrative Coordinator Annette Hamilton by e-mail or by calling 646-3377. The Health Professions Program offers walk-in hours 4 days per week in the HPP Office and Resource Center, 10/11 Parkhurst Hall. Longer appointments can also be scheduled with the advisors as needed.  Students should also blitz Dr. Witters to be added to the membership of the Nathan Smith Society.