Changes 2011-2012

New Registration Process

• The Registrar has 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 Add/Drop period through Bannerstudent.
  • Now, first-year seminars and writing courses (Writing 5) are elected at the same time as the rest of their courses.  A student chooses only ONE writing/first-year seminar 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)
  • Tuesday Sept 20 (the day between advising day and the first day of courses) is now reserved for first-year students to adjust their schedule. Add/Drop for all other students begins only at 8AM on Sept 21.
  • 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 (Monday Sept 19 8:00 PM) and before courses start.
• See Course Placement and Registration Information
• For detailed information and instructions on the course election process, please refer to the Course Election Reference Guides the Registrar's web site.

Writing and Seminars

• Because of the change in the Course Election processes, whereby students now enter one seminar or 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 caps.
• The Institute for Writing and Rhetoric has set up a "switch site" (http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/policies/f11switchpage.html) designed to allow students who want to "switch" with another student to help identify a "switch match"

IAS (Integrated Academic Support)

• IAS, formerly administered by the First Year Office, is now under the administration of the Academic Skills Center, directed by Carl Thum. The IAS curriculum comprises WRIT 2-3, MATH 2-3, and CHEM 2. See below for more information.

Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students

• The deans have been undergoing much restructuring.  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.
  • The Assistant Deans of Undergraduate Students are: Teoby Gomez, Leigh Remy, Lisa Thum, and Kent Yrchik-Shoemaker. The office is lead by Dean of Undergraduate Students Deborah Tyson.  The college is expanding the number of deans seeing students by adding four new deans. These new deans will start throughout the month of September.
  • 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 Your First Year guide, is posted on the Dean of Undergraduate Students web site here: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~upperde/
  • 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.

Computer Science

• Computer Science has heavily restructured their curriculum and major.  Now the entry level class for Computer Science is Computer Science 1 (instead of, previously, Computer Science 5).  The second course in the CS sequence is now Computer Science 10 (formerly Computer Science 8).
• Computer Science 8 is not Computer Science 10; Computer Science 19 is now renumbered to Computer Science 30.
• Students who place out of Computer Science 1 based on scores may take Computer Science 10 or Computer Science 30 (formerly 19).
• See http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/site-content/site/a-major-redesign.php for more information

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.