Exemplary faculty routinely provide invaluable resource

Dean's List

By: David Tuttle

Posted: 3/2/07

Though I would prefer students report that their favorite thing about Trinity is the learning that takes place outside of the classroom, or the CosmoGIRL! -lauded residence halls or the easy-to-follow excessive noise policy, I most often hear one constant: Our students love the Trinity faculty.

Students value the expertise of their instructors. They like to be challenged and don't even mind being scared or intimidated by certain professors. They appreciate the access to their teachers that friends don't find at other schools.

In interviews with Residential Life student RA and RM candidates, I ask them to name favorite professors. This year I actually tracked the responses more formally. Several candidates insisted on listing two favorite professors. (They were told there was only one seat in the life raft so they had to choose JUST one.) Of the 66 candidates queried, they named 53 different professors.

That is stunning. The names, departments and qualities of these professors are as varied as the course offerings on campus. All of the candidates, certainly all students, have truly been turned-on to their course material by the Trinity faculty.

At a recent Board of Visitors meeting, faculty members spon-soring initiatives related to Trinity's Capital Campaign made presentations about their pro-grams.

As with the recent Quality Enhancement Plan proposals, these ventures are dynamic, creative and most importantly add texture and variety to student learning opportunities.

Among proposals are exp-ansion of programs related to Mexico and Spain, the Far East, Urban Studies and more.

Though bridging the upper campus/lower campus divide is difficult, faculty members are also changing the face of the residence halls.

It was faculty members who initiated the HUMA 1600 Hall, the language floors and now the Entrepreneurial Floor. These opportunities to create a blended and seamless learning environment are crucial to Trinity's growth.

Indeed, faculty and staff partnerships are strong and still growing across campus. Faculty assistance in Admissions events, with family weekend programs and in other areas is critical to their success. When a call went out to the University community to partner with the Mark Twain Middle School, the faculty responded in force.

Faculty members are pulled in multiple directions, not unlike athletes who do much of their training and hard work behind the scenes.

They have to do research in order to maintain their expert status. They need to update their material to stay current. They have to keep up with technology, and most are advisers.

Professors - who by their training are inclined to question everything and expect data - invaluably serve on many committees, sometimes to the chagrin of the more task-driven staff. Department chairs do all of that and manage budgets. But, at Trinity, their real work is with students - and it shows.

When students are facing difficulties outside of class, their professors almost always respond with compassion, sensitivity and attention. I see it almost daily.

Hopefully, our faculty members know just how much they are collectively revered here at Trinity. If they are ever in doubt, they should just do what I do: Ask the students.