What did you like about your college degree?

June 1, 2009 8:19 PM

Do you have good memories the department that hosted your college degree? I'm looking for specific suggestions for forming a strong community of undergrad students within one major.

What made you feel at home in your own dept? What made it easy to get to know other students or the faculty? For example, were there a lot of events or guest speakers targeted for the undergraduates? Were the faculty particularly good at advising or being accessible? Was there a particular place for you to go and hang out, but only open to your major? Extra points for activities/policies that are appealing to science/technical geek majors. Thanks for your help.

posted by about_time to education (24 comments total)

One thing I found conducive was a once-a-week evening class or seminar, after which students would retire to the local campus bar to continue the discussion and socialize.
posted by stargell at 8:32 PM on June 1 [1 favorite]

My department (Economics) was not so great as far as organized events for majors went, but I always envied my school's Civil Engineers. Their profs had an open door policy, they often had cookouts and get togethers, as well as access to a special lecture series downtown. I suppose it helped that they were also a fairly small department.
posted by roomwithaview at 8:35 PM on June 1

Place to hang out. Open to everyone, but who else is going to spend their evenings on the fourth floor of the physics department. It's actually pretty nice if you *don't* have to have a key, especially if only majors get keys and people don't declare until late.

Shared coursework is really what did it for me- we were all encouraged to work on problem sets together, and so often the whole class would be sitting in the lounge working things out until odd hours. Same with lab projects. Lots of hours of work does mean lots of bonding time with your fellow classmates, but of course it also means lots of hours of work.

We also had a series of undergrad lunch seminars, where a prof would come in and present on some topic (their research, or the optics of rainbows, or... whatever). In other departments I've also seen a strong student society (SPS usually for the physics depts) run barbecues, movie nights, etc. They've seemed pretty successful.

And liquid nitrogen ice cream never hurts, either.
posted by nat at 8:46 PM on June 1

I was (and am) very close to the class I went through school with although I think you will find that of many (most) architecture programs. Some features of the (and many) program that I think seriously contributed are:

Five years of undergraduate work with the same group
Shared sense of overwhelm (standard semesters were 18 instead of 15 credits)
Shared sense of overcoming obstacles (like a mandatory class at a difficulty level such that out of over 70 students only 5 got a grade above a C+, but most passed and were relieved)
About 60% of the academic classes shared by all in the same major
Primary class is a studio, which is also a space private to the major, and all students encouraged to do work there (instead of at home or in dorm rooms, etc.)
Personal faculty interaction in studio classes and faculty coordination between classes
Many group projects
Monthly 'ice cream socials' where department announced new policies and placated us with sugar
Study hard, think hard, work hard, party hard attitude shared from year to year within the major

Bottom line - setting a high bar and then having groups work together to blow it away is the best way to build this. I was in a different program, but at the same time Randy Pausch was just getting his virtual worlds thing going, and this team based atmosphere was going in programs across campus. It is worth looking at his work to see an approach from a more geek/science standpoint.

(on preview - looks like shared work and ice cream is a common thread)
posted by meinvt at 8:47 PM on June 1

As an economics undergrad, the head of the department would host a BBQ at his house twice a year where all the economic undergrads (since this was a huge technical school mostly for engineering and computing, there would only a dozen or so actual econ students and even including double majors only two dozen).

Generally there'd be one early in the year, like at the end of the first week of classes to welcome all the new incoming freshman and that sort of thing and one at the end to recognize graduates, faculty who got tenure, etc.

I liked it. The head, who was also my academic advisor, made damn good brautwurst and had a nice lay, not to mention a well stocked fridge with beer and some wine.

There were also a lecture series that generally brought the entire department together, since nearly every econ professor would offer extra credit to anyone who went.

So yeah, that's how it was for me at least.
posted by champthom at 8:49 PM on June 1

Seconding shared space. A lounge or computer lab in the science building will naturally attract science majors to hang out, work together, and collaborate. Bonus points if it's comfortable and includes fun stuff too.
posted by chrisamiller at 8:49 PM on June 1 [1 favorite]

i think this is difficult to do with a large department.

my undergrad department (archaeology) was small - like 20 graduating at a time, small. we got to know each other really well through

a. seminar classes, since we all took the same classes together
b. the anthropology students' association meet'n'greets
c. joint events with related depts (classics, history, art history)
d. wine and cheese events! popular with professors and held in a swanky mahogany-lined, leather-chair-filled room
e. beer and pizza nights at the campus bar
f. field studies during the summer - nothing makes friends faster than being the only five english speakers for miles around in northern finland. this may not be applicable to your dept.
g. creating an archaeology metal-tribune band, thus needing many groupies at performances.
h. on preview, definitely a work-hard, play-hard attitude and lab work.

(i guess what i really want to say is free booze + free food = STUDENTS MEETING AND HAVING FUN!)
posted by chickadee at 8:50 PM on June 1

Our major had regular pizza lectures, which were nice. We also had a computer lab (this was the dark ages) with a TA who officed in there; it became a spot where you could always find someone.
posted by lakeroon at 8:54 PM on June 1

Echoing the shared space comments. My department was notably unfriendly, but the friendliest department by far was geology, and it seems that they had the following things going for them: amazing shared study spaces, field trips, cookouts, few students (compared to other departments), and calling professors by their first names.
posted by telegraph at 8:56 PM on June 1

My department (Computer Science at Brown University) was very collegial. Some things that helped:

- Undergraduate TA program. About 50% of concentrators served as teaching assistants in the department. This helps you get to know professors, as well as other students (as coworkers, as teachers, and as your own students). You were eligible to TA any class as long as you'd taken it and gotten a decent grade, so you had sophomores teaching seniors in some cases. TA-condoned cheating was, surprisingly enough, almost nonexistent.

- Lab culture. Undergrad computer labs were run by undergrads, and as such were very "studenty" environments: this includes being open until like 3AM, especially if the lab supervisor had a project to finish. A social atmosphere developed. Also, all TAs and research assistants (so most of the concentrators in the department) got after-hours access to the building, which helped the "special place" vibe.

- Friendly professors. Many had undergraduate research assistants; essentially all had undergrad TAs. And we called them all by their first names. They were committed to undergraduate education, and it showed.

- Friendly grad students. They're essentially in the department all the time, so if the undergrads get to know them then the department becomes a much friendlier place. Our grad students ran two weekly organized events (put together with department money) that were well-attended by both faculty and undergrads.

- A few speakers: we got Richard Stallman one time, and Larry Wall, I think. They were accompanied by free food. Some classes also had a few open lectures, that anyone interested was encouraged to come to. There was a graphics guest lecture that was always very popular, and the programming languages class had a "lambda lecture" that was lots of fun. (But the speakers didn't help as much as you'd expect.)

This was all aided by the fact that computer science was a damn rich department (recruiters had to pay a fee to the department to run events for graduating seniors). Student employment and events both take money, which was never in short supply.
posted by goingonit at 8:59 PM on June 1

I went to a small Christian University (2000 students), so we had a lot of flexibility. Every month, our profs. alternated making us a home-made meals at their houses, coupled with an event of some kind (eg., one week alumni would talk with us, another we'd have a game night based on words (English Department), etc.).

We would also get together for literary events, readings, and plays, etc. Every other year, we road-trip from CO to MI for the Festival of Faith and Writing. On off-years, we go to UT for the National Undergraduate Literature Conference.

We had BBQs, game days, lectures, and sometimes held classes out on the lawn.

A department intern handles all of the logistics and acts as a sort of secretary for the profs. (about four long-term, and three adjuncts).

And these are just sponsored events. Most of the people were insanely close, and we hung out all the time outside of school, too. I live an hour away, and we all still make an effort to spend time together.
posted by litterateur at 10:00 PM on June 1

Seconding what Litterateur has to say. ALL of the professors within my department would rotate "Pizza/ Spaghetti Sunday" at their HOUSE!!! It was always the first Sunday of the month and it provided an intimacy and welcoming that far exceeded any lecture. They also had an open door policy and gave us their home phone numbers. (A special shout out to Grove City College in PA is definitely due here!!!) My professors went above and beyond....I never had a T. A., just genuine professors who cared about me as much as the subject at hand. I assumed the college world was full of supporting, nurturing professors such as this...until I graduated and started swapping stories with the rest of the world. My advice:
1) CARE
2) SHOW you care (dinners, activities, open door policy)
3) Talk about former students that you keep in touch with...it lets current students know that they too will be valued once they leave...and that you are looking forward to creating those bonds NOW.
4) YOU have such an opportunity to make a difference!!!! I'm jealous!! :-) Best of luck! :-)
posted by hollygirl at 10:32 PM on June 1 [1 favorite]

I was a compsci major.

Group work.

And the computer labs.

Really, anything with open-access labs results in much (covalent) bonding.
posted by Netzapper at 10:56 PM on June 1

- A lounge with a microwave. In my case, this was near grad student mailboxes, the departmental library, and the professors' offices, which meant that using the microwave would bring me across the paths of all sorts of departmental people. (The microwave was important for days I brought my own lunch -- there weren't many microwaves available to undergrads on my campus.)

- Department-hosted mixers during the first month of every semester. These came with name tags, snacks, and refreshments. It might be nice to do something a little less explicitly focused on meeting people, like a department-themed movie night, or a lecture followed by small group discussions, or something.
posted by gorillawarfare at 12:38 AM on June 2

the ability to recognize everyone's birthday is an excuse to recognize everyone. Everyone gets the "oh, hey, happy birthday" feel good moment.

The day of mid term/final exam, someone writes some sot of encouragy insider (sciency) joke on the pathway to the test in chalk.... or funny reminder of some point that you had to study. like E=mc squared = good times! Good luck everyone, just do your best!

Themed halloween party. One year a department did the whole alice in wonderland theme. It was awesome. Or a science concept.....like dressing up like a trojan with a sign "hi" around your neck. (representing hydrogen, or a friendly condom depending on your audience).

Someone capturing images of social events and posting, for the shy types that want to see it before they attend events. If a smallish department, sometimes sent along with an email personally inviting someone who didn't come.

some sort of joint listserve, even separate from the school where everyone can talk about what's going on - all the invites to events, forming study groups, etc. etc.

Oh, good, good times.
posted by anitanita at 1:38 AM on June 2

My department in college was amazing. Many of us were from different countries but studying together in England. Older students would shepherd us through culture shock (we'd drink together -- very important). It was small, and the faculty were young alums from the same program, so it was easy to establish camaraderie. There were lots of inside jokes that the graduating students would eventually let the newer ones know just before they left, that the younger ones would then continue.

Unfortunately, my loser college abolished my program to convert the entire campus into a seminary. But our solidarity continues -- not a shining cent of an alumni donation from the humanities department!!
posted by motsque at 4:05 AM on June 2

Another vote for shared space. Be sure to put a copy of each required textbook in the lounge so people can work without having had to lug around every textbook they own. If you can't do them all, at least include textbooks for the required courses.

Also, as much as possible, hold undergrad classes in the department's space rather than in other buildings across campus. Getting students physically into the departments is 3/4 of the work.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:57 AM on June 2

I did my undergrad at a huge public school, and the music school was the largest in the country. While students naturally fell into groups based on their lifestyle and majors, the music school felt pretty tight-knit. I attribute this mainly to a couple of things:

1) Freshmen at the university were required to live in the dorms; music and art students were told that most music and art students live in a particular dorm, so that dorm was full of fellow musicians. The dorm was adjacent to the music school, so even students who didn't live there ate lunch in the cafeteria. Instant friendships.

2) There was an incredible jazz school, so every weekend was full of parties where you could take your horn/whatever and play with people who you might not meet or play with in an academic setting. Instant friends.

So yeah; living, eating and drinking together made for good relationships. Surprise!
posted by nosila at 7:20 AM on June 2

Whatever you do, if it starts working, don't rest on your laurels — keep promoting and encouraging it. Nothing is more depressing than a party/show/lecture/field trip where three people show up and talk about how much better-attended and cooler these parties/shows/lectures/field trips were back when they were freshmen and the department had just started holding them.

(It sounds like you might be faculty. If so, keep in mind that you have a much longer perspective than your students do. If the Fall Welcome-In Have-A-Beer Thing is awesome every other year, you might be perfectly happy with that — but fully half your incoming students will show up on a bad year, get the first impression that department events are lame, and decide to hang out somewhere else.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:50 AM on June 2

We had a required course for all arts majors - visual arts, which I was, theatre, music, art history & arts ed - that sort of ran through 200 years of history and talked about shared sources of inspiration. We started out with Verdi and ended up talking about Keith Haring's subway drawings. At the beginning we were all skeptical and each group of majors (it was a small school; all the art people already knew each other, ditto theater, ditto music) sat together and didn't mingle. But by the end of the class we all at least knew each other and actually, looking back from 20 years later, I learned a LOT in that class.
posted by mygothlaundry at 7:51 AM on June 2

Thanks everyone for their input. More suggestions are welcome.
posted by about_time at 9:39 AM on June 2

Small size (I was a Classics major at a major state university, and we graduated maybe five people on average in Classics a year) is one of the biggest draws, in my experience. I minored in CS and there was *nothing* like the socialization the Classics department could have. We did a picnic (technically sponsored by Eta Sigma Phi, the national Classics honors society, which served as our undergrad organization) every spring and fall, and a department party every holiday season (complete with a tree decorated with Rheingold beer cans, every year, for some reason, and singing Latin carols -- Rudolphus Rubrinasus, fulgentissimo naso! vidisti et si eum, dicas quoque candere!). Eta Sigma Phi also did some other activities: movie nights, the induction where we all wore silly helmets or ivy crowns... Majors were encouraged to attend lectures and the post-lecture dinner with the speaker; there was always a reception following talks, as well. I did socialize on my own in some of my CS classes, working on programs with people or whatever, but it was nothing like the *intense* group studying of Latin or Greek courses, where we would get together to read the texts for hours a day. I knew every person in every class, which is certainly not something I could say for my CS courses!
posted by lysimache at 4:28 PM on June 2

another vote to limit group size, even if it means splitting the department into houses or teams of a manageable number. Also, make faculty available to the students constantly, even if students don't always seem to want to take advantage of it. It takes time for a student to start to see instructors as approachable human beings, but once that bridge is crossed, the student's experience is greatly improved. Have dinners with the dean, home/studio/lab tours, picnics, extracurricular lectures, trips, and so on. Have a student advisory board or similar that can bring student issues to faculty attention, and treat the board with respect. Act on reasonable requests, or engage in a dialogue to resolve issues.

To speak specifically to science/technical majors, I would imagine that it's even more difficult than usual to spark this kind of interaction among students and between students and faculty, but it's just as vital to the feeling of community.

In my undergrad program I had the good fortune to live in a "residential community" dorm where about 50 other students in my program also lived and studied (I was in architecture, but there were also interior designers, graphic designers, urban planners etc). We had a common working space for model-building and drawing, had many of the same classes together, and so on. The students that went through that program were more successful on average and kept group friendships for longer than other students I know who were not in that program. It does depend a lot on the social dynamic in each group though; the success of the community varied greatly from year to year.

Briefly: give students a place that belongs to them, make faculty available to them on a regular basis, build a framework for self-governance and feedback, and listen to it.

Oh, and the last thing: challenge them. make them work hard, and they'll come to depend on one another and on the faculty (and on their own skills, as they advance). It was the shared frustrations and triumphs of challenging coursework that really brought together the kids in our community.
posted by Chris4d at 5:17 PM on June 2

Being the underdog track (media studies) in our major (Communication) really brought the lecturers and their students closer -- griping about faculty members, asking for help regarding research, being stuck in a small class -- we'd end up going out for drinks after class which i really appreciated and made me feel like I belonged.

The Communication department also was stuck in an old house on the far side of campus (we used to call the close cluster of school buildings the "mainland" and the shared history of that old house just made us feel at home. Unfortunately we had to move out. It will never be the same again.

Also there's an organization related to our track that consolidates people and really lets them get involved in events.
posted by drea at 7:33 PM on June 2