1. Academic achievement

Q: In recent months, talk about academic excellence has been a consistent campus topic. Let's begin with an overview of the plans your office has for this area.

A: Academic excellence has been an ongoing concern at the dean's office. Our primary concern is dealing with the student as scholar. President Freedman not only has reminded us of the legitimacy of that preoccupation, he has encouraged us to expand it.

Q: What changes will we see?

A: Those of us in the dean's offices met during the summer and talked about what we were doing—and what we were not doing—in the area of acknowledging academic excellence. We discovered we've not been acknowledging accomplishments as well as we could. For example, once a year, students are elected to various honor groups, and we don't do anything with those students other than informally let them know that they are on the first, second or third honor role. Our goal now is to identify students who are making academic contributions and to develop programs that will encourage them to do more.

Furthermore, we have lengthened our list of ways to recognize achievement at Dartmouth. Recognition might be earned for an article of substance published in one of our campus publications, or for a great performance in a play or with the orchestra. I am also hoping that the promotion of academic excellence will ripple throughout the campus. For instance, the athletic department might let the campus know how many intercollegiate athletes are Rufus Choate scholars.