The College's Office of Speech will not offer classes this spring and summer while it continues to search for a replacement for Goodwin Berquist, the office's only professor.
Berquist said the College expects to hire a visiting professor or senior lecturer by next fall for a two-year, nontenured position.
Berquist, along with professor William Brown, taught all three of the office's courses last year. Brown retired last year.
Associate Dean of the Faculty Mary Jean Green said a faculty committee decided to keep the office open after evaluating it this fall.
"We decided to maintain the curriculum," Green said. "There was a great deal of student interest in speech classes."
Berquist, who has been a visiting part-time professor at the College since 1989, said he has seen the popularity of speech courses increase.
"Speech classes are elective, but every term, there has been more enrollment than what we can handle," Berquist said.
"Many Dartmouth students need help with arguing and presenting material before a group of listeners," he said.
Twelve to 15 students were turned away from speech classes this term.
The Board of Trustees approved a faculty vote in June 1979 dissolving the Speech Department. Since then, speech courses have been offered through the Office of Speech.
