The College's education department, which was nearly eliminated two years ago, is currently searching for a new professor to help restructure and revitalize the department.
George Wolford, associate dean of faculty for the social sciences, said the search for a full professor to assist in the rebuilding of the department is "very near to ending."
"In a few weeks, we may very well have a new person," Wolford said. But he said the new professor will not become a part of the faculty until next July.
"There is a clear commitment to build and renew the department," Education Department Chair Robert Binswanger wrote in an electronic-mail message.
The department has been on shaky ground since an internal faculty review committee recommended its termination in April 1993.
The following year, the Dean of the Faculty's Office decided to keep the department, provided that it became less pre-professional and more in tune with a liberal arts curriculum.
Wolford said the department "has had a troubled history for a variety of reasons" including a lack of cohesion between courses.
"It's been a tense couple of years," he said.
Courtney Bell '96, who is pursuing a special major in education, said, "The administration didn't think it was focused. Professors would teach what they were specialized in, which didn't help the coherence of the department."
But Wolford said the department has recently tightened its curriculum, added new personnel and better integrated teacher-training into classes.
"Individual courses have always been good, but they fit together much better now. There is more structure," he said.
Many students find education courses to be a very valuable part of their educational experience, Wolford said, adding that student interest helped prompt the rebuilding effort.
Bell said the department has recently hired three new faculty members, indicating a "nonverbal commitment to the department and its future."
"People feel very strongly about the department," Bell said. "It would be a tragedy if [the administration] got rid of it."
