In his annual report to the faculty of the arts and sciences at yesterday's faculty meeting, Dean of the Faculty Jim Wright unveiled a new proposal to address some of the College's "more pressing" academic space problems.
He proposed several building renovations and the relocation of some academic departments and programs.
Wright also affirmed the College's commitment to recruiting and maintaining a diverse faculty.
College President James Freedman appraised the faculty of information concerning last weekend's Trustees meeting, reported on the Will to Excel Campaign and discussed admissions statistics.
The meeting, which was the second gathering of the faculty this term, was held in Alumni Hall of the Hopkins Center for the Performing Arts. Approximately 60 members of the faculty attended.
Wright said the proposal was a short-term, cost-effective plan devised by the Dean of the Faculty's office to "more aggressively respond to as many space problems as we can."
Some of the provisions of the proposal could be done immediately, Wright said, while others need to wait.
Wright said it "may be reasonable" for all of the aspects of the proposal to be completed within six years.
The cost of all the renovations outlined in the plan could total "in the neighborhood of $25 million," Wright said.
The complex proposal includes the construction of the new psychology building on Maynard Street as planned, and the demolition of Bradley and Gerry Halls.
The psychology department would move out of its current locations in Silsby and Gerry Halls. Then, following a renovation of Silsby, the geography and anthropology departments would move into Silsby.
Carpenter Hall, vacated by the anthropology department, would available for use by a yet unnamed department, and Fairchild Hall, which the geography department would vacate, would be renovated to house some of the mathematics department.
The earth science and environmental studies departments would move into Steel Hall, following a renovation of that building.
Wright's proposal also included several provisions for the possible relocations of some academic programs, including Native American studies and Asian studies.
In the coming months, Wright said the College would work to identify possible fundraising sources for various aspects of the plan.
In the meantime, Wright said, the proposal "has not been discussed or approved" but for now "we have a proposal for all of us to consider."
If the faculty and the Trustees decide to support the proposal, it would replace the College's current plan to shift the locations of many departments and programs. The College has been using this plan since 1990.
Provisions of the current plan include the construction of the new psychology building, the demolition of Bradley and Gerry and the relocation of the Mathematics department.
The current plan does not specifically state where the mathematics department would be located.
Both the new proposal and the current plan call for the demolition of Bradley and Gerry in order to create adequate space for the Berry expansion of Baker Library, scheduled to be completed in 2000.
Also at yesterday's faculty meeting, Wright discussed the College's commitment to maintaining a diverse faculty.
Saying that affirmative action "has not been a burden," Wright said recruiting a diverse faculty is not simply a goal to be temporarily pursued, but "must be regular and ongoing."
Freedman opened the meeting by summarizing the recent business of the Board of Trustees. The Trustees were in Hanover for their quarterly meeting this past weekend.
Freedman told the faculty that the Trustees approved a 5 percent tuition hike for next year -- the lowest rate of tuition raise at the College since 1966. The total cost of tuition, room and board and mandatory fees will increase by just 4.4 percent, Freedman said.
He also told the faculty that the Board approved Dean of the College Lee Pelton's "Dartmouth Experience" plan, which centers around the conversion of the East Wheelock cluster into a "supercluster" -- a mixed-class residence cluster with a faculty associate, a cluster dean and space to accommodate educational and social programs -- by Fall term.
Freedman praised the supercluster, adding "we hope that over the next decade we will find a way to extend that to other residence halls as well."
In addition, Freedman updated the faculty on the progress of the Will to Excel Capital Campaign, which will officially close on Oct. 7. The campaign has thus far raised $470 million of its $500 million goal.
In the admissions report, Freedman said applications to the College for the Class of 2000 totaled 11,300, up from 10,000 for the Class of 1999. It is the sixth straight year applications have increased.
Furthermore, Freedman said, the 11.3 percent rise in applications from last year to this year is the highest increase in applications to any of the schools the College compares itself to, including the other Ivy League schools, Amherst College, Duke University and Stanford University.
