April 28, 2009

To: Lucie Schmidt, Chair of Faculty Steering Committee

From: Ollie Beaver, Chair, Winter Study Committee

Subject: End of the year report on the Winter Study Committee

During the academic year 2008-09 the Winter Study Committee engaged in the routine activities of reading proposals for 99s, travel courses and regular January courses. The Committee approved 205 students for off-campus international travel (155 on College-sponsored travel courses; 50 on off-campus 99s). Additionally, 97 students were off-campus on domestic travel (8 on College-sponsored travel courses; the balance doing 99s). In the category of travel courses, 13 were approved; 1 cancelled. In the category of 99s, there were 133 off-campus 99s and 52 on-campus 99s. In total, 153 courses were approved by the WSP committee. Subsequently, were cancelled. Of the 133 winter study courses left on the books (including travel courses), 78 were taught by adjuncts or members of the Williams staff; 55 were taught by regular faculty.

In addition to vetting proposals, the Committee continued to monitor the proposal processes and giving guidance to faculty, students and adjuncts regarding what the Committee expects of good proposals. For the past several years, the Committee has emphasized the need for “intellectual content” in Winter Study courses. This has been particularly true for 99s. Since there is no appeal process for students whose 99s have been denied, it is particularly important that students and their prospective faculty advisors are very clear about how to mount an acceptable proposal. To help in the process, last year the Committee completely revised both the faculty and the student proposal forms in hopes of providing better guidance and direction. Additionally, as has become a tradition, in the fall and in the spring, the Chair, the Coordinator of Experiential Education and the Reference Librarian coordinated a gathering for students wanting to do 99s. These meetings with students gave the Committee the chance to offer advice on how to write a good 99 proposal and to stress the importance of the “intellectual content” component of 99s.

As has also become a tradition, early in January, the WS Committee invited adjunct instructors to a social gathering to welcome them to campus. A good number of adjunct instructors came and expressed appreciation for meeting members of the WS Committee.

The Winter Study Committee would especially like to thank Barbara Casey whose sound advice, remarkable institutional memory, dedication, energy, good judgment and cheer are invaluable to WSP.

• Ollie Beaver, Chair
• Barbara Casey
• Paula Consolini
• Peter Drivas ‘11
• Lori DuBois
• Allison Gardner ‘10
• Larry Kaplan
• Sara LaLumia
• Muhammad Liaquat ‘11
• Jonathathan Morgan-Leamon
• Nathan Sanders
• Adrian Zackheim ‘09