We celebrate the holidays together, we watch out for each other 's children, we help each other whenever we can. Having a close-knit community is not something that happens easily in Los Angeles. Daily interaction with students is the norm, with a requirement of at least 12 hours of contact a week. So faculty attend everything from a celebration of Chinese New Year with lessons on dumpling-making to a casual chat over a sizzling barbeque grill to a lively forum on the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana. On a recent Tuesday evening, Farnoaga dashed to four different events, including a forum with Chancellor Albert Carnesale and a valentine-making workshop.
Students find out that faculty are real people.
Participants' stay on the hill is limited to three years, which can be extended if they reapply each year in a competitive process. The longest-serving faculty member, Robert Stevenson, an ethnomusicologist and renowned pianist who enjoys staging the annual student holiday talent show, is spending his 27th year in the program. Among the newest members is Professor of Electrical Engineering Chand Viswanathan, this year's energetic chair of the Academic Senate. After serving for many years in a professional capacity in the Senate and department, Viswanathan was curious about this role, especially since teaching undergraduates always delighted him. It 's a parental instinct to want to see them grow and develop.