These questions suggest that we need to step back and view the Carleton education through a wider lens. At the same time, we would like to encourage our students to become more deliberate about their own educations, develop a clearer sense of their abilities, and achieve a level of independence that will well prepare them for the future. This will demand that a balance be struck between structure and freedom. The following recommendations are intended to be the first steps toward organizing our academic program to achieve our purposes more effectively. There has been widespread expression of the need for stronger and more systematic oversight of the curriculum.
Tensions exist among departments and concentrations and programs over annual course offerings.
Occasionally questions are even raised about the viability of certain interdisciplinary programs in light of their dependence on a small core of faculty members. We believe there needs to be more coordination and communication among all groups concerned with curricular matters. Although details would be worked out in discussions next year, we envision a body that would take considerable responsibility for weighing needs, setting priorities, and ensuring that our curriculum reflects stated educational goals. The subcommittee's responsibilities might include making recommendations about new majors and new programs, helping to work out staffing and curricular details of existing majors and programs, providing advice about the viability of majors and programs, and recommending allocation of faculty positions. This standing subcommittee would act as an advisory body to the Dean of the College in the same way the FPC advises the Dean and the President on faculty personnel matters.