The Tripod

My name is Verdell Walker and I am the 2007-2008 Academic Affairs Committee Chair. The purpose of my committee is to oversee all affairs related to the academic life of this college.

I became the chair of this committee because I am concerned with the academic climate of this campus. I firmly believe that we attend one of the premier institutions of education in the world. I want the academic power of Trinity to be a prime focus of the way we present ourselves to the world, especially prospective applicants. While our athletic and other non-academic achievements are important and laudable, the most important part of Trinity transpires within its classrooms. But I want to see that academic excellence and engagement expand beyond the classrooms and library. I want to see students take it to their dorms, to the dinner table in Mather, to the couches in Gallows Hill.

In my eyes, my duty is to provide the structure, support, and framework for this intellectual transcendence to take root here at Trinity. I want to make sure that every student here at Trinity has what he or she needs to make the most of their four years and fashion the best possible education that can be attained.

I have several goals for my committee this academic year. First, I believe that a key way to increase Trinity's academic prestige is to groom more students to apply for prestigious graduate fellowships like the Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships. This does more than add glossy facts to Trinity's brochures. A formal program that prepares students to compete for these and other fellowships can help students focus their time here, both inside and outside of the classroom, on a concrete goal, which can be immensely important for freshmen and sophomores who are trying to find direction here. It also provides the opportunity for students to take their education to the next level.

I want to make sure that students with learning disabilities have the resources and support they need to succeed academically at Trinity.

I would like to see library hours extended so that students can have more space to work in, even at later hours.

I want to see the creation of an E (electronic) transcript to appear alongside the formal credit transcript that lists student participation in internships, community and cultural groups, independent work, etc. This transcript, a recommendation of the committee on campus climate, is intended to highlight a student's contributions to the intellectual and cultural life of Trinity, Hartford, and the world.

This list is by no means exhaustive. Other issues are bound to crop up during the year. My committee and I are ready, willing, and able to meet them. We are of course open to suggestions from the student body, the population we serve. I consider myself to be first and foremost your servant, and it is my sincere desire to work for the good of the entire student body. I want to hear from you. If there are issues that you would like to see addressed, do not hesitate to e-mail me or any of the members of my committee (Andrea Wise, Tracy Wright, Remy Renault).

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to a fruitful year.

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