The Triangle

Issue date: 6/5/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Francesca Martelli

Drexel Provost Mark Greenberg appointed Dave Jones, the acting interim dean of the Pennoni Honors College, its official dean.

Jones will be responsible for the leadership of the college, which encompasses the Honors Program, Study Abroad, Center for Civic Engagement, the University Writing Program, the STAR research program and "The Smart Set" journal.

"To me, the dean's job is to give an overall direction and focus to the Honors College and make sure that all of the college subunits work coherently toward that goal," Jones said. "I was pleased to be appointed as the dean because it broadens the goals that I can set to include long-term objectives."

While Honors faculty and students received notice of the official appointment via e-mail from Greenberg and Jones, some students felt that the decision was made abruptly and that they were not well-informed.

"I know there's a new dean, but I don't know anything about him. I feel like [the administration] didn't try to let us know about their decisions. As students, we have a right to know our administration and should have had a voice in the decision of the dean," Lekhaj Daggubati, a freshman biology major and honors student, said.

Jones has invited students to become more involved in the college by bringing up concerns and suggestions and personally talking to the Honors faculty and administration.

"My door is rarely closed," Jones said.

Jones describes the Pennoni Honors College as a means to enhance the educational experience of Drexel's most talented students through both academic courses and non-academic events.

"Because [Dr. Greenberg] has left the College in excellent shape, the ancient physicians' motto 'First do no harm' comes to mind," Jones said. "At the same time, I hope to expand the Honors College activities and strengthen the academic aspects of the college to better enhance our students' education."

During his time as the interim dean, Jones has acted on his vision to include a greater variety in the Honors colloquia courses and make them more engaging.

For example, over the past term the Honors College offered a short course on inauguration speeches and sponsored a trip to Washington, D.C. to observe President Barack Obama's inauguration speech. The College is also offering a course on emerging democracies that will end with a trip to Bulgaria, a developing democracy.

However, some Honors students said the program needs to be altered in order to really enhance the student experience and justify the program as "honors."

"Right now the Honors program forces students to go to two events, but after that, it doesn't affect us. The prestige of the Honors College should be more than just a lounge," Sonia Abichandani, a freshman biology major and Honors student, said.

Rohil Shekher, another Honors freshman in biology, agreed.

"There [needs] to be more interesting events and outright communication. It seems that the Honors College relies on word-of-mouth to publicize its events; that should be changed," Shekher said.

Jones said while the Pennoni Honors College weekly newsletter was developed to ensure communication between the college and its students, the administration will look at other ways to publicize events and get students more involved.

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