Fidler enthusiastic about future of Honors Tutorial College

Dean Ann Fidler discussed her vision for the Honors Tutorial College. This is part of an Outlook series giving deans an opportunity to share their thoughts with the Ohio University community. Fidler's complete interview can be found in the Fall 2002 edition of Ohio Today.

On using her experience:

Since my arrival at Ohio University, I have taught hundreds of students and they, in turn, have instructed me. One of the significant things I learned is how well all undergraduates, not just Honors Tutorial College students, respond when challenged academically. If you find ways to inspire them through the material that you select and the way in which you present it ‹ if you make it clear that you respect them ‹ they will work very hard for you and achieve considerable personal satisfaction in the process. A commitment to providing inspiration, to demonstrating respect for students and to insisting on high academic standards is as important to the dean's position as it is to classroom instruction.

On her vision:

The Honors Tutorial College is a remarkable academic institution, and my primary concern as dean is to ensure that it possesses the resources necessary to sustain its unique mission. These resources range from the most pragmatic, such as adequate instructional funding, to the more abstract, such as a student culture that fosters leadership and a concern for integrity. I also have ambitions to make the College a more integral part of the life of the University, as a resource center for academic excellence among professors and talented students in other colleges. Because of the size of the faculty at Ohio University, it often is difficult to find forums in which scholars in different disciplines can interact and share the joys and frustrations that arise from their work. The Honors Tutorial College can potentially enrich the intellectual lives of professors by bringing them together to debate and discuss vital ideas of interest to anyone concerned with the pursuit of knowledge.

Honors Tutorial College unveils anthropology program of study Seeking to conduct research while living among Ecuadorian natives? Hoping to learn the secrets behind Ohio's ancient burial mounds? High school students interested in the study of the human condition can now answer these and more questions by majoring in anthropology through Ohio University's Honors Tutorial College. The new four-year program will allow students to explore the discipline through in-depth tutorials, language and collateral studies. Individuals with an anthropology background are able to work for colleges and universities, museums and a variety of local, state and federal agencies, among other careers. "The first year is grounded in many issues fundamental to anthropology - human evolution, political issues in archaeology and cultural theory," said Assistant Professor of Anthropology Steve Rubenstein. "The second year, however, offers us the chance to spend a year exploring the most cutting-edge issues and reading some really great books." While not required, it is strongly recommended that the program's students study abroad. This experience, said Rubenstein, may prove a vital component of a student's experience in anthropology and the Honors Tutorial College. Given the anthropology faculty's travels, HTC students will no doubt undertake many off-the-beaten-path projects. Though the tutorial program is so new, Rubenstein reports that several incoming first-year students have already expressed interest in the anthropology major.

Likewise, I want the College to reach out to academically talented students in other colleges and provide them with opportunities for intellectual development and camaraderie. To this end the College recently helped to form a group made up of the administrators of scholars programs at Ohio University. The purpose of this group is to find ways to encourage interaction between students, and to share information and resources. With the assistance of Joe Burke, director of residence life, the all scholars group is currently formulating the guidelines for a residence hall that would house students from HTC, the Copeland Scholars, the Stocker Scholars, the Templeton-Scholars, the Cutler Scholars and the College of Communications Scholars.

On the College's strengths:

The strengths of the College reside in two components: the students and the faculty who serve as directors of study and tutors. The students are simply extraordinary. They are bright, creative, generous and in love with learning. Their dedication and enthusiasm for the College must be experienced to be believed. They energize and inspire everyone who works at 35 Park Place. The directors of study, professors responsible for ensuring that students admitted to the 26 programs of study receive a meaningful academic experience, are another critical element of the success of the College. Their concern for their students is exemplary, often going far beyond the call of duty. They begin as academic advisers and end up as mentors, role models and, in some instances, lifelong friends. The hundreds of professors across the University who serve as tutors also make it possible for the College to complete its unique academic mission. Their generosity and commitment to educating Honors Tutorial students demonstrate the dedication of Ohio University's faculty to the pursuit of quality undergraduate education.

On the College's challenges:

As with all academic units, there is the constant challenge of trying to adjust to budget reductions while maintaining the pursuit of fundamental ambitions. Fortunately, the generosity of our alumni has enabled us to keep moving ahead, particularly in the realm of scholarship funding. Another area of concern relates to the integration of substantial numbers of new faculty who have been hired over the past five years. The presence of these young scholars makes Ohio University an exciting place to be, and introducing them to the mission of the College and the manner in which it operates is essential to our continued success. But the vital task of incorporating these faculty members has placed additional strains on the College staff and directors of study. Unlike dealing with budget cuts, however, the challenge of bringing new faculty members into the orbit of the College is a rewarding expenditure of time.