Access to syllabi would help students make informed decisions when registering for classes; the often-minimal course descriptions provided on the course offerings website cannot fully capture the range of study in any course. A detailed reading list would offer unique insight into the content of a course and help students decide what interests them the most. In addition, it is not uncommon for two or more courses to have similar course descriptions. Having syllabi available during the course selection period would allow students to determine which of these classes is right for them.
Moreover, access to syllabi would let students judge the rigor of their course load when scheduling. Especially for new courses with no former students to consult, this kind of information would allow students to make better decisions. In addition, knowledge of the date and format of midterms, finals and Dean’s Date assignments would help students balance their testing and paper-writing schedules when they select courses. Many schools, including Yale and Harvard, publish finals schedules before students sign up for courses.
When students make better decisions about their courses, they are less likely to drop a class once the add/drop period begins. If syllabi were made available during course selection, the add/drop period would be less stressful for students, who would be less likely to make last-minute changes to their schedules. This change would also allow professors to start off the year with a more numerically stable and interested group of students.
This proposal would be relatively easy for the faculty to implement. For most courses, which are regularly offered, syllabi would require few revisions. For professors teaching new classes, the task would be more difficult. But many professors already prepare a syllabus when proposing a new course. Even if a professor provided students with an old or tentative syllabus, including a list of the topics covered each week and the number of papers and tests, undergraduates would be better served than if they had no information at all. Ultimately, the concerns about extra work for faculty under this policy are relatively small and are far outweighed by the benefits for students. The faculty and administration should strongly consider this proposal.
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Princeton, don’t budge on Title IX
Charlie YaleTrump’s changes to Title IX signal more dire attacks on education are to come in the future. Princeton has a responsibility to do everything it can to prevent them.
Trump’s changes to Title IX signal more dire attacks on education are to come in the future. Princeton has a responsibility to do everything it can to prevent them.
In case you haven’t noticed, the target is already on our back
Isaac BarsoumIf I could say anything to the University about this, here is what it would be: when there is a target on your back, you do not stand still and wait for the arrow to strike. You put on a bulletproof vest, hunker down into a foxhole, and fire back.
If I could say anything to the University about this, here is what it would be: when there is a target on your back, you do not stand still and wait for the arrow to strike. You put on a bulletproof vest, hunker down into a foxhole, and fire back.
Bring back Princeton’s pharmacy
Callisto LimThe current prescription solutions available to us as Princeton students do not fully meet our needs. As students, our energy should be dedicated to our academic pursuits, not trying to figure out where you can pick up medicine or filling out paperwork to get it. Princeton is in a position to not only support their students’ physical health at a baseline level, but demonstrate care and respect for their identities and needs as a matter of principle.
