Second in a five-part series

At one time, the college’s motto was “Educating Professionals in a Liberal Arts Tradition.”

The college is now redirecting its focus to liberal education with a professional edge, said Peter Bardaglio, provost and vice president of academic affairs.

As part of this new focus, programs that cross several majors or schools are receiving greater emphasis, but some students who have benefited from the traditional professionally oriented structure at the college are wary of the idea.

Faculty members have long worked with those in other disciplines, and Bardaglio seeks to take interdisciplinary work to the next level and “lower the walls between the schools.”

This approach shows there isn’t just one way to look at an issue, said Tanya Saunders, assistant provost and dean of the Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies.

One of the strengths of the college is the individual schools, such as music and communication, but administrators also want to see dialogue among the schools.

President Peggy R. Williams said, “Certainly it’s OK to have walls, but the question is how do you connect with what’s on the other side?”

But some students are concerned that this might come at the expense of strong professional training.

Sophomore Kevin Powers, a cinema and photography major, said there should be some flexibility among the schools, but the current emphasis on strong pre-professional training is appropriate.

“I think they’re trying too hard,” he said. “I think it’s fine now.”

Saunders said interdisciplinary programs provide students with opportunities to make connections across disciplines and prepares them for a lifetime of learning.

She said the college will continue with its traditional programs, but at the same time will communicate about its new interdisciplinary programs.

“No one wants to throw the baby out with the bath water, but no college can survive without change,” Saunders said. “Just as you renew your equipment, you renew your intellectual environment.”

Arthur E. Ostrander, dean of the School of Music, said his school must maintain its high standards to remain an accredited music school but it can still work with other schools to create quality interdisciplinary programs.

“It has to be understood, we primarily offer a music school training,” he said. “But we’re very interested in interdisciplinary work.”

Ostrander said one of the college’s oldest interdisciplinary programs involves the music school: Musical theater is housed in the theater department, but students take one-third of their classes in the music school.

Interdisciplinary work is part of a continuing trend in higher education. For example, at Brown University all students are encouraged to design their own interdisciplinary majors. The University of Pennsylvania is testing a small group of students in a more interdisciplinary curriculum, and many colleges are establishing interdisciplinary schools or divisions. The college stands neither ahead nor behind the trend, Saunders said.

The college’s Institutional Plan focuses on establishing academic experiences that cross school boundaries — recent proposals for a core experience and an all-college honors program are two examples.

The establishment of the Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies in Fall 2002 fulfills one academic goal in the Institutional Plan. The plan states that the college would also like to explore the establishment of interdisciplinary graduate programs between schools and encourage students to take interdisciplinary courses as part of a core experience.

In addition to long-standing interdisciplinary programs offered through the schools, new programs have been created through the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies. Recent additions include African New World studies, Jewish studies and Culture and Communications.

John Krout, professor of gerontology and director of the Gerontology Institute, said he has seen the college develop a more formal emphasis on interdisciplinary work during his 10 years at the college. Gerontology was originally a program within the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance but became one of the college’s original interdisciplinary programs because the various aspects of aging could not be easily confined to one field.

The institute is now housed within the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies. Krout said because the division is so new, it will take a while for it to establish its presence on campus.

“We have a whole culture and history of looking at academic learning as school-based,” he said.

Krout said the college cannot forget its strong schools, but faculty and students should also be educated about the value of interdisciplinary programs.

Saunders said she sees interdisciplinary programs as a way to prepare students for a future in which they may be required to work in a variety of fields.

She said she would eventually like to see a building that would provide a space to focus on interdisciplinary and international issues.

But, she said, the primary focus will be on providing quality programs to students.

This is the second in a five-part series examining the future of Ithaca College. Next week’s story will focus on the college’s efforts toward campus diversity.

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