UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 27, Page 2
April 14, 1994
Senior thesis course format more restructured

     Faculty directing the research of degree with distinction and honors
degree candidates in 1994-95 will benefit from a more structured senior
thesis course format that has been designed by a charter Board of Senior
Thesis Readers, commissioned by the University Committee on Student and
Faculty Honors (UCSFH).
     Both student and faculty evaluations of the senior thesis experience
have decided there is a need to build a sense of intellectual community
among the seniors who are writing theses, according to Joan Bennett,
coordinator of undergraduate research for the Honors Program and member of
the UCSFH. As a result, the core of the new structure involves the creation
of research groups for thesis writers.
     These small groups of about four students, in the same or similar
disciplines, will present their on-going research to one another at
informal meetings each semester.
     The group meetings will be facilitated by the faculty member who will
serve as third reader for each member of the group.
     In addition to facilitating research group meetings, faculty on the
newly constituted Board of Senior Thesis Readers will evaluate and provide
feedback to the candidates on their preliminary and final thesis proposals,
provide sessions on how to prepare a research presentation and offer
information on how to apply to graduate school.
     Students will attend a fall convocation and spring award ceremony.
     All events will take place during a two-hour time slot that will be
reserved for UNIV 401 and 402. In the fall, this will take place on Mondays
from 3:35 to 5:30 p.m. All candidates will have an opportunity to present
their finished work at the May Undergraduate Research Symposium.
     Members of the 1994-95 Board of Senior Thesis Readers are Avron
Abraham, physical education; Pamela Beeman, nursing; Robert Bennett,
English; Stuart Binder-McLeod, physical therapy; Kenneth Campbell,
psychology; Michael Chajes, civil engineering; James Dean, English; Ralph
Ferretti and Roberta Golinkoff, educational studies; Susan Groh, chemistry
and biochemistry; Marion Hyson, individual and family studies; Bernard
Kaplan, English; Michael Keefe, mechanical engineering; Nancy King, honors
program; Alexander Lehrman and Judy McInnis, foreign languages and
literatures; Robin Morgan, animal science; Harold White, chemistry and
biochemistry; Danilo Yanich, urban affairs.
     For additional information about the new thesis course requirements,
call 831-8995.