University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 15, Dec. 19, 1996
Award recipient: William Harris recognized for student advisement

     Mention advising to Will Harris, assistant professor of
economics, and he discusses conversations with parents and
meetings with prospective students. To the 1996 recipient of the
University's excellence-in-advising award, guidance is given to
more than the traditional undergraduate student, and the topics
are not restricted to academic issues.
     "There was a father I dealt with recently," he recalled. "He
called and talked about his first child going to college, and he
was probably more nervous than the student. To be able to work
with him, send information, answer questions and get a letter of
thanks back, that was particularly rewarding."
     Harris arrived at the University in 1983. His wife, Lydia,
who teaches economics at Goucher College in Towson, Md., taught
at UD and suggested her husband inquire about a position.
     In 1994, after teaching for several years in the UD Honors
Program, he was appointed as the economics department's
undergraduate program adviser and an assistant professor.
     Primarily Harris teaches the large, introductory sections in
macro and micro economics to students whose majors and interests
vary greatly.
     "I call it a 'mass of humanity,' many of whom are in the
courses as reluctant volunteers. They're mostly students whose
curricula require one or both of the courses. It's a real
challenge, since they are very different in ability and
motivation," he said.
     Harris' research focuses on applied macro economics using
supply and demand to analyze price and output in individual
markets. His papers range from one detailing the economic effects
of rule changes in football to another on the relationships among
tort law, liabilities and lotteries.
     Through the department's advisement program, he works with
undergrads, and increasingly with parents as well, to get the
students to meet their degree requirements and graduate. The
earliest stage of advisement occurs through involvement with
students before they enter the University. Later, he helps
freshmen and sophomores who want to major in economics with their
schedules.
     He also deals with foreign students, those considering
changes of major and students pursuing double majors.
     Harris sends congratulatory letters to non-economics majors
who earn an A or B in his introductory courses, and he invites
them to talk with him about considering economics as a major.
     There is a high degree of satisfaction in the combination of
teaching, research and advising. Each, Harris explained, has its
own special rewards.
     "It's satisfying when I get a letter from a student thanking
me for help and encouragement," he said. "I've been to three
weddings of former students. Some met in my class. I've advised
some who aren't even economics majors.
     "In line with President Roselle's thinking, we want to make
accommodations for parents. If we can save one semester of a
parent's tuition and a student's time, because we are providing
high quality and proper advising, then we have done them a
tremendous service."
     Those who have benefited from his help let him know. A stack
of correspondence is in a bulging manila folder on his desk. One
handwritten note, filled with thankful comments and praising his
advice, from a member of the Class of 1996, ended with: "I don't
need a recommendation. I really mean what I wrote."
                                               -Ed Okonowicz