Massachusetts Vol. XVII No. 5 Institute of May/June 2005 Technology

MITFaculty http://web.mit.edu/fnl Newsletter

this issue features outgoing Faculty Chair Rafael Bras’ “Back to the Future” (page 3); Dr. Ed Seldin’s experiences caring for victims of the tsunami, “Mission to Banda Aceh” (page 12); “The Purpose of Poetry” by John Hildebidle (page 16); and what the faculty think about their updated lunch program, “Survey Says” by Lydia Snover (page 18).

Provost Responds to International Students Professor Postol’s and Scholars: A Legacy Lorna Gibson New Allegations for MIT and the U.S. Chair of the Faculty Robert A. Brown Alice P. Gast Newsletter Staff

IN ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN the THE UNITED STATES PRESENTLY PROFESSOR LORNA J. GIBSON will January/February and March/April 2005 enjoys a system of higher education that begin a two-year term as Chair of the issues of the Faculty Newsletter,Professor is the envy of the world. This premier Faculty on June 15, 2005. Professor Theodore A. Postol described his criti- position allows us to attract the most tal- Gibson is the Matoula S. Salapatas cisms of MIT’s review of allegations he ented, most driven and highly motivated Professor of Materials Science and made of scientific fraud involving international students and scholars in the Engineering and holds joint appoint- research at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. I am world. We benefit from the presence of ments in the Department of Mechanical writing to inform the faculty about some these students and scholars in myriad Engineering and the Department of Civil of these issues and to correct some of the ways. These benefits can be difficult to and Environmental Engineering. most important errors or misunderstand- quantify; in this brief analysis, we use the Lorna was raised in Niagara Falls, ings in those articles. perspective of MIT’s experience over the Ontario, home of both tacky tourist traps First, it is important to understand past 150 years to evaluate the contribu- as well as some remarkable civil engineer- that MIT has not put a stop to the investi- tions that our international student and ing works: several bridges across the gation of the allegations. To the contrary, scholar population makes to us and to Niagara River, observation towers near in early December 2004, Dr. Vest issued a our nation. the Falls, as well as the canals, reservoir, statement, reported in The Tech, citing the and penstocks associated with the hydro- reasons for the delay in the investigation A Century of International Students electric power station. Growing up, her stage of MIT’s review and noting that we MIT has welcomed international students mother thought that she and her two continue to seek the approval needed so essentially since its inception; the first brothers should know what factories were that we may carry out the investigation. student from Canada came to MIT in like, and organized family field trips to the [See page 6 for text of Dr. Vest’s statement.] 1866, the second year MIT offered classes. Nabisco cereal factory in Niagara Falls, to continued on page 6 continued on page19 continued on page 5 contents The MIT Faculty Vol. XVII No. 5 May/June 2005 Newsletter Editorial Board

01 Provost Responds to Professor Postol’s Allegations Alice Amsden Robert A. Brown Urban Studies and Planning Jeanne S. Bamberger 01 International Students and Scholars: Music and Theater Arts A Legacy for MIT and the U.S. John Belcher Alice P. Gast Physics Nazli Choucri 01 Lorna Gibson New Chair of the Faculty Political Science Newsletter Staff Erik Demaine Electrical Engineering & Computer Science From The 03 Back to the Future Olivier de Weck Faculty Chair Rafael L. Bras Aeronautics & Astronautics/Engineering Systems Ernst G. Frankel Letters 04 Academic Expectations Ocean Engineering Ernst G. Frankel Stephen C. Graves Management Science and Engineering Systems Teach Talk 08 Strengthening TA Training *Jean E. Jackson Lori Breslow and Cindy Dernay Tervalon Anthropology 10 Faculty Mentor Program: *Gordon Kaufman Management Science and Statistics A Growing Sucess Daniel S. Kemp 11 Advising and Mentoring of Undergraduates Chemistry J. Mark Schuster and Hazel Sive Samuel J. Keyser Linguistics & Philosophy 12 Mission to Banda Aceh: Jonathan King Excerpts from a Journal Biology Edward B. Seldin Stephen J. Lippard Chemistry MITPoetry 15 Summer Without Summering; Slave Huts, Bonaire David H. Marks Teresa Cader Civil and Environmental Engineering *Fred Moavenzadeh 16 The Purpose of Poetry Civil and Environmental Engineering John Hildebidle Ronald Prinn Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences M.I.T. Numbers 17 Have you ever considered leaving MIT David Thorburn for the following reasons? (% Yes) Literature [from the 2004 Faculty Survey] George Verghese Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 18 Survey Says: Faculty Approve Updated Lunch Program Rosalind H. Williams STS and Writing Lydia Snover Kathryn A. Willmore 22 Alumni Attitudes and Involvement Vice President and Secretary of the Corporation Elizabeth Garvin David Lewis Managing Editor 23 Launch of New “Giving to MIT” Website *Editorial Sub-Committee for this issue M.I.T. Numbers 24 Tenure and Promotion: Percent Who Somewhat or Address Strongly Agree (by Tenure Status) MIT Faculty Newsletter [from the 2004 Faculty Survey] Bldg. 11-268 Cambridge, MA 02139 Website http://web.mit.edu/fnl

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2 MIT Faculty Newsletter May/June 2005

From The Faculty Chair Rafael L. Bras Back to the Future

IT IS THE YEAR 2061, and MIT is sional engineering degree is now the support that the measure received once preparing to celebrate the two-hundredth Masters. All first-year graduate students the electronic voting was completed. anniversary of its founding. President are now supported by fellowships That experience inspired her to get Patricia Arroyo, past winner of the managed by the School. involved in faculty governance. The fol- National Academy of Engineering’s MIT faculty are still working incredibly lowing year she put her name forward as a Charles Draper Prize for innovation in long hours. Nevertheless the housing candidate to the Standing Committee on engineering and technology and former program, providing incentives to live close International Relationships. She was presidential science advisor, is reviewing to campus, helps eliminate the wasted and delighted when she was elected. historical material in her office; naturally, aggravating commuting time for many. It By that time, 2036, she felt comfortable it’s all digitized. has been amazing how this influx into the and secure as a woman of color faculty MIT is doing very well. It remains the Cambridge area has also resulted in an member at MIT. The faculty was then foremost university with focus on science improvement of the city and its school nearly 50 percent women and 25 percent and technology in the world. The empha- system; we always knew these things were formerly “underrepresented minorities.” sis is on university. The educational connected. In fact, the mixed use – com- It was hard to imagine how it must have commons revision of 2006 set in motion a mercial, dormitories and faculty housing been when the first woman president of series of fundamental changes in the cur- – of the renovated University Park has MIT, Susan Hockfield, took office on riculum that blurred the distinction been an extraordinary success. Needless to December 6th of 2004. President Arroyo between science and engineering and say, the integrated child-care facilities, was not even born at that point! What a integrated social sciences and humanities modeled after the most successful part of thrill it must have been for all of those into a new liberal science and engineering the recently replaced Stata Center, go a involved. education. The Institute’s financial long way toward improving the quality of Patricia had read about the search strength has made our need blind admis- life of the faculty. process that led to Hockfield’s selection. It sion policy for undergraduates even more Along with its international partners, was a model of collaboration among all generous. “Self help” has been eliminated, MIT has aggressively pursued the better- stakeholders: students, staff, faculty, and so students with financial aid no longer ment of education and well-being in trustees. She read about Friedman, the have an academic disadvantage by having less-developed countries. Technology Nobel Prize winner, who led the Faculty to work during the week. MIT is finally and science are truly agents of change Advisory Committee. And Champy, the fully competitive with our peers in attract- and empowerment. MIT has come a ultimate volunteer, who led the ing the best minds to the student body. long way since its first OpenCourseware Corporation Committee on the MIT’s educational partners worldwide initiative. MIT’s ideas now help feed Presidency. She also heard of Mead, the are also enjoying the well defined, and those hungry for food, not only those then new Chairman of the Corporation, encouraged, student exchange programs. hungry for knowledge. who was key to making the process work. Students are truly becoming citizens of President Arroyo recalls fondly the And she read about Manning, Rizzoli, and the world. spirited and illuminating faculty meeting Bras, the officers of the faculty at the time. The Graduate School is providing debates that led to the adoption of the How did they come up with this unlikely improved services to our graduate stu- concept of international partners. She was trio of a woman and two (then) minori- dents and making sure that policies of then a new faculty member and was truly ties? They are all long gone, mostly forgot- recruitment and balance with undergrad- taken by the openness, honesty, and depth ten, but she knew they had fun. uate activities are followed. In fact, under- of the various arguments. Given all that Among the items found during the graduate/graduate education has become had transpired in the meeting, she was latest remodeling of her office, 3-208, were a seamless continuum. The first profes- really surprised at the overwhelming continued on next page

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Back to the Future from a talk I gave after 9/11/2001, entitled: ulate about how some of the events of my Bras, from preceding page “A Vision of the Future” (Strategies for tenure as Chair of the Faculty may affect Civil Engineering Research, ASCE the future (just in case you missed it!). It is a plastic pocket protector (how quaint) Conference and Exposition, October 10- nevertheless amazing that not only the presented to then President Hockfield; a 13, 2001, Houston, Texas). After I finished style, but also common themes appeared golden hammer inscribed with the name writing this article, Newsletter Managing in both pieces. I am honored to be in such Lorna Gibson, the then incoming Chair of Editor David Lewis called and pointed out youthful and inspired company. the Faculty (2005-2007), and a toilet the similarity with “MIT 2040,” the edito- Anyway, as the article says: we had fun; plunger painted in gold with reference to rial by Erik Demaine and Olivier de Weck, I had fun. Thank you very much for the some sort of award given to efficient staff. in the March/April 2005 Faculty opportunity to serve. It must all have been a private joke, she Newsletter.I had not yet read their piece, thought. They had fun. but upon doing so I agreed; the similarity Rafael L. Bras is a Professor, Civil and is eerie! The difference is that they were Environmental Engineering and Earth, Note: imagining a future, while I am playing a Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences; Faculty The style and idea for this article came back-to-the-future theme, trying to spec- Chair ([email protected]). letters

Academic Expectations

To The Faculty Newsletter: Faculty Club as a meaningful place of or divert incoming missiles, but actually assembly and socializing by faculty, to caused collateral damage on the ground. ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS ARE for various other administrative decisions At that time, Professor Postol also learning, exploration, research, and dis- that have changed the life and workings of reported on these failures, only to be criti- covery.They stand for open, free, and the institution. Even the faculty lunch cized by some members of the MIT unhindered search of the truth, and program that was established some years administration. disdain any overt or covert infringements ago is apparently under scrutiny now. Yet of such searches. These are the historic the most difficult issue to understand is My concern is the increasing gap between goals of academic institutions and, to a probably the failure of faculty to question administration and faculty. Whenever large extent, their reasons for being. the administration. faculty, and for that matter students, ques- tion the administration, few, if any, col- Traditionally, academic institutions The troubling silence by faculty that fol- leagues join the discussion. This is worse manage themselves and are administered lowed the repeated suggestions by than the environment in private industry by peers, among peers usually elected or Professor Theodore Postol to investigate or government. I worked many years for selected from among faculty. Their man- possible scientific fraud or cover-up at both and found a much greater freedom, agement is responsible to their faculty and Lincoln Laboratories relating to missiles is involvement, and mutual responsiveness. student constituents. Yet at MIT, the disturbing to me. I am not an expert on For me, these are ominous developments divide between faculty and administra- missile defense technology or missile that do not bode well for the future of aca- tion seems more pronounced, with physics, but I was in Israel during the first demic inquiry, research, and learning. faculty playing a declining role in the Gulf War when that country was attacked matters of the institution. There are many by Iraqi Scud missiles and the so-called Ernst G. Frankel issues that are examples of this trend, and U.S. Patriot missile defense shield so Professor Emeritus, they vary from the de facto closure of the abysmally failed not only to shoot down Ocean Engineering

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Lorna Gibson New Faculty Chair demic career would be more interesting porous, spongy type of bone that exists at continued from page 1 than consulting and got a faculty posi- the ends of the long bones and in the ver- tion at the Department of Civil tebrae) during osteoporosis; in estimat- the paper mill in nearby Thorold, to the Engineering at the University of British ing stress concentrations in the lung Ford plant outside of Toronto, and to Columbia in Vancouver in 1982. around local regions of stiffer tissue Kodak and Corning Glass in New York The move to Vancouver was also a (such as scar tissue or collapsed alveoli); State. When one of her former students welcome relief from winter in Calgary, in measuring and modeling the mechan- recently described the field trips he took where there were days when it was colder ical interactions between biological cells during IAP as part of the Leaders for in Calgary than in the Beaufort Sea in the such as fibroblasts and porous scaffolds Manufacturing Program’s national plant Arctic. At UBC she began to appreciate used in tissue engineering. tour (paper mill, auto plant, Kodak, Dell the real pleasures of an academic career: Lorna also has an interest in biomim- computer, Boeing…) she realized that her the independence in defining research icking, in applying the microstructural mother was way ahead of her time! projects and working on them with grad- features and mechanisms that lead to effi- cient materials and structures in nature to engineering design. In 1996 Lorna trans- Funding difficulties between the university and ferred to the Department of Materials the provincial government led her to look at Science and Engineering, as her research other academic positions, and when she was increasingly moved into the area of bio- offered a position at MIT in the Department of materials and biomechanics. Civil Engineering in 1984 she accepted (with MIT and Beyond some trepidation over what was expected of Lorna currently teaches graduate subjects junior faculty). on mechanical properties of materials as well as a service learning freshman seminar in which the students develop Career Choices uate students, as well as teaching and educational displays on natural materials Lorna was unsure of what career she was getting to know undergraduates. and structures for the Boston Nature interested in when she entered the Funding difficulties between the univer- Center and the Museum of Science. She University of Toronto and started by sity and the provincial government led has served on numerous committees at taking mainly science subjects. During her to look at other academic positions, the departmental, school, and Institute her first year, she realized that engineer- and when she was offered a position at levels. She served as Undergraduate ing was much more practical than MIT in the Department of Civil Officer in CEE, chaired the Committee on science, and being a practical person, Engineering in 1984 she accepted (with Women Faculty in the School of and wondering just how all those some trepidation over what was expected Engineering and has been on the Faculty bridges, towers, canals, reservoirs, and of junior faculty). Policy Committee for several years. penstocks in Niagara Falls worked, she Lorna lives in Jamaica Plain with her transferred into Civil Engineering. By Research partner, Jeannie Hess, and their chocolate the final year of her undergraduate Professor Gibson’s research focuses on Labrador, Toblerone (Tobes for short). studies, she had become interested in the the mechanical behavior of materials She commutes to MIT by bicycle along mechanical behavior of materials and with a porous, cellular structure: engi- the Emerald Necklace in the spring, decided to pursue a PhD in this field at neering honeycombs and foams as well summer, and fall, keeping an eye out for Cambridge University. On returning to as natural materials such as cork and wildlife along the way: she has seen deer Canada in 1981, she worked for about a wood. Her work in this area initially and coyote in the Arnold Arboretum, year for a consulting engineering focused on developing models for pre- albino squirrels near Jamaica Pond, and company in Calgary, Alberta that spe- dicting the mechanical properties of cel- blue herons nesting in the Forest Hills cialized in engineering in the Arctic. lular solids as well as methods for using Cemetery. Lorna also enjoys birding (she Projects at the company tended to be them in engineering applications. Over was delighted at the recent announcement very short term and she found that she the last 10 years, she has become inter- of sightings of the ivory-billed wood- was just getting into a project and ested in applying models for cellular pecker, long thought to be long gone), finding out what the issues were, when it solids to biomedical applications: in gardening (especially in the spring, when was time to move on to the next project. understanding the mechanical conse- it is at its most rewarding), and baking She then realized that perhaps an aca- quences of the loss of trabecular bone (a (especially for her friends).

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Provost Responds Brown, from page 1 On December 1, 2004, President Charles Vest issued the following statement to The Tech:

MIT has until now responded publicly Statement Regarding Alleged Scientific Misconduct to news reports about the review only by Integrity in research and scholarship is a bedrock principle of MIT, and we give serious confirming that it is underway, warning attention to allegations of violation of that principle. Furthermore, federal policy requires that that the existence of a review does not we conduct inquiries or investigations as appropriate when the integrity of research in feder- mean that it has been determined that sci- ally sponsored programs is questioned. entific misconduct occurred, emphasizing In this case, MIT has worked for nearly three years to meet this responsibility, but has that decisions can only be made once the been unsuccessful in obtaining access to classified materials essential to complete this facts are determined, and explaining why process. In early 2002, MIT commissioned an inquiry into the allegations, which, as has been earlier confidentiality is necessary for the reported, found that an investigation was warranted. Such a finding is not a determination that process. [MIT and applicable federal policies research misconduct occurred. Rather, an investigation was recommended to review issues emphasize the importance of maintaining that had been identified but could not be resolved during the preliminary inquiry. confidentiality during the course of the review As required by federal policy, the finding of the preliminary inquiry was reported to the of these kinds of allegations. Maintaining con- Missile Defense Agency, which then decided that all of the information relating to the allega- fidentiality helps avoid interference with the tions, including the report of the inquiry itself, had to be classified in order to protect national review process and protects the reputations of security. MIT has identified a panel of distinguished outside investigators, all of whom have those who raise allegations and those against appropriate security clearances, to conduct the investigation. However, we have not yet been whom allegations are made while the facts are successful in obtaining approval from the Missile Defense Agency to give them access to this being determined.] classified information. Without that access, the investigation cannot be conducted. We con- Because Professor Postol has already tinue to seek the approval needed so that the investigation can proceed. spoken publicly about these matters on several occasions, here I am providing this Professor Postol alleges that Lincoln the time they were brought, MIT’s vice information in order to correct statements Laboratory staff interfered with the president for research (who ordinarily that have been made about these issues. federal investigation of the claims against supervises such reviews) was a Canadian TRW, and that the POET report was citizen and therefore was ineligible for the Professor Postol’s Allegations fraudulent. Those are the issues that have security clearance necessary to oversee the Professor Postol’s allegations arise in the been, and are being, reviewed under allegations that involved the classified context of a technical review of software MIT’s established procedures for han- POET Report. designed by TRW associated with an early dling allegations of scientific misconduct, None of the reports or letters from (June 1997) test of sensors manufactured by which are set out in MIT’s Policies and federal agents or agencies of which we are Boeing that were being considered for use in Procedures (Section 10.1). [MIT and aware conclude that staff of the Lincoln a planned national missile defense system. federal policies call for a two-step process for Laboratory withheld information or A former TRW engineer had brought a reviewing allegations of scientific misconduct: failed to cooperate in any way with federal False Claims Act lawsuit against TRW alleg- first, an inquiry, to determine whether an agents, or that any findings in the POET ing that TRW had produced a fraudulent investigation is warranted and, if so, to frame report were fraudulent. Professor Postol’s analysis of the performance of its software. the questions for the investigation; second, the articles refer to reports of the General The federal government was considering investigation itself, to determine the facts. Accounting Office (now known as the joining the claims against TRW. After the facts are determined, decisions are Government Accountability Office). As part of that consideration, in 1998 the made regarding the appropriate actions to Those reports, which contain the GAO’s National Missile Defense Joint Program take, if any, based on those facts. actual findings about the POET report, Office asked an existing advisory group The questions identified by an inquiry may can be found at www.gao.gov/doc- known as the Phase One Engineering Team or may not be the same as the ones that were search/date.php (enter February 28, 2002, – or POET – to review the lawsuit’s claims initially presented by the person who first and scroll to National Defense, Reports against TRW. Two members of the POET brought the allegations to MIT’s attention. It is GAO-02-124 and GAO-02-125). group were from Lincoln Laboratory. The also important to understand that when an analysis resulted in a classified report, POET inquiry finds that an investigation is war- Steps MIT has taken to Review STUDY 1998-5, issued on January 25, 1999. ranted, that finding does not mean that scien- the Allegations Because the POET report was and remains tific misconduct has occurred, but only that a I will explain in this article the steps that classified, it is not available for MIT’s use in further examination of the facts is needed.] MIT has taken to review Professor conducting an investigation of Professor I have been overseeing the review of Postol’s allegations, which include the Postol’s allegations. Professor Postol’s allegations because, at completion of a preliminary inquiry to

6 MIT Faculty Newsletter May/June 2005

determine whether an investigation is warranted. I informed the MDA that I months, we explained that scientific warranted. Professor Postol’s two articles intended to appoint a committee com- integrity is the bedrock principle for all in the Faculty Newsletter incorrectly posed of expert individuals holding the research done at MIT and that it is imper- report that MIT has called a halt to the requisite security clearances to conduct ative that we be able to assure the accurate investigation of the allegations he has an investigation into the issues identified and unbiased nature of such research by made. This is not true; we continue in our in the inquiry report. Three highly quali- carefully and thoroughly investigating efforts to obtain the materials necessary fied and experienced individuals agreed any allegation of scientific misconduct. for the investigation. at that time to serve on the investigation In those discussions we assured the MDA The planned investigation has not yet committee. that the relevant classified information occurred because the Department of The MDA advised us in April 2003 that would not be compromised by the pro- Defense Missile Defense Agency (MDA) the inquiry report itself contained classi- posed investigation. has classified the materials required in fied information, and that the report, and Professor Postol has asserted that an order to examine the allegations (includ- all drafts and comments on it, must be investigation can be done without access ing the POET report and our own inquiry classified and moved to a secure location. to the classified materials. Professor Postol report) and has denied our investigation Access to these classified documents was offered the opportunity to read the committee access to those materials. requires both the appropriate level of final version of the inquiry report, but was Professor Postol has asserted that he security clearance and a “need to know,” told by my office that he would not be believes MIT could proceed with the and the MDA denied the latter status to given a copy because of his repeated viola- investigation without access to classified the outside investigators. tions of the confidentiality policy. He material. However, without those materi- In my February 2003 letter to the MDA declined to read the report unless he was als, an investigation can neither identify I had noted that we would be seeking per- allowed to keep a copy of it. Because he the questions posed in the inquiry report mission from the MDA for the investiga- has not read the inquiry report, he does nor answer them. tion committee to have access to classified not know what issues that report framed An inquiry into Professor Postol’s alle- information regarding the POET report for investigation. gations was launched in March 2002. in order to conduct their work. In early I believe that the inquiry report and Professor Edward Crawley of the May 2003, the MDA advised us that it the POET report, as well as other classi- Department of Aeronautics and would not permit the investigation com- fied and unclassified materials, are Astronautics spent nine months conduct- mittee to have access to classified informa- needed to conduct the investigation and ing that inquiry. At one point during tion, including not only the POET report therefore resolve fully the issues raised in summer 2002, a first draft of the inquiry itself, but also the MIT inquiry report, on the inquiry report. MIT continues to report was sent to the Lincoln Laboratory the grounds of national security. work to resolve this matter through the researchers and Professor Postol for verifi- I wrote back to the MDA’s general establishment of an investigation com- cation of technical matters. In violation of counsel to explain that without access to mittee with access to the documents the policy of confidentiality that applies to the classified information (including the needed for their work. the review of allegations of scientific mis- inquiry report itself, which contains the Despite our arguments and assur- conduct, Professor Postol made informa- questions that the investigation should ances, the MDA has continued to refuse tion in that report available to others address), no meaningful investigation of access to these materials. We are continu- outside the inquiry. the issues described in the inquiry report ing our efforts to obtain permission to The final inquiry report concluded could take place, and asked the MDA to allow the investigation committee to that Professor Postol’s allegations could reconsider its position. President Vest have access to the classified materials, in not be resolved within the scope of an wrote the MDA with the same request in the hope that when all of these consider- inquiry, and that an investigation was June of 2003, and the following month a ations are weighed by senior officials of therefore warranted into certain specific meeting occurred between officials at MIT our government, we will be able to find a questions framed in the inquiry report. and the MDA at which we requested recon- way for MIT to conduct the investiga- Such a conclusion does not mean that sideration of the decision to deny the com- tion, while assuring protection of classi- there was any determination that scien- mittee access to the necessary information. fied information. tific misconduct had occurred, but only At the end of October 2003, the MDA Scientific integrity is the essential stan- that a further investigation into the facts advised us in a formal letter that they dard for all research done at MIT. Any was needed to determine whether or not found no compelling basis to permit allegation that there has been a deviation there was misconduct. highly sensitive classified information to from that basic tenet must be taken seri- As required by the federal Policy on be provided for MIT’s investigation, again ously, and that is what MIT has done and Research Misconduct, in February 2003 I citing risks to national security. will continue to do in this case. advised the sponsoring agency, the MDA, In our correspondence and discus- Robert A. Brown is a Professor of Chemical of the finding that an investigation was sions with the MDA over the next five Engineering and Provost ([email protected]). 7 MIT Faculty Newsletter Vol. XVII No. 5

Teach Talk Lori Breslow Strengthening TA Training Cindy Dernay Tervalon

APPROXIMATELY 900 TEACHING revealed: 1) students were unhappy with of support they receive, how they per- assistants – some of them undergradu- the inconsistency in teaching abilities of ceive their teaching ability, or whether ates, but most of them graduate students – the TAs; 2) students were frustrated by they believe the level of training made teach every year in the 23 departments at discrepancies in what they are told by the available to them is adequate. Therefore, MIT. Many of these TAs have limited or instructor and what they are told by the the committee asked TLL to survey TAs no prior teaching experience, and many TA; and 3) students were concerned to get a clearer picture of their needs. receive no formal training before entering the classroom. Percent of TAs Who Report Instructors Assisted Them in Like many aspects of MIT life, support Preparing Their Recitations, Labs, Tutorials, and Lectures and training for TAs varies by discipline 70% 66% 60% and department. Some departments, 60% 58% 54%

such as Chemistry and Biology, have ori- ents 50% entations and on-going support for their 40% TAs. For departments that don’t offer such programs, the Graduate Student 30% Office (GSO) and the Teaching and 20%

Perentage of Respond Learning Laboratory (TLL) organize a 10% one-day orientation to the classroom at 0% the beginning of the academic year. TLL School of Engineering School of Science School of Humanities, All 5 Schools Arts & Social also offers one-on-one support to inter- Sciences ested TAs, but resources for that service have been limited. Ironically, TA training about the inability of some TAs to com- Survey Identifies TA Training Needs has become especially important in the municate clearly. The TA survey was conducted in the last several years, since initiatives to Also in 2002, a committee of faculty, spring of 2003. Three hundred and improve undergraduate education at instructional staff, and students was seventy-five TAs responded, over one- MIT have led to many changes in tech- called together by Dean for third of the TA population. The survey nology and pedagogy. But because TAs Undergraduate Education Robert asked TAs about their previous teaching themselves have often been taught in Redwine to discuss how to better prepare experiences, and what types of training more traditional classroom settings, they TAs for the classroom. Committee and support services had been made avail- may be even less comfortable using these members recognized that TAs are already able to them. It asked them to rank how new formats and tools. under pressure to balance the demands effective or helpful the training and/or placed on them to complete coursework, information had been. Lastly, the TAs How Well are TAs Trained? carry out their research, and teach. They were asked what types of training and Several efforts have been undertaken to realized, too, that support must be sensi- support services they wanted. assess the difficulties faced by TAs, and tive to the TAs’ time schedules, create Perhaps the most important finding how those difficulties impact undergrad- minimal extra work, and be flexible with was that graduate students view the TA uate education. In 2002, the undergradu- respect to various disciplines. It was experience as an integral part of their edu- ate Student Committee on Educational agreed that little information was cation. And perhaps the second most Policy (SCEP) conducted a survey of known, other than through personal important finding was that “discussions undergraduates to assess their level of sat- conversations and observations, about with instructors” is the resource TAs look isfaction with their TAs. The survey how TAs themselves feel about the level to first for information about teaching. As

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(33%); and “only slightly helpful” or “not Information TAs Would Most Like to Receive from Instructors helpful at all”(33%). Thus, even when we do 60% provide workshops for the TAs, it is clear we 46% 50% 50% 46% could do a better job with them. 43% 41% The TAs said having an opportunity to 40% meet with other TAs was also extremely 30% important. Approximately 85% of those surveyed reported they either did not have 20% the opportunity to meet with other TAs in Percent of Respondents 10% their department, or they did not know if such opportunities existed. The respon- 0% syllabus overview lecture notes practice problems for practice exams dents want to be able to learn and get recitations advice from one another, and they said Requested Information they often feel more comfortable with each other than a faculty member or a one TA commented in the survey, “…The they did identify several ways in which teaching consultant. TA experience hinges on the professor. training on how to teach would be helpful. Finally, 34% of the respondents said Not only on how the TA interacts with the When asked what kind of information they their most preferred way of getting infor- professor [but] also on how much would find most useful, the following four mation about teaching would be from support the professor gives the TA….” topics were rated “very helpful” or “helpful” online resources. Because of the time pres- Sixty percent of the survey respon- most frequently: motivating students sures on them, accessibility to information dents reported the instructor in charge of (73%); facilitating class discussions (74%); that is fast and convenient is critical. Online the course assisted them in preparing for planning recitations, labs, and tutorials resources are clearly a way to provide infor- their recitations or labs, and of the TAs (73%); and giving presentations (60%). mation to TAs that can be accessed on an who meet regularly with the instructor Guidance on these topics could be pro- as-need basis, and at a time that is most teaching the subject, almost 65% saw vided by department- or Institute-based convenient for them individually. him/her either weekly or semi-weekly. workshops, but two-thirds of respondents That’s the good news. The bad news is that reported their department currently did not Plans to Improve TA Training of the information TAs reported needing offer teaching workshops. Those who had Those of us working on TA training rec- most from the instructor – lecture notes, attended a workshop were evenly divided ognize both the time restrictions faculty syllabus overview, and practice exams – a among those who thought it “very helpful” face and the mounting pressures on grad- relatively small percentage actually get or “helpful” (33%); “somewhat helpful” continued on next page that material. Only 38% of the respon- dents said they received an overview of the Percentage of TAs Saying the Various Types of Information from their syllabus, 31% were given lecture notes, Department or Institute would be “Helpful” or “Very Helpful” (by School) 22% were supplied with instructions for grading, and 21% got practice exams. PlanningPlanning recitations, recitations, labs or 70% 71% Another big obstacle respondents noted tutorialslabs or tutorials 80% was a lack of clear communication between 52% Giving presentations 62% them and the faculty member. They are also 61% frustrated about unrealistic expectations Best practicesBest practicesfor using thefor 60% using the blackboard 50% about the amount of work they are sup- blackboard 70% PromotingPromote an effective an effective learning 47% posed to do, and that they received limited 64% environmentlearning environment 68% or no feedback on their performance 77% Facilitating class discussions 73% throughout the semester. For example, one 72%

TA wrote,“…difficulties arose due to lack of 71% Motivating students 70% communication between instructors, lab 79% Giving studentsGiving appropriate students 60% instructors, lab directors, and TAs. Each had 69% different expectations of the students and appropriatefeedback feedback 65% 56% the TAs.” Instructions for grading 60% 47% Although respondents felt interactions and clear communication with the instruc- School of Engineering School of Science School of Humanities, Arts,Arts & SocialSciences Sciences tor were the key component to TA success,

9 MIT Faculty Newsletter Vol. XVII No. 5

Strengthening TA Training Modify Institution-Wide Orientation. For The Teaching Assistant Strategy Kit, or Breslow and Tervalon, from preceding page departments that don’t have the resources TASK, is designed to supply TAs advice on to organize a TA orientation, the Institute- teaching on a just-in-time basis. “Quick uate students to successfully complete wide orientation offered at the start of the Tips” will answer specific questions and research. Therefore, in planning ways to academic year will continue. However, give users practical, concrete suggestions strengthen TA training, we have carefully based on the feedback from the survey, we for how to teach to enhance learning, considered the time limits of the con- hope to modify the program to be more interact more effectively with students, stituents as well as the need to tailor pro- responsive to what the TAs have told us and communicate more successfully with grams and services to the unique they need guidance on as, for example, course instructors. Videos will demon- characteristics of departments and disci- motivating students. strate best practices and strategies to deal plines. Four new initiatives are in various with common classroom challenges. “Dig stages of implementation. Establish a TA Network. Many of the Deeper” sections will afford users the teaching and learning centers at our peer opportunity to read about the research in Create/Maintain Department-Based institutions have created networks so that learning that underpins the recom- Orientations. There are several advantages one or more TAs in each department serve mended tactics and practices, as well as to introducing new TAs to their teaching as a direct line of communication point to more print and electronic roles in department-based orientations. between TAs in that department and staff resources. Thanks to the support from the The chance to meet other TAs and receive in the teaching and learning center. Our Alumni-Sponsored Funds for Teaching information specific to the department is colleagues report that these networks are and Education Enhancement and an invaluable first step to creating commu- extremely effective in getting resources to alumnus Stephen P. Kaufman (EECS ’63), nity and support for graduate students, TAs when they need them. The addition a prototype of the site will be available this many of whom will be teaching for the first of a new position in TLL, the Associate summer. time. The department-based orientation Director for Teaching Initiatives, will help We welcome additional thoughts on should couple the opportunity to learn us to develop a similar network, as well as and recommendations for strengthening about and practice teaching skills with increase support for department orienta- the teaching abilities of the Institute TAs. specifics about instruction in the particular tions, enhance the Institute-wide orienta- discipline. After this initial introduction, tion, and strengthen our capacity to work TA peer groups could be established. As the with individual TAs. Lori Breslow is a Senior Lecturer, Sloan TA survey revealed, creating opportunities School of Management and Director of the Teaching and Learning Laboratory ([email protected]). for TAs to meet in a social environment to Develop Online Materials. TLL is partner- Cindy Dernay Tervalon is Assistant Director discuss teaching obstacles and strategies for ing with Columbia University to develop a of the Teaching and Learning Laboratory overcoming them is critical. Web-based tool to help TAs teach better. ([email protected]).

Faculty Mentor Program: A Growing Success

DAPER’S VARSITY SPORT Faculty A Faculty Mentor Dinner was held about anything and everything ...and Mentor Program, initiated in January in March, convening current faculty host them for hot chocolate at home 2005, has already seen remarkable growth mentors, coaches, and student-athletes. after practice.” This mentor also since its inception. The goal of the Among the topics discussed were goals arranged for a Special Topics Subject program is to promote faculty and of the program and opportunities for based on the team’s interests in artifi- student-athlete interaction, by linking interaction between faculty members cial glaciers. each MIT varsity athletics team with a and athletes. Faculty members shared If you are interested in becoming a faculty member. The faculty member acts their experiences with the program faculty mentor, there is still an as an advisor and mentor to the athletes thus far, many of them noting that they opportunity to get involved. Several on the team, and is available to discuss feel they have benefited personally teams are still in need of mentors. If academic challenges and undergraduate from the relationship. The program has you have any questions about this life in general. Seventeen matches have allowed faculty to get to know students program, please contact Kari Hebert, been made thus far, with 15 faculty on a more informal basis. One mentor Sports Administration Intern, at members participating. states, “I am happy to talk with them 4-0391 or [email protected].

10 MIT Faculty Newsletter May/June 2005

Advising and Mentoring of Undergraduates J. Mark Schuster Hazel Sive

TO GET THE MOST from their experi- that presently there are some excellent Recommendations on Advising ences at MIT, students rely on faculty, upperclass advising practices at MIT, but and Mentoring: A Sample from staff, and peers for guidance on issues advising quality across the Institute is ranging from academics to personal variable and, overall, could be signifi- the CSL/CUP Report development. In recognition of the cantly strengthened. • The major advisor should be assigned at importance of providing good guidance, The CUP/CSL report lays out broad the end of the freshman year. the Institute faculty requested (at its principles for advising and mentoring, • The transition from freshman advisor to meeting of May 15, 2002) that the and discusses the roles of faculty in these the major advisor should be improved. Committee on the Undergraduate activities. Recommendations made focus • Effective Undergraduate Offices should be developed and supported in all departments. Program (CUP) and the Committee on on strengthening the framework that • Associate advisor programs should be Student Life (CSL) undertake a joint underlies effective advising, including implemented as part of upperclass advising. effort to consider upperclass undergradu- improving departmental support, • All members of the mentoring network ate advising and mentoring at MIT and to expanding the program of associate advis- should be trained. make recommendations to the faculty. ing, improving advisor training, restruc- • The number of advisees should be reasonable. The results of this joint effort are outlined turing registration activities, and • The number of meetings between in a report, which can be found online at: smoothing the transition between fresh- advisees and mentors should be web.mit.edu/committees/cup/advising_ man and departmental advising. (For a increased, perhaps with a required mid- and_mentoring.html. sample of the recommendations that have semester meeting, perhaps during some been made, see the accompanying box.) other specified "advising period." Principles and Recommendations Among the activities that help us to • Departments should make additional efforts – beyond assigning an academic advisor – We quickly realized that, tempting though provide a truly exceptional academic to include upperclass majors in the intellec- it is, we cannot simply exhort the faculty experience for our students are those that tual and social life of the department. to commit more time to advising and incorporate out-of-classroom interaction • Our core values with respect to advising mentoring. We are all busy people with with others in the university community and mentoring should be clearly formu- multiple and conflicting commitments. – particularly faculty. The promotion of a lated and articulated. Accordingly, our report is built around network that includes staff and students • Students must understand that they have two principles: notwithstanding, the faculty plays a criti- a right to diligent and effective advising cal role in advising and mentoring. These and mentoring. • Advising and mentoring constitute a activities are fundamental to MIT’s edu- • The importance of advising and mentor- continuum of interactions among cational mission, and we must recognize ing must be recognized by the Institute. everyone on campus: faculty, univer- and reward these activities accordingly. sity administration, staff, athletic With this report, CUP and CSL hope to to the Undergraduate Academic Officers, coaches, activity advisors, and stu- highlight conspicuously effective current and to the Faculty Policy Committee, dents themselves. initiatives and to stimulate changes that which has given its endorsement. The full will allow best practices to proliferate report was presented to the faculty at the • Effective advising and mentoring across the undergraduate programs. May 18, 2005 meeting. We invite your involves creating a mentoring response to the recommendations of the network for each student. Next Steps report and would be particularly inter- The final version of this report has ested in hearing about your own advising Informed by these principles, the two received the endorsement of the current experiences – good or bad. committees have focused on making con- memberships of both the CUP and CSL. crete recommendations that would With the Committees’ endorsement, the J. Mark Schuster is a Professor of Urban Studies and Planning; Chair of the Committee improve the quality of faculty-student report has been presented to Academic on the Undergraduate Program ([email protected]). interaction, rather than simply adding Council, to the Task Force on the Hazel Sive is a Professor of Biology; Chair of the more meetings. It should be emphasized Undergraduate Educational Commons, Committee on Student Life ([email protected]).

11 MIT Faculty Newsletter Vol. XVII No. 5

Mission to Banda Aceh: Edward B. Seldin Excerpts from a Journal

AMONGST THE NUMEROUS GROUPS among participants that immediately fol- on all of us that, in delivering care to indi- that came to the aid of the people of lowed the mission, it would appear that vidual patients, we were also participating Banda Aceh after the tsunami of Project Hope volunteers believe that the in a public relations and geopolitical exer- December 26, 2004, was a team consisting pairing was a success. The Government cise on a grand scale on behalf the United of U.S. Navy (USN) medical personnel and Navy seem no less interested in this States. (There was no explicit briefing plus several deployments of Project Hope novel paradigm. On its own, without the regarding this aspect of the mission, nor civilian volunteers. This group, assembled civilian contingent, the Navy would have were some of the potential dangers of par- from all over the United States, lived and had to pillage its on-shore assets and ticipation spelled out in advance.) worked on the enormous hospital ship, USNS “Mercy.” The Mercy is one of two sister ships that, in a previous life, were supertankers. Each ship is over 900 feet long, contains a fully equipped, state-of- the-art, tertiary care hospital with 1000 beds, 11 operating rooms, and a helicop- ter landing deck. Of the Project Hope volunteers, the largest and most organized block was from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). I had the good fortune to partic- ipate in this mission, sent by the MGH. Because the MIT Medical Department kindly consented to let me have a three- week leave of absence to make the trip, I therefore like to think that I represented USNS “Mercy” Steaming off the Coast of Banda Aceh MIT as well. When asked to participate, I indicated disrupt the delivery of care to the enor- The trip from Boston to Singapore, if that, if a younger oral and maxillofacial mous population they serve in San Diego you go via San Francisco and Tokyo, takes surgeon – one more actively involved in in order to have fully staffed the Mercy for about 24 hours. The final leg of the the treatment of traumatic injuries – this mission. If the USN could, in the journey to Banda Aceh, at the northern could not be found, I would agree to make future, count on a ready supply of volun- extremity of Sumatra, involved an addi- the trip. Shortly thereafter, still sore from teers that can deploy rapidly, it would cer- tional three-hour flight in one of those all the required vaccinations, off I went to tainly extend the range of their activities ubiquitous four-prop military transport the Indian Ocean – which our Navy of this sort. planes, the C-130. I arrived in Banda Aceh people call the “IO.” Without doubt, the focus of Project on the 28th of February, my 62nd birthday. This was the first time, at least since Hope volunteers was primarily, if not Transport between the Mercy and land WWII, that a team of civilian health-care exclusively, on patient care as a motivation was by military helicopter, the doors of providers was paired with a military for participation. It would be hard to gen- which are frequently left open in transit. medical team to engage in a relief mission. eralize regarding the level of political This affords a great view of the terrain As such, it was an experiment. Judging awareness on the part of the civilian par- being traversed, especially when the from the efflorescence of e-mail traffic ticipants, but I think it eventually dawned ’copter banks steeply – clearly one of the

12 MIT Faculty Newsletter May/June 2005

delights of flying one of those great, highly Further inland, surviving structures vivors, hearing the stories of individuals, maneuverable machines. (We were were surrounded by fields of debris with one gets that much closer to an apprecia- instructed that having the doors open also enormous piles of detritus on the side tion of the nightmare quality of the makes it that much easier to get out of the facing the ocean. The debris, in multiple tsunami. Julie Gold’s wonderful song, ’copter in the event of an emergency colors, consisted of boats, automobiles, “From a Distance” (popularized by Bette Midler) captures what I am trying to say. There is not a single person in Banda Aceh Areas closest to the water were totally who did not lose a friend, a spouse, a decimated; not a stick left standing; foundations child, a parent, other relatives, or multi- of buildings only faintly discernable – Hiroshima ples of the above. I think I wanted to be or Nagasaki after the bomb, but without included in this mission in order to be less radioactivity or human agency. oblivious as a human being, to bear witness to this particular catastrophe and to meet and perhaps help individual “landing” over water. Because all the portions of houses, tree trunks, house- people. I also hoped to experience health mechanical contrivances necessary for hold items, mud and buried in all this care delivery as one likes to imagine it; free flight are overhead, when in the water, no wreckage – the remains of the former of modern encumbrances. longer supported by the action of the population. There is no way of knowing From the medical perspective, the rotor, helicopters promptly turn upside exactly how many people lost their lives kinds of problems seen after a natural dis- down and sink like a stone. We were told in the tsunami that engulfed Banda aster depend upon how soon you arrive not to bother trying to help other passen- Aceh. Perhaps it was 200,000 – or was it on the scene. Relative to those who per- gers – just get yourself out quickly and closer to 250,000? The obscene impreci- ished, the survivors of the tsunami were then activate your life vest.) All of this sion of these numbers is as upsetting as few in number. Of those who survived useful information during the sleep- the event itself. direct involvement, many had orthopedic deprived final phases of the trip to the Clearly, there is an inverse square law at injuries and/or a characteristic aspiration Mercy convinced all of us that we were work in our appreciation of disasters. pneumonia from inhaling mud and “not in Kansas any more” – or wherever From a vantage point halfway around the debris, leading, in some instances, to sec- our points of origination may have been. world, the numbers don’t register. From ondary brain abscesses. Such problems On the way out to the Mercy, the pilots directly overhead, some details start to were encountered in their early stages by made a sweep over the coastline so that we make an impression. Face to face with sur- could see, in person, what no images in continued on next page the media properly conveyed; the extrem- ity and pervasiveness of the devastation wrought by the tsunami. In a single stroke, a force of nature, with remorseless indifference, totally obliterated an enormous swath of the densely inhabited broad coastal plane that lies between the mountains of Aceh Province and the sea. Areas closest to the water were totally decimated; not a stick left standing; foundations of buildings only faintly discernable – Hiroshima or Nagasaki after the bomb, but without radioactivity or human agency. By degree, moving inland from the ocean, some buildings were left standing, their survival predicated on their size and quality of construction. Some of the most durable structures turned out to be mosques, several of which, surrounded by moun- tains of debris, appeared to be entirely intact, as seen from the helicopter. Debris deposited around a house that survived the tsunami

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Mission to Banda Aceh service basis. We saw and treated, for Seldin, from preceding page example, many patients with extreme forms of benign tumors that had lan- the first responders. The USNS Mercy guished for want of local treatment arrived about a month after the tsunami, options, affordable or otherwise. by which time most of the acute problems Given the limited length of time that had been dealt with. For a while, it was the Indonesian Government would toler- unclear if an American team comprised of ate a foreign military presence, careful a mix of civilians and Navy people would triage and discharge planning were the be allowed by the Indonesian keys to a successful mission. Nothing Government to participate in the relief could be undertaken without first consid- effort. Much to their credit, the posture of ering how rapidly a given patient could Children outside the University Hospital the Navy and Project Hope was very low be made ready to return to shore after in Banda Aceh key: “We are here with the USNS Mercy. treatment. Many heart-rending, treatable be seen in the slowly recovering dental Tell us how we can be of service.”It will be cases had to be turned down for want of clinic of the University Hospital in Banda remembered that Bill Clinton broke off realistic on-shore prospects for convales- Aceh. This was my best opportunity to meet large numbers of local people and it proved to be the most memorable part of Many heart-rending, treatable cases had to be the mission. My translator in this clinic, a turned down for want of realistic on-shore 23-year-old graphic design student, was in her family’s car with several relatives when prospects for convalescent and follow-up care. the tsunami struck. She miraculously These unusual considerations created a escaped through a window and later nightmare for those who were responsible for found herself on the roof of a house. She case selection. taught me the one thing I can say in Indonesian: “ma’af,” which means, “I’m sorry.” This is a fitting thing to say after relations with Indonesia in the wake of cent and follow-up care. These unusual giving someone a local anesthetic injec- atrocities in East Timor. I suspect that the considerations created a nightmare for tion; I believe that it was also understood Indonesian Government may have feared those who were responsible for case selec- by most of my patients to encompass my that, if they allowed an official American tion. All of us were faced with the moral feelings about the tsunami itself. This one presence ashore, they might never be able dilemma as to whether it would be better phrase never failed to provoke a warm to get us to leave. We were finally allowed for a patient to die as a result of the smile or a laugh despite everything that ashore and to fly patients to the Mercy for relentless progression of his or her disease my patients had endured and will con- treatment, but the force protection people process or whether it would be better for tinue to endure. who came ashore with medical personnel that patient to have an operation, accept- There are many lifetimes of useful had to be unarmed. ing a large measure of uncertainty regard- work to be done in Banda Aceh and so We treated some late sequelae of the ing the durability and longevity of the many other places around the globe, tsunami: infected, mal-united fractures result in the absence of sophisticated including corners of our own country. and serious complications of pneumonia, follow-up care. This amounted to making Upon my return, a friend showed me the but, as anticipated, much of what we saw a choice between potential errors of latest disposable electronic toothbrush on board the Mercy had little to do with omission versus errors of commission. with its own built in battery and motor. It the tsunami. With the promise of free care Despite these inherent limitations, more made me queasy to see that object and to available on board an American tertiary- than 150 major procedures were per- consider how much good the United care facility, floating, as if by magic, a few formed on board the Mercy, while off the States could do overseas if a more gener- miles off shore, most of the patients seen coast of Sumatra. ous portion of our energy and creativity and treated on the Mercy were drawn Many of us, in addition to caring for were focused on foreign aid. from an enormous backlog of local inhab- patients on the Mercy, also had the oppor- itants with unmet medical needs. In the tunity to participate in care ashore. In my underserved, impoverished Aceh case, I was able to join the general dentists Edward B. Seldin is Chief of Oral and Province, much of the health care, even and Navy corpsmen in removing many Maxillofacial Surgery, MIT Medical and a before the massive disruption of infra- hundreds of infected teeth for patients Lecturer in Mechanical Engineeering structure, was only available on a fee-for- who patiently waited in lines for hours to ([email protected]).

14 MIT Faculty Newsletter May/June 2005

MIT Poetry by Teresa Cader

SUMMER WITHOUT SUMMERING SLAVE HUTS, BONAIRE

1~ Maker, modeler, bearer, begetter Peculiar bird call. Gray-haired man stops In copses of oleander, in cactus shade, Daily to scan the sycamore. To listen. Some sort of fungus on the leaves. Among squid, flounder, sea cucumber, coral, Huge squirrel nest in the crook. They mar the sea, the white sand. Let someone else name the call, the infestation. In the garden at the verdigris table, On a slender shore, mud huts the size We eat grilled shrimp, swat late afternoon bees. Of my daughter’s playhouse An inlet of peace as twilight narrows its gaze. Faces soften in amber shadow. With doors at waist level and one window What I’ve wanted might be this. Housed five African men on the floor

2~ After they harvested salt by hand all day In evaporation salt pans, free Saturday nights Damp mists blow inland, the evergreens In the yard still drip last night’s rain. Thunder To walk barefoot seven hours to Rincon Lurks over the neighbor’s roof. Wicker chair, In the green hills, then back by Monday. Tea, a book. Upstairs, my child belts “Country Roads,” her first mezzo solo. I listen The obelisks signaled, Drop them off here, On the porch, imagining a stage. There is hope As Dutch traders sipped rum on the deck. In the world of ordinary change, the song Opening her throat like a hollow reed. Maker, modeler, bearer, begetter Four flamingos perch one-legged 3~ On Long Beach Island mosquito sirens spiraled In an irrigation ditch, as trade winds Around our ears in firelight, squads of June bugs Lift white wisps from the salt mountains. Zapped our faces when the wind shifts broke Across the dunes. Blues ran in silver streaks. A Toyota scurries by to catch the sunset at Pink Beach. My father dug his heels into the shore, surf-fished The company cranes are hauled up for the night. Between rip tide channels. Night swallowed Sight, moonless, cold. I sit in the hot tub tonight Maker, modeler, bearer, begetter Watching stars cascade like fizzled fireworks. This is who we are, whom you created. They were God to me on that deserted shore, A faint display of indifferent light.

4~ We had no pool to swim in, no cabin to rent, no walks In the forest of Cologne. Mushrooms were our habitat Teresa Cader In Polish Pittsfield, fried straight from the woods, mixed has received awards and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the With seasoned eggs. This summer I’m cooking soups, Bunting Institute at Radcliffe, the Poetry Society of Fish in sauce. We grilled scrod on Martha’s Vineyard America and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. She The summer before my friend killed herself. It fell apart taught in the MIT Literature Section in 1998-99 and On the grate, a white hash. I love the riffs of oak leaves has published two books of poems, Guests (1991) Tonight, wafting in and out of windows. I love the reprieve. and The Paper Wasp (1999).

15 MIT Faculty Newsletter Vol. XVII No. 5

The Purpose of Poetry John Hildebidle

IN ALAN LIGHTMAN’S NOVEL In one of his poems, Williams formu- It will come as no surprise that Rich is Reunion, the protagonist, a sometime poet lated the matter this way: fond of Emily Dickinson, a quarrelsome and avid fan of Emily Dickinson, meets and unsettling poet from start to finish. the mysterious aunt of his lover. The aunt It is difficult I had a student once who asked, rather rather gruffly accounts both poetry and to get the news from poems shyly, whether it was still acceptable to dance (the lover is a ballerina) as “useless.” yet men die miserably every day turn to poetry for “wisdom.” If wisdom = Then she backtracks a bit, and proposes for lack consolation, Rich would loudly answer in that “uselessness” is not a vice. the negative. I have myself written a short However, at a place like MIT, governed of what is found there. essay (you can find it on my Website, as it is by results and products, the appar- dutchiamb) arguing that the unsettling ent “pointlessness” of poetry is a terrible Lest we think that Williams is some sort of aspect of poetry is central, that what stigma. In a sense, I share it – boarding a air-headed Pollyanna, we need to recall poetry most persistently wants to do is jetliner, I don’t much care whether the that he was, for his entire adult life, a alter our whole perception of the world. designer has an informed knowledge of, working physician, among the poor But not everyone has these perverse views. say, the work of Robert Frost. But having immigrant communities of Northern Consider the poet Jane Cooper, who offers spent my MIT career teaching undergrad- New Jersey. He knew quite well, in a diag- a more healing perspective: uate how to read poems with passion, nostic sense, what caused men and attention, and informed analytic under- women to die miserably. We can hardly We are not separate. And the work for standing, I cannot altogether avoid the object to Williams’ admission that poems all of us must begin, I think, with the strip- question that is my title here. are a bad source of news; but, enigmati- ping down of words, with listening, with It is an old question. Plato banned cally, he still stands by the declaration that acknowledging our fear, with getting back poets from his Republic because they there is something fundamental and life- to origins, with learning to live, however concocted imagined worlds. Sir Philip giving to be found in them. perilously, in this moment, for it is our only Sidney was prompted to compose a The contemporary poet Adrienne life. Poems are moments of the most acute renowned “Defense of Poesy” because Rich, in a collection of essays which consciousness. Through them we recognize some of his fundamentalist contempo- takes its title from Williams’ polemical the now and here, and yet we enter into a raries converted that accusation to one of assertion, and which to some degree dialogue with history and otherness. Poems falsehood. By “poesy” Sidney meant attempts to define that “something” are made in solitude, but they move toward more than just verse, but his effort about which Williams is so vague, puts it connectedness. remains relevant. this way: What possible use is there for poetry? That leaves hard work, and risk, and dis- In a world in which we have too many Poetry wrenches around our ideas about comfort, but at least it offers connected- tasks and too little time, how can anyone our lives . . .Poetry will always pick a ness as a reward. Seamus Heaney, the Irish defend the reading and/or writing of quarrel with the found place, the refuge, Nobelist, speaks of the “redress” which verse as an endeavor. There is one the sanctuary ...Even though the poet, a poetry provides: defense by way of a Pleasure Principal – human being with many anxious fears, the American poet William Carlos might want just to rest, acclimate, adjust, In the activity of poetry ...there is a ten- Williams was given to insisting, at his become naturalized, learn to write in a dency to place a counter-reality in the readings, “If it ain’t a pleasure, it ain’t a new landscape, a new language, poetry scales, a reality which can only be imagined poem.” But Hedonism seems a slender will go on harassing the poet until, and but which nevertheless has weight because reed, to say the least. unless, it is driven away. it is imagined within the gravitational pull

16 MIT Faculty Newsletter May/June 2005

of the actual. Poetry has to be a working which we pursue our magic and make it memory, both within and beyond the indi- model of inclusive consciousness. It should realized....[I]t is through poetry that we vidual life span; to achieve intensity and not simplify. . . . Poetry can make an order give name to those ideas which are – until sensuous appeal; to express feelings rapidly as true to the impact of external reality and the poem – nameless and formless,...but and memorably. To share those feelings and as sensitive to the inner laws of the poet’s already felt . . .If what we need to dream, to ideas with companions, and also with the nature as the ripples that rippled in and move our spirits most deeply and directly head and with those to come after us. rippled out across the surface of the water toward and through promise, is discounted [in a scullery bucket Heaney recalls from as a luxury, then we give up the core – the Why are there poets? Don’t blame pro- his farm childhood]. fountain – of our power,...we give up the fessors or prize competitions or Hallmark future of our worlds. Cards – it’s all a matter of evolution. If you It is striking to hear a poet try to mobilize look carefully at Pinsky’s formulation, the language of physics, although it must We have accumulated quite a package of however, you see the same terms – con- be noted that in the end he falls back on answers to the issue with which we began nectedness, both within and beyond indi- memory and metaphor. – greater attention, deeper understand- vidual lifespans, the naming of complex The late American poet, Audre Lorde, ing (especially self-understanding), the ideas. To which he adds two more crucial wrote an essay which has a polemical title – possibility of transformation and action: elements – intensity and sensuous appeal. “Poetry is not a luxury.” She defends that all this from “what is found” or put there It is a hard but essential truth: good poetry proposition thus: in a poem. The recent American poet (much less great poetry) cannot be read laureate, Robert Pinsky, offers a more quickly, but it should always provide some The quality of light by which we scrutinize simple explanation of the “point” of variety of pleasure. our lives has direct bearing on the product poetry: we are hard-wired that way: which we live, and the changes which we hope to bring about through those lives. It is I presume that the technology of poetry . . . John Hildebidle is a Professor of Literature within this light that we form those ideas by evolved for specific uses: to hold things in ([email protected]).

M.I.T. Numbers Have you ever considered leaving MIT for the following reasons? (% Yes) [from the 2004 Faculty Survey]

Lifestyle

Career enhancement

Employment of spouse

Child related issues

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Source: Office of the Provost, Institutional Research

17 MIT Faculty Newsletter Vol. XVII No. 5

Survey Says: Faculty Approve Lydia Snover Updated Lunch Program

ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, the Faculty Overall Rating of the Faculty Lunch Program Lunch program was established for 50% faculty, senior research, and instructional 45% staff. The program is intended to provide 40% a collegial environment that will promote 35% 47%47% informal interactions between members 30% of the faculty outside traditional depart- 25% mental and research boundaries. In 20% 27% 23% 27% September, the Faculty Lunch program 15% 23% was relocated from Walker to the fourth 10% 3%3% 1%1% floor of the Stata Center. This past winter, 5% the Provost asked a small group of faculty 0% and staff to evaluate the current operation Excellent Very Good Good Poor No opinion and, if need be, make recommendations for improvement. leagues (58%), graduate students (41%), vis- faculty lunch program. Overall 65% of the In order to facilitate this evaluation, itors (69%), and friends and spouses (26%). respondents said it was very important or the committee constructed a short survey Importance of the Faculty Lunchroom (Excludes “No Opinion”) that included questions for people who “Essential” + “Very Important” have not participated in the Faculty Lunch 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% program as well as those that had partici- FacultyFaculty 72%72% pated. The survey was administered in the Other Instructional spring of 2005 by the Institutional Other Instructional Staff 52%52% Research Group on behalf of the commit- Staff tee. All faculty, instructional staff, senior SeniorSenior Researchers Researchers 54%54% researchers, and faculty emeritus were invited to complete the survey online; Source: Office of the Provost, Institutional Research slightly more than 51% of those invited to respond completed it. Of those that Overall, almost 70% of the individuals essential and only 3.4% said it was unim- responded, 68% had participated in the who had participated in the Faculty portant. Of the tenured and tenure track faculty lunch program at the Stata Center. Lunch program rated it very good or faculty who responded, over 70% rated it Of the individuals who had not been to excellent, and 56% rated their ability to as essential or very important. the Stata Center location, almost 40% did interact with other faculty at the Stata In addition to the quantitative ratings not know it existed. But of those people center as very good to excellent. The gathered through the survey, many partic- who had been to Stata, only 15% had only survey asked a series of questions about ipants provided qualitative comments. been once. other aspects of the program, including These comments, along with analysis, Although the faculty lunch program is food, hours of operation, and environ- have been provided to the committee as intended to serve faculty,senior research,and ment. The data on these questions will be part of their evaluation of the Faculty instructional staff, individuals are welcome used to evaluate the program and plan for Lunch program. to bring guests. Of the people who had par- improvements. ticipated, 57% reported that they had The final question on the survey asked Lydia Snover is the Assistant to the Provost brought a guest, including non-faculty col- how important it was to maintain the for Institutional Research ([email protected]).

18 MIT Faculty Newsletter May/June 2005

International Students and Scholars Two Notable International MIT Alumni from the Nineteenth Century Gast, from page 1 Louis Francisco Verges – Puerto Rico This student was followed by a steady BA – Civil Engineering – 1891 Upon graduation, Verges returned to Puerto Rico to work with his father to improve the sugar stream of students from across the globe industry in their country. Louis Verges was responsible for the introduction of modern throughout the nineteenth century. By methods of evaporation and chemical control, and is generally credited with the revitalization 1900, some 50 students had traveled to of the sugar industry in Puerto Rico. Massachusetts for study; however, the numbers of international students only Baron Takuma Dan – Japan really began to grow after the Second BA – Mining Engineering – 1878 World War, when an influx of students After receiving his degree in Mining Engineering, Dan returned to Japan, where he first began in earnest, as shown in Figure 1. became the technical officer at the Japanese Government Meteorological Observatory, and The rapid rise of international students then the director of the Miike coal mine. When the mine was purchased by the Mitsui from East Asia, led by China, changed the Company, Dan began a career with Mitsui, moving from engineer to the managing director of demographics of this group beginning in the vast Mitsui commercial interests. Dan was a leader in improving commercial relations between Japan and the United States. the 1950s. The change in immigration law in 1965 opened up the doors to a steadily rising influx of international talent. and scholars for the past 50 years. Just as no “intent to immigrate.” Thus, officially World events and political decisions MIT’s experience shows, the number of we want them to come here, pursue their have always had a strong impact on immi- foreign students has risen steadily since studies, and then to return to their home gration. We see this in MIT’s international the 1970s, and last year, according to the country. This appears to have some merit student population as well (Figure 1). Institute for International Education, if one holds the view that to remain in this World wars curtail the flow of students there were more than 500,000 interna- country, these highly educated immi- while peacetime pressures, such as chang- tional students enrolled in U.S. colleges grants would compete for jobs with ing immigration laws (1965), the demise and universities (see www.opendoors. domestic candidates. It is also true, of the iron curtain (Figure 2, next page), iienetwork.org). however, that those who remain in the the Vietnam War protests (1968), and the One might ask what becomes of the U.S. contribute greatly to our community, Asian financial crisis (1997), cause their international students we recruit and our economy, and our science and tech- respective ebbs and surges. train. We are aware of the great contribu- nological leadership. tions immigrants make to our culture and Many of our international graduates The “Best and Brightest” International the leadership roles those who are edu- return to their home country. While they Students – Global Contributors cated in the United States often assume. are not directly contributing to our The United States has been the destina- Our current visa system is predicated on economy, in today’s global environment tion of choice for international students applicants demonstrating that they have the alumni are contributing to our economies and those of others both

Total Number of MIT International Students directly and indirectly. In addition, those who return and gain positions of leader- 3000 Total ship are more likely to share our values Asia - East Asia 2500 and to try to emulate our technical and Europe - Western Europe business structures. This level of diplo- Asia - South Asia 2000 Canada macy may be far more important than we can imagine. 1500 Those who stay 1000

Number of students The United States has always and will con-

500 tinue to gain strength and leadership in science and technology from its immi- 0 grants. A growing fraction of the U.S. 1884 1891 1898 1905 1912 1919 1926 1933 1940 1947 1954 1961 1968 1975 1982 1989 1996 2003 engineering faculty is foreign born, and Year Year greater than one-third of the Nobel Figure 1. MIT’s international student population over the past 120 years, highlighting those from Laureates we claim were born Europe, Canada, and Asia. East Asia includes: China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Bhutan; South Asia elsewhere (see www.nobel.se/index.html). includes: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. These data are stacked to highlight the ebbs and flows from different regions over time. continued on next page

19 MIT Faculty Newsletter Vol. XVII No. 5

International Students and Scholar Europe – Eastern Europe Gast, from preceeding page

160 International students often go on to lead- 140 ership positions in large and small com- panies. It becomes apparent that we 120 attract not only the “best and brightest” 100 students to travel abroad for study, but 80 perhaps we also attract those more 60 inclined to be “risk takers” who end up in 40 leadership positions in academia, indus- Number of students try, and entrepreneurial activities. These 20 innovative individuals thrive in the 0 American system of research, education, and venture support. As one measure of 1884 1890 1896 1902 1908 1914 1920 1926 1932 1938 1944 1950 1956 1962 1968 1974 1980 1986 1992 1998 2004 Year their innovation, MIT has seen a rapidly increasing number of patent disclosures Figure 2. MIT’s International Students from Eastern Europe. Note the increase since the fall of the having at least one inventor from among Berlin Wall. (Eastern Europe includes: Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Cyprus, Turkey, USSR (Union of our international student and scholar Soviet Socialist Republics).) community. As the distribution of international mia. In addition to their formal educa- their best and brightest back to their alma students changes, so does the rate with tion, these alumni retain strong attach- mater, providing important connections which they choose to remain and pursue ments and identification with their alma to lead the most talented students to the a career in this country. Tracking income mater. Their ease with our traditions, U.S. In MIT’s alumni database we find that tax records, Michael G. Finn has shown culture, and values is widely regarded as over 1000 of our alumni are working in that the number of doctoral recipients an important facet in their relationship higher education abroad. Thus, our educa- remaining in the U.S. two years after with our country. Generally, those who tional influence is magnified when one receiving their degree has increased from have lived abroad and experienced considers the production of professors 49 percent in 1989 to 71 percent in 2001. another culture have a higher respect for who in turn educate further generations. (See Michael G. Finn, “Stay Rates of those from different countries. One’s per- foreign doctorate recipients from US spective on world events is forever Maintaining the Balance – Threats to Our universities, 2001,” National Science changed by viewing them from another Ability to Attract International Students Foundation, November 2003.) Electrical part of the globe. The U.S. State We face a challenging task of balancing engineering, computer science, and the Department maintains a Website showing our national security interests with pro- physical sciences had the highest frac- the tremendous leaders who have received moting the valuable exchanges we have tion of international students remaining part of their training in the U.S. as inter- with international students, scholars, and after graduation and those most likely to national students. (See “Foreign Students visitors. In the past few years, we have remain here come from China (96 Yesterday, World Leaders Today” seen the significant effects of U.S. immi- percent) and India (86 percent). We do exchanges.state.gov/education/educationusa/ gration policy on the time and effort it not know the stay rates beyond two leaders.htm .) takes to obtain a visa for study or research years, since 2001, nor for postdoctoral MIT is proud of the many influential in the U.S. The implementation of the scholars. It is clear that many interna- alumni who have returned to their native SEVIS system to regularize the informa- tional graduates become more global land to improve the quality of life there tion we maintain about international stu- citizens going on to mobile careers and enhance productive international dents and scholars has improved many abroad, in their own countries, or in relations. Two such individuals from the aspects of the process, although ensuring another country. twentieth century are highlighted in the the accuracy and reliability of those sidebar, next page. records is critical to avoid jeopardizing Those who return home The network of academic influence students’ status. Many international students choose to should also not be overlooked. As talented Some aspects of the visa granting return to their home country and there individuals receive their education in the process have improved, with the State they use their talents as leaders in many U.S. and return to teach in their home Department putting international stu- areas of government, industry, and acade- country, these faculty colleagues then send dents and scholars at the head of the

20 MIT Faculty Newsletter May/June 2005

queue for the now mandatory interviews; and the “Visa Mantis” security clearance International Students Yesterday, Entrepreneurs Today processing time is improving to the point where over 85 percent are completed Kenan Sahin, Turkey within 30 days. There are also recent pro- SB 1963, MIT PhD 1969 posals to extend the term of the visa to be Dr. Sahin is founder of Kenan Systems, which developed one of the key productivity advances more commensurate with the term of in computer software, and provides software products for business management and deci- study. Despite this progress, there remains sion support to single- and multi-service communications and energy companies worldwide. Kenan Systems was merged into Lucent Technologies and Dr. Sahin served as Vice President a disquieting sense that the U.S. has for Software Technologies at Lucent. Dr. Sahin is the founder and president of TIAX LLC. become less hospitable to international visitors. The specter of students, postdoc- Gururaj "Desh" Deshpande, India toral scholars, and faculty stranded BS Indian Institute Technology, ME Univ. New Brunswik, PhD Queens University, Canada abroad while they are reevaluated for their Dr. Deshpande is co-founder and chairman of Sycamore Networks, Inc. Sycamore is trans- visa may cast a shadow that will be diffi- forming our optical infrastructure into an intelligent and dynamic network foundation for the cult to dispel. delivery of new services. Sycamore's equipment carries voice and data traffic in the networks The perception that the international of the world's largest service providers. Dr. Deshpande serves as a member of the MIT student immigration process is too capri- Corporation. He and his wife recently established the Deshpande Center for Technological cious and too onerous may degrade our Innovation with a $20M gift to MIT. ability to attract the talented students to which we have become accustomed. and training to provide consistent deci- MIT, the United States, and the rest of the Meanwhile, we see increased competition sions. They need access to reliable and world, now and in the future. There are for international students. accurate SEVIS data for these decisions. numerous examples of influential people Anecdotes abound of our allies bene- • We waste valuable and scarce con- who, at one stage of their career, were fiting from the challenges our interna- sular resources on repetitive processing of international students in the U.S. We tional students face. Each European leader visa applications for those with a proven have much to lose if we make this tal- who visits MIT mentions that the U.S. track record. Repetitive security checks ented community feel unwelcome or problem with student visas is to their and inefficient visa-renewal processes unable to study here. Hopefully we will not lose sight of the great strength and global security that comes from the free Each European leader who visits MIT mentions exchange of students and colleagues from abroad. that the U.S. problem with student visas is to We will remain vigilant in our efforts their benefit. to help improve immigration policy and processes. We will also continue to provide excellent service to our interna- benefit. (And the competition is not just cause lengthy visa issuance delays. tional community through our from Europe.) In 2003, international Security clearances should persist for the International Students and International student enrollments in Australia grew duration of study unless significant Scholars offices. We may find ourselves in nearly 11 percent compared to the previ- changes have been made. a new era where we must compete more ous year. During 2003, there were a total • Problems with the data in SEVIS directly with schools here and abroad to of 303,324 enrollments of international severely undermine both the student’s sit- attract and recruit international students students in Australia primarily from Asia. uation and the security we aim to provide. and scholars. Certainly MIT is ready to (For a summary of international student A recent study by the National Acad- rise to this challenge and remain the enrollment trends in Australia, see emies (www.nap.edu/books/0309096138/ premium destination for education and aei.dest.gov.au/general/Stats/StudentVisaD ntml) provides a detailed analysis of the research for students within and beyond ata/RecentAnnualData/RecentData.htm). issues surrounding current immigration our borders. We continue to seek improvements in policies and the increasing competition both the processes and the perceptions of for international students. the U.S. as a welcoming destination. Several issues come to mind: Summary Alice P. Gast is a Professor of Chemical • Consular officers and port-of-entry Clearly our international student and Engineering, Vice President for Research, and officers need to have sufficient support scholar community has much to offer Associate Provost ([email protected]).

21 MIT Faculty Newsletter Vol. XVII No. 5

Alumni Attitudes and Involvement Elizabeth Garvin

THIS SPRING HAS SEEN an incredi- ally positive, alumni are responding to Most satisfying to us is that alumni ble level of involvement from alumni at communications from MIT, and the feel connected and the overall view of MIT. Alumni have turned out in record already strong alumni giving shows great Alumni Association activities is positive. numbers to meet President Hockfield, the potential for growth. 52% feel very well informed about MIT Alumni Fund is on a record pace in both As faculty, you know that the MIT and 42% feel somewhat well informed. number of donors and total dollars, and experience is intense and while many stu- In a series of questions asking what serv- the online usage of the Infinite dents emerge exhilarated, some feel like ices were most important and what serv- Connection Website (alum.mit.edu) toast. In fact, 70% of alumni have either ices the Association performed well, greatly exceeds that of any other alumni very warm or warm feelings about the there were very high correlations association. Is this level of involvement Institute. When asked an open-ended between those considered highly impor- sustainable? The data suggests that it is, question “Is there anything specific you tant and those we performed well. The and that alumni involvement and financial feel is good about MIT today?” the alumni survey confirmed that our multi-year support will continue to grow. And this is cited good education/high standards effort to focus resources and energies on positive news for faculty, who rely on these (24%), over a tenth noted their pride in Web services was indeed the right strat- resources to keep MIT in the forefront. MIT, 15% noted MIT’s good reputation, egy – e-mail forwarding for life, an Last spring, the Alumni Association and 11% said MIT’s science and technol- online alumni directory, and other commissioned a survey to take a fresh ogy efforts made them proud. When online services that we market as part of look at alumni attitudes about MIT and asked about what’s not so good, 60% the Infinite Connection enjoy enormous alumni services. This was part of an replied either “not applicable” or nothing. use and are highly valued. We knew the overall focus in recent years, encouraged For those who identified negative aspects, usage was high: the Alumni Association by the Board of the Alumni Association, 7% named fraternities/living group issues; Websites receive over half-a-million hits to develop a robust set of metrics to 5% said alumni services/communication; monthly from 40,000 unique visitors, measure the effectiveness of Association and 5% cited quality of life. There are and the e-mail forwarding for life service programs. We had a good sense of alumni clearly still some residual issues about is currently forwarding nearly 15 million interests and experiences from conversa- changes in the FSILG system – 22% of messages monthly. tions and correspondence with alumni former fraternity members think that the Not surprisingly, there are some genera- from all classes and courses, from all “fraternity issue” is a particularly bad tional differences in opinion. Only 50% of across the world. We had an increasingly aspect of MIT. alumni graduated pre-1969 has visited an sophisticated set of measures and evalua- MIT Website. A whopping 94% of gradu- tion tools. But we were overdue in asking What alumni services are important? ates since 1987 have visited MIT online. alumni a comprehensive set of questions A remarkable 94% of alumni report that to verify or challenge our assumptions they read Technology Review in the past Why does it matter? about underlying attitudes. year. The second most popular activity, at Having strong alumni support matters to 74%, is visiting an MIT Website. Some all of us. Alumni who believe in MIT’s What do alumni think of MIT? 36% had attended a reunion or a local values and commitment to excellence are The 2004 Alumni Opinion Survey, con- alumni function; 21% had volunteered in advocates for the Institute. They influence ducted by Opinion Dynamics their local club, affinity group, on the next generation of prospective stu- Corporation, measured attitudes about reunions, or as an educational counselor. dents, they commit time and energy to the Institute, the Alumni Association, and In fact, more than 7,000 alumni are activities connecting alumni around the giving. There is much good news to engaged as volunteers annually in world, and they provide increasingly report. Attitudes toward MIT are gener- Association groups, events, and activities. important financial support.

22 MIT Faculty Newsletter May/June 2005

In the recent capital campaign, alumni the Club of Puget Sound on how the donated 53% of the $2 billion raised. Our Alumni content of information relates to its phys- Although only 54% of alumni con- Alumni Faculty Facts ical representation. Dedicated faculty like tributed to the campaign, 67% of alumni 36.8% of MIT faculty hold an MIT degree Professors Lotte Bailyn, Margery Resnick have donated to MIT over time. Survey 3.0% hold undergraduate degrees only HM, Adèle Naudé Santos, Dava Newman data shows that we have opportunities to 22.1% hold graduate degrees only AA ’89, and Mary-Lou Pardue spoke at expand this support significantly over 11.6% hold both the Association’s first Women’s Leadership time, both in the number of donors and Alumni Snapshot Conference April 30th. This year the size of their donations. The Alumni 115,382 living alumni Technology Day, the intellectual center- Fund, which counts alumni donations 102,245 alumni with known addresses piece of reunions, focuses on bioengineer- (up to the first $100,000 of any individual 70,315 with e-mail addresses ing with talks by Douglas Lauffenburger, gift), raised $31.5 million in FY04, an 17% are female Linda Griffith, Angela Belcher, Ram increase of 7% over FY03. If you remove 52% have undergraduate degrees Sasisekharan, and Martha Gray HS ’86. the $100,000 cap, gifts from alumni 13.2% are international alumni Not only are these events valued by donors totaled $109.6 million. Alumni alumni, they give faculty a fresh opportu- Following Their Fields? giving provides essential resources for nity to share ideas on multidisciplinary 56% work in their MIT field innovative education and research, as 49% majored in engineering panels. When I meet with alumni around well as providing substantial support for 20% work in engineering the world, faculty lectures are the club scholarships, fellowships, and unre- 13% majored in management highlights they recount. stricted funds. 19% work in management The Association’s effectiveness is due So, MIT’s relationship to alumni 14% work in education fields largely to a terrific partnership with matters in multiple dimensions. alumni volunteers who help identify are incredibly grateful that 15% of the MIT trends, set strategy, and serve as advisors. Moving forward faculty are part of Alumni Association A number of alumni faculty have served The Association continues to refine pro- efforts to share knowledge and insights on Association boards and ad hoc com- grams, pilot new activities like our recent with alumni worldwide. This partnership mittees, providing an essential link to the Women’s Leadership Conference, and makes a tangible connection between the realities of MIT today. develop new ways to engage alumni Institute’s research and education and We hope to find many ways to encour- online. One of the most exciting accom- alumni lives, careers, and priorities. age faculty participation in alumni activi- plishments of recent years has been our There are many ways for faculty to ties and welcome your suggestions and ability to expand the number of faculty connect. Some faculty host MIT Alumni questions. For a full sense of Alumni presentations to alumni around the Travel Programs, like the peripatetic Jay Association activities, browse our Website: world. Keyser, who will host his 11th alumni alum.mit.edu. Alumni are less interested in nostalgic expedition with a trip to Tahiti next Elizabeth Garvin is the Executive Vice views of MIT than they are in new and spring. Others speak at club events, like President and CEO of the Alumni Association exciting research and education at MIT.We Neil Gershenfeld’s April presentation at ([email protected]).

Launch of New “Giving to MIT” Website

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN the site, according to Barbara Stowe The site makes a compelling case for Resource Development and the Alumni (Resource Development) and Beth supporting MIT’s priorities, and includes Association, with technical support by Garvin (the Alumni Association). quotes and cameos that highlight the Web Communications Services, has Improvements include: impact of gifts to the Institute. resulted in the launch of the new Giving It’s hoped that the sign will serve as to MIT Website (giving.mit.edu). • More ways to search and browse both a helpful tool for potential donors, Many enhancements have been added • A new FAQ section as well as a resource for those at the to improve the experience of visitors to • A Glossary of Terms Institute.

23 MIT Faculty Newsletter Vol. XVII No. 5

M.I.T. Numbers Tenure and Promotion: Percent Who Somewhat or Strongly Agree (by Tenure Status) [from the 2004 Faculty Survey]

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

56% MIT tenure and promotion process is appropriately rigorous 79%

37% Criteria for promotion are clearly communicated to junior faculty 69%

33% Criteria for tenure are clearly communicated to junior faculty 69% 38% Criteria used to assess productivity are appropriate 62% 34% Contributions for collaborative research are valued appropriately 50%

Teaching contributions are valued appropriately 27% 48%

The criteria for awarding tenure at MIT are clearly defined 24% 48%

Service (i.e., committee work, etc.) is valued appropriately 34% 39% 24% Importance of external recommendations is the same across the Institute 41%

13% MIT’s promotion process is flexible 37%

8% Evaluation of research/scholarly work is the same across the Institute 18%

Non-Tenured Tenured

Source: Office of the Provost, Institutional Research