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WEFT—Students create culture and community
- For
faculty wondering how to improve the student culture in their
department, this probably all sounds like a lot of work—many new
projects to take on. But it doesn't really work like that.
The job of the faculty is to put structures in place, provide a
few resources, and provide continuity. In a healthy department,
students create the culture, and do much of the work involved.
Students staff tutorial and outreach programs, run the physics
club, and help maintain contact with alumni.
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Remember that many typical departments have a department culture
that includes many of these elements. Successful department
have more, and they tend to be more personal.
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Typical department culture involves declared majors. In
successful departments, the culture reaches out to include
potential majors in the introductory courses, and to pre-college
students through outreach and recruiting activities. It reaches
out in the other direction to include alums.
Weft —
What students can do
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Even in the absence of substantial faculty support, students can
work to improve the department culture on their own. They can
initiate many activities and ask the faculty for logistic and
monetary support.
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Treat other students as partners, not competitors. Organize
study groups to work on homework and study for tests.
- Be
inclusive, don’t encourage or participate in sexist or racist
“jokes.”
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Plan physics-related activities (for example, trips to nearby
research laboratories).
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Organize an SPS chapter or Physics Club.
- Get
to know younger students. Be sure potential majors in
introductory physics are included in department activities.
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Plan outreach activities, for example science shows at local
schools. (See, for example, www.coolscience.org)
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Contact alums for advice about postgraduate plans. Ask faculty
to recommend appropriate people.
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