Wharton deans to hold forum

Wharton Dean Thomas Gerrity and Vice Dean Janice Bellace will meet today with undergraduates to discuss their future goals for the school and to hear students' concerns in their first public meeting with the undergraduate student body. "I think we're just continuing the tradition of [former Wharton dean] Russell Palmer by having an open forum," with undergraduate students, Bellace said yesterday. She added that such exchanges have been going on for "probably four or five years." "The main benefit for us is to pick up on the concerns of students so the administration doesn't seem remote," she added. She said that in the past, students have complained that officials "were not connected to the students." Student organizers said yesterday that the forum will provide students with an opportunity to meet the deans on an informal basis. "One of the reasons we're having it is because we have had a major change of leadership and Wharton undergraduates are interested in what the new deans think," said Seth Hogan, co-organizer of the forum and member of the Wharton Dean's Advisory Board. He said the 90-minute program will begin with short presentations by each dean, in which each will describe their background and outline their long-term and short-term goals for the school. After the presentations, students will be able to question officials on their views. Bellace said she expects to hear questions about the ways the school is trying to become more international in scope and methods in which students can "enhance their education" within the school. Bellace added that she also expects students will pose questions on Wharton's new curriculum. Wharton is currently revamping its curriculum for the Class of 1995 which will divide the undergraduate program into three environments of business: Societal, Organizational and Global. The meeting will start at 4:30 p.m. in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, room 351 and is open to all students.

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