Meeting with Faculty

At noon, I headed off to the Campus Inn for lunch. For me, this is a rarity because like most commuter students who don’t have a meal plan, I typically will eat at the Spot, where lunch is significantly cheaper. Inside the Campus Inn, I sit and listen to the conversation of a small group of faculty members over my salad and pizza as they prepare for their meeting at 12:30. I was amused to realize that their concerns directly matched those I’ve encountered within the student body; which buildings will be renovated and when, the utilization and quality of classroom technology, the bleak reality of budget cuts.

At the faculty meeting I was asked to address the thoughts of commuter students. I am pleased to say that the commuter experience at Whittier College is a positive one. We blend in seamlessly with our dormitory peers because of our inclusion in the classroom, active roles on campus and enthusiasm for learning. While the drudgery of a daily drive and parking struggle may make commuting feel like a pilgrimage at times, the benefit of emails for class cancelations and high traffic days helps considerably. In addition, the I.D. scanners outside of dormitories that make it possible to study with other students without being locked out. In my opportunity to speak with faculty I commended them for going the extra mile to be available to all of their students, especially outside of the frame of their office hours. To all the professors who come before class, stay after class, keep additional appointments, send emails and receive house calls, it is this type of availability and willingness to work closely with their students that makes Whittier College an exceptional place to learn.

I would like to mention that I was highly impressed by the order of the faculty meeting; they conducted themselves in a professional, respectful and friendly manner that, in my opinion, illustrates the pleasant day to day ambiance of our campus.