Word: gensler
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...summer report submitted by the founders of People Switchboard, Daniel Gensler and John Farago, outlined the metamorphosis of the project. "Originally we planned merely to solicit and present information about faculty interests to students. To this end, we sent out a questionnaire to all Corporation appointees in Arts and Sciences. The response made it evident that our initial goals were far too modest in light of the extremely positive tone of the repliers. We found that there are needs that are shared among faculty as well as students, needs that are now in such sharp focus that they demand immediate...
...GENSLER AND FARAGO, and the people in the Office of Tests, where the two had set up their temporary summer headquarters, were amazed by the response of 500 people to the extensive five-page questionnaire. The response enabled Gensler and Farago to collate data available nowhere else in the University. They established a cross-indexed file system which describes hundreds of interests of faculty members and other holders of Corporation appointments, along with the extent to which these people are willing to work with students within the innovative structures which now exist. The Switchboard is now equipped to help students...
MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, as a result of the feedback from the questionnaire, the concept of People Switchboard changed in the eyes of its founders. Gensler and Farago felt an obligation to those who had returned the questionnaire. They began to categorize workshops and seminars which many people, especially teaching fellows, graduate students, and holders of non-teaching appointments (librarians, research fellows, honorary associates and administrators) had expressed interest in teaching. They compiled a list of about 100 courses not offered in the University...
...Results from the questionnaire reflect a widespread pattern of frustration of interest in teaching due to both lack of initiative and unfamiliarity with established academic procedures," wrote Gensler and Farago. "This is not merely an expendable waste, but accounts in large measure for the unfortunate distancing of faculty and students at Harvard...
...Gensler and Farago stated earlier this year that they felt the $1 million fund inappropriate to their project because the fund is for experiments in educational innovation, while People Switchboard is concerned with improving advising within the University