Srolovitz Anticipates Reduction of General Requirements

The overwhelming number of Yeshiva College students who feel burdened by the College's general requirements may soon get some relief. As it concludes its first full year of work, the YC Curriculum Review now enters a phase believed critical by administrators: deciding how credit should be divvied up between major and general requirements.

More specifically, in a survey taken by YCSC at the end of the fall semester, students were asked which requirement they would most like to see removed from the list of general requirements. An overpowering number - 73.5 percent - suggested that the number of Bible courses be reduced.

Under the current rubric, Jewish studies takes up the largest portion of the College's general requirements. Aside from two Hebrew language courses and two Jewish history courses, students are required to complete four Bible courses sometime during at least six semesters on the Wilf Campus.

Dean Srolovitz told The Commentator that he is in favor of giving students more flexibility in selecting their courses. "We are looking to move away from looking at a Yeshiva College education based on specific courses, to looking for several educational outcomes that will enrich our students after three or four years at Yeshiva College."

"I expect students will have more flexibility in coming years," added the Dean.

In addition, reducing the number of general requirements will empower the College's departments. "Personally, I think we need to strengthen majors and decrease the number of requirements outside of majors for students."

Dean Srolovitz confirmed that he has instructed department chairs to anticipate a more flexible set of requirements. "Departments are all thinking of ways to strengthen their own majors," explained the Dean. "Departments are already working under the assumption that there will be credits available to them."

The Dean was reluctant to pinpoint which areas of the current general requirements he'd like to see reduced or removed. However, given the large space currently allotted to Jewish studies, he believes that it will certainly be an area the faculty will need to consider when reapportioning credit requirements.

The issue of required Bible courses was raised recently when YCSC President Yonah Bardos presented his Council's findings at the beginning of the current semester; the prospect of reducing the number of Bible course requirements was immediately and vociferously challenged by Dr. Moshe J. Bernstein.

Dr. Bernstein, a former head of the Jewish Studies department and a senior member of the YC faculty reportedly decried students' resentment for Bible courses, attributing student friction to Israel credit. M

In an immediate and public response to Dr. Bernstein's claim, Bardos informed the faculty members present at the meeting that he spent four years on campus and still felt overloaded by Bible requirements. In a statement to The Commentator, Bardos still maintains that his feelings on the issue are the standard among the YC student body.

In an emailed request for a comment on the issue, Dr. Bernstein implied his opposition stating that "the Dean has a point of view to which he is entitled; his expectations may not all materialize."

In an interview with The Commentator, Dean Srolovitz reconfirmed President Richard M. Joel's comments from earlier this year that the College does not plan to remove any credits received from the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program.

Dr. Lauren Fitzgerald, Chairperson of YC's Curriculum Review, explained that four task forces will be set up in the near future to address several issues including making room to strengthen majors and examine Jewish studies.

Dr. Fitzgerald added that she plans to hold a formal town hall meeting for students next year to discuss these types of issues.